Disengagement from religion

Have you heard the news? The Greek Civil War ended 74 years ago. The 1965 events of the "July apostates" happened 58 years ago. The Polytechnic Uprising was 50 years ago. These are all historical events of great importance, fascinating for both historians as well as the casual or regular reader of history books.

Now, asked the most fundamental question about whether God exists, Rogalski, after a while and with some hesitation, replies: "It would be nice if he did."

Islamic terrorism and jihadist attacks against the west has unfortunately rapidly increased since the creation of groups like Al Quaeda and more recently the Islamic State (ISIS).

Turkish artist Bedri Baykam will hold a press conference to protest Saudi Arabia's recent decision to sentence Palestinian poet Ashraf Fayadh to death.

Baykam, the president of the International Art Association, will hold a press conference at Piramid Sanat in Istanbul's central Taksim neighborhood at 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 7 to raise awareness about the impending execution.

Greece has paid a dear price for politicians who use exaggerated language or adopt extreme positions. Consequently, politicians of the younger generation, such as the chief of the main opposition party, ought to know better than to bandy about terms such as “apostasy.”

One of Turkey’s most popular Islamic preachers is Nihat Hatipoğlu, a professor of theology who runs a top-rated TV show. Some of the questions his pious audience asked him during an episode last year included:

One of Turkey’s answers to American “televangelists,” Islamic theologian Nihat Hatipoğlu, initiated a debate last week with his reckless remarks about atheists. Speaking on his popular TV show, he first said: “I do not believe that any atheist is negating God. Those who say so are lying. Because all of them say ‘Allah’ when they are in trouble.”

Francis on June 21 issued the strongest attack on organised crime groups by a pontiff in two decades, accusing them of practicing the "the adoration of evil" and saying mafiosi are excommunicated. 

It was the first time a pope had used the word excommunication - a total cutoff from the Church - in direct reference to members of organised crime. 

As you read this piece, a 27-year-old woman named Meriam Yahya Ibrahim will be awaiting her death in Sudan. For on May 15, she was sentenced to death by a court who found her guilty of “apostasy.” Her “crime,” in other words, was simply to abandon Islam and adopt Christianity.