Cyprus-Forum.com

[MicAtCyp]

Even though most Turkish Cypriot's don't go to mosque most would consider themselves muslim's and will celebrate bayram

Yeah my friend but you don't do it so stricktly like the Arabs, do you? You don't take a break every one hour from school or from work to pray 10 times a day on your hali. When the Arabs have bayram they don't eat drink smoke or put anything in their mouths during daylight, it's quite often to see a very old man in the heat of 50 degrees in August being so thirsty yet he follows the rules and does not drink water. Also about eating pork, you will not imagine how big a crime the mouslims in the gulf consider that and how many theories they invented to support it.I once told some friends that this is rediculous, and they reverted telling me don't you have ridiculous ideas in your religion? I said what? He told me well don't you beleive that Maria gave birth to Christ and yet she stayed Virgin? (Maria the mother of Christ is called the Holy Virgin you know..)
Woops, I had nothing to reply...!!!

It is true that the priests try to influence politics

It's all the Ottomans fault.They gave them this power they are the ones who made them Ethnarchs (leaders of the people)! And then the Brits fault, who were always looking for a priest to talk.

Quote from the Cyprus conflict net
http://www.cyprus-conflict.net/narrative-main.htm

But the orthodox bishops were allowed to return to their sees, and, since the absence of an Archbishop was, according to Ottoman practice, bureaucratically irregular, one was hastily produced from Constantinople and recognized as Ethnarch, or spokesman for his people. Later, from about 1670 onwards, he was given the additional responsibility for imposing and raising taxes. This ensured the Church's pre-eminence among the Greeks of Cyprus.

[MicAtCyp]

Sorry in my previous post I should perhaps say ramazan not bayram.(Not sure anyway)
Can somebody explain us these relegious events? I always thought ramazan was a period of fasting and bayram the celebrations after it.

I also have some questions:
After daylight during ramazan do the TCs go out in the parks to eat, drink and enjoy after a day of fasting?
At the bayram do the TCs march a parade in the streets and hit their chests? I watched the Arabs doing it and some fanatics were doing it so hard until blood would come out!!!!Never understood why they hit their chests though....

[insan]

I

always thought ramazan was a period of fasting and bayram the celebrations after it.

Right.


I also have some questions:

After daylight during ramazan do the TCs go out in the parks to eat, drink and enjoy after a day of fasting?

No, but there's nothing disturbing with it as long as they keep the park clean...

At the bayram do the TCs march a parade in the streets and hit their chests?

This is peculiar to some fanatic religious sects of Islam and far east countries. Those religous sects even exist in Turkey too. But they are a small minority both in Turkey and entire Arab world.

I watched the Arabs doing it and some fanatics were doing it so hard until blood would come out!!!!Never understood why they hit their chests though....

They believe that being in pain will ripen their souls and keep them away from the sins.

[PEACE]

A question for any TCs, without trying to insult: would you say that, for whatever reason, since Turkey invaded the Turkish Cypriots have felt a stronger connection with Turkey and Islam?

No,never.Even,we can say our connection with Turkey and Islam is frayed.Because of Turkey's politics about Cyprus and Turkish Cypriots and the abuse of these values in the nationalism propaganda.Even this abusing actions caused antipathy to flags.

[mehmet]

Chrisswirl, the events of 1974 have not made Islam more important, in fact it may have had the opposite effect. The people from Turkey who settled in northern Cyprus have contributed to this as they serve to emphasise to the Turkish Cypriots their different outlook on politics and religion and other issues.

Micatcyp, yes I agree we are not fanatical about our religion, it is a part of our culture but not the only part. As for my family, I never heard of anyone eating pork until they come to UK, mostly we still avoid pork except for those who are desperate to be seen as assimilated British citizens.

As for beating your chest, this is a practise of the Shite Muslims who are mostly from Iran, some parts of Iraq and the Lebanon. It is somthing to do with sacrifice and honour of Imam Ali although I am no expert.

The other factor to consider is Ataturk. Many Turkish Cypriots honour him for his reawakening of Turkish pride after the collapse of hte Ottoman Empire after WW1. The man himself was anti religion and perhaps at the time some of his attitudes towards religion became popular in Cyprus also even though it was during British rule.

[metecyp]

The man himself was anti religion and perhaps at the time some of his attitudes towards religion became popular in Cyprus also even though it was during British rule.

He wasn't anti-religious. He was simply against the backward structure created by misinterpretation and misuse of Islam. He was also against the notion that being Muslim is equal to being Arab. That's why he introduced Latin alphabet to Turks and he suggested prayers in Turkish rather than Arabic.

It's interesting that Turkish Cypriots followed Ataturk's reforms in Cyprus as much as Turks did in Turkey, if not more. I don't know if this happenned in other Turkish minorities, it would be interesting to know.

[mehmet]

Well I suppose it's a matter of interpretation. Certainly resistance to his reforms came from people for whom religion was more important than to him. He equated Islam with backwardness himself and made no secret of his admiration for Christian societies which he sought to model the Republic of Turkey on.

The Latin alphabet was more suited to Turkish and meant more people could be literate. Prayers in Turkish suited his objective of giving people more pride in their Turkishness.

[brother]

I find it strange that all the people who claim to be civilised and believe in human rights etc. how can they be so blind and follow religion to the point it makes them do unnatural acts.

We all have faith in the almighty but anyone with any kind of true god in their heart would be wise enough NEVER to use that as an excuse for war, hatred, racism, terrorism etc.