Cyprus-Forum.com

[CBBB]

Does the Othodox Church have a big influence on the politics of the RoC?

In my opinion it doesn't, but reading the posts of many of our Turkish Cypriot compatriots it appears they think it does. The invaders also seem to think that way.

What does everyone else think?

[DT.]

Apart from a small group of extremists no one gives a rats arse what the church thinks.

[Nikitas]

The church has preserved the Greek language through centuries of ottoman occupation. For that alone it has a special place in the history of Greeks. Had it not been for the church there would be no Greek language and no sense of continuation of culture.

The religious side is secondary.

[CBBB]

The church has preserved the Greek language through centuries of ottoman occupation. For that alone it has a special place in the history of Greeks. Had it not been for the church there would be no Greek language and no sense of continuation of culture.

The religious side is secondary.

Yes, but does it influence our politics?

[Tim Drayton]

I get a gut feeling that, beneath the surface, this place is still pretty much a theocracy, but I don't have any hard evidence to back that up.

[CBBB]

The Church only seems to become important to most people here when they are getting old and preparing to die.

[Nikitas]

The special role of the church as the savior of our culture gives it a special place in all areas of public life, including politics. So yes, it has a special place in Greek politics, and more so in Cypriot ones, but not because of religious beliefs or the piety of the people. If anything, I would say that Greeks are nowhere near as pious as the Catholics or the Protestants. Just compare us to the Bible thumpers of the American south. Compare the speeches of the Pope with those of the Greek Patriarch.

In any case, the Orthodox tradition is different. There is no stranglehold on individual conscience and no monopoly on divine communication.

[CBBB]

The special role of the church as the savior of our culture gives it a special place in all areas of public life, including politics. So yes, it has a special place in Greek politics, and more so in Cypriot ones, but not because of religious beliefs or the piety of the people. If anything, I would say that Greeks are nowhere near as pious as the Catholics or the Protestants. Just compare us to the Bible thumpers of the American south. Compare the speeches of the Pope with those of the Greek Patriarch.

In any case, the Orthodox tradition is different. There is no stranglehold on individual conscience and no monopoly on divine communication.

So that is a no then?

[Oracle]

I'm not at all religious but I love the smell of Orthodox Churches and feel really humbled amongst all the history they exude. We owe a continuity to the Church tradition as far back as the early Hellenic gods. It revolves more around the recording of our heritage than directly influencing it. It certainly does not affect our politics since we have a strong political (democratic) tradition which is just as powerful but independent.

I think people from other religions cannot comprehend how we manage with the richness both of our political life, and also our "larger than life" religious heritage; yet still manage to keep them separate.

The Church of England is more influential in the politics in the UK (as well as in the House of Lords) than the GO religion is in Cyprus / Greece.

Look how much Tony Blair had to hide the fact he was Roman Catholic (because we all know the RCs and CoE have been bitter enemies since Henry VIII's time ).

[Tim Drayton]

I'm not at all religious but I love the smell of Orthodox Churches and feel really humbled amongst all the history they exude. We owe a continuity to the Church tradition as far back as the early Hellenic gods. It revolves more around the recording of our heritage than directly influencing it. It certainly does not affect our politics since we have a strong political (democratic) tradition which is just as powerful but independent.

I think people from other religions cannot comprehend how we manage with the richness both of our political life, and also our "larger than life" religious heritage; yet still manage to keep them separate.

The Church of England is more influential in the politics in the UK (as well as in the House of Lords) than the GO religion is in Cyprus / Greece.

Look how much Tony Blair had to hide the fact he was Roman Catholic (because we all know the RCs and CoE have been bitter enemies since Henry VIII's time ).

Isn't it rather odd for the office of head of state and head of the church to be combined in one person, as was the case in Cyprus in its first years of statehood? I take your point about Tony Blair, but the Archbishop of Canterbury has never held political office.