This isn't since 1453, it's since 1900. There were just under 2,000,000 Eastern Orthodox Christians in Turkey in 1900, there are now 4,000. That's a drop of 99.8% in just over 100 years. Even the US oppression of Native Americans wasn't so efficient, yet we make no claim that we haven't been a part of that oppression. That is a claim the Turkish government does like to make though.

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"Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing." - Conan of Cimmeria (applies to those on the internet as well)
My recent threads: Thought Experiment (your perfect government), Civil unions, and only civil unions, George Washington where art thou? (our first, greatest, and wisest president)

How does that weigh against a 99.8% drop in Christians? That these few Christians still have a few churches left is your evidence to refute this?

__________________
"Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing." - Conan of Cimmeria (applies to those on the internet as well)
My recent threads: Thought Experiment (your perfect government), Civil unions, and only civil unions, George Washington where art thou? (our first, greatest, and wisest president)

Constantinople wasn't the centre of Eastern Christianity in 1900 so much as the (long-established) capital of the Ottoman Empire. I mean, it's no less the spiritual centre of Eastern Christianity today than it was in 1900, is it?

Now, if I were to claim that the Germans have killed tens of thousands of British civilians over the last hundred years, wouldn't you consider that a very dishonest way of reporting the fact that our countries were at war during two short, fixed periods? One and a half million Greek residents of Anatolia followed the retreat of the invading Greek army in 1923. This is all very regrettable - as was the equivalent deportation of half a million Turks from Greek territory (not on the heels of a failed invasion, please note) the same year - but it's history. It's the history of a war between two nations at that - not a history of religious conflict. You cannot deny that no Orthodox Christians were displaced from the Caliphate of the Ottoman Sultans - although ethnic Greeks were displaced from the subsequent and vehemently secular Republic of Turkey. There aren't very many Germans remaining in Danzig or in Königsberg, but it would be insane to try to deduce from that an ongoing campaign of anti-protestant persecution on the part of either Poland or Russia. There was this war, see, between countries, which involved a lamentable refugee crisis back in the day.

There is no comparison with your history of Indians and European settlers, although I'm pleased to see that you acknowledge an ongoing and uncompleted genocide in that context. So - stop it!

re St Catherine's monastery:

It has precisely knack all to do with the Greco-Turkish war of the nineteen-twenties; St Catherine's would have been under British rule for decades by then. "Midnight Express" drew your attention to a declaration of religious tolerance from the pen of the prophet himself, you surpassed yourself by suggesting that this was either a lie or was proof that the prophet himself wasn't a proper Muslim. I merely observed that the religious community the prophet had reassured is still there, that's all.

OK You have no way knowing if this letter is authentic or not........But then How you can be so sure about so-called oppressions? then you should act again sceptical about both of them. You are sure about one of them but sceptical about other.I gave you a link Is that right??*

You dont believe in Links

You dont believe in Hadith, then tell me what do you believe?

Otherway there is reason to talk about something.

Dear Crom and Red

Let me explain you something everthing begin with the closing down of The Halki School of Theology by the GENERALS NOT GOVERNMENT......................

This is what I'm already rejecting.......................

At the moment the only problem for Christian Orthodox is reopening it or not......(I will tell my thoughts about what happened in the past, later )

But at the moment the only wish of christian Orthodox of Turkey is opening this school again, rightfully.Which is I want already.........

Then ,why Mr Bartholomeus(He is a very sympathetic and responsible person I like him too much) made a speech in the USA to a American TV?

It is because in last 5 years there is serious democratization process in Turkey(For Kurds and for other religious and ethnic groups) and Mr Bartholomeus also wants to benefit this process by making a speech in USA to impose Turkish Goverment to open this school again

Indeed this not something so odd and strange If ı were Mr Bartholomeus I would act the same..........

Regards

When ıt comes to your source

There are some truth in it and at the same time there are some distortions..

I will tell both of them

First

In 1930 Turkey and Greece Exchanged the Turkish and Greek populations,There was about 700 000 Turkish people in Greece and 1 300 000-1 500 000 Greek population in Turkey.(The figures are not exact)

This is not blame of Turkey or Greece, neither Turkey nor Greece is guilty fort his .It is because during centruies in the we lived together ,but at the beginning of 20. century there happened two nation states in this region: a Turkey with a Greek population and a Greece with a Turkish Population both of these states considered the minorities as dangerous then exchanged them,

This wasnt a deportation ,this wasnt an exile ,nobody died ,just populations transferred………

If you ask my personal opinion ıt is shame for both Greece and Turkey we could live together it is because we lived together for centuries

From your source
"I have visited the Prime Minister, many Ministers, submitting our problems...asking to help us," Patriarch Bartholomew told Simon. He said that he never received a response.

This is true Mr Barholomeus did it to the government and before current government to previous governments but no government showed succeed open the school again because this is something politically very risky no government dare to open it............

It is because some right wing parties and groups consider the opening the school again as something very dangerous for unity of Turkey......

I want to ask them why ıt wasnt dangerous until 1971 but became dangerous after 1971?

[quote=DutchClogCyborg;2056780]
Just to let you know. Religion classes are mandatory in the Egyptian school system as well-----FOR BOTH CHRISTIAN AND MUSLIM--- by the way.

Also in the United Kingdom - with an added provision that there should be a collective act of worship, daily, which is wholly or mainly Christian in character.