I have noted in my trips to Greece as well as within this forum an inflexibility of thought and intolerant attitudes toward those either holding disparate views or expressing doubts toward the merits of Christianity. What are your views?
2007-10-16 19:57:43 · 6 answers · asked by emiliosailez 6 in Travel ➔ Europe (Continental) ➔ Greece
If the Gov't pays for the salaries of the priests do they also pay for the salaries of imams and Jewish rabbis?
2007-10-16 23:13:56 · update #1
Frank B: It is not in the questions but rather in the answers of some, not all participants.
2007-10-17 21:15:22 · update #2
Hello Elio, wellcome back.
Greece is tolerant towards other religions, but it depends always on the education of people.For example, you know that there are also greek catholics, whpo dont face any problem, and there is also the muslim community who has no problems at all, except the mosque which is their right to have it, since so many greeks have been made rich in many arabic countries.
Concerning the fanatism, it comes from those called''palaioimerologhites''the fanatics who belong to the old calendar and in reality they dont accept even those who belong to the new one, even the catholics.
Those nmotivate the problems and the reactions, remember they didint want to enter some catholics being christians also into a monastery to pray...
2007-10-16 22:23:21 · answer #1 · answered by Leonarda 7 · 7⤊ 4⤋
I guess most Greeks don't really know what are those beliefs of Orthodox Christianity you imply here. Neither do I.
The great majority of Greeks rarely, if ever, attend the church but in most cases they would know all the "pinky" stories related to the clergy. Which shows how serious are the Greeks with their religion really...And then you are addressing this question to a nation that still accepts the possibility of a religion to the 12 ancient Greek Gods...:)
If you are looking for religious countries in EU where the Pope has a role, then I guess you better visit...Poland or Italy.
With respect to the "inflexibility of thought and intolerant attitudes toward those either holding disparate views or expressing doubts toward the merits of Christianity." I am here over a year now and I truly haven't observed any discussion on any religious matters. Perhaps I missed them once but how likely is that I missed them all? How many questions were there to start with? Your question is the first I know.
2007-10-17 18:19:33 · answer #2 · answered by Frank B 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
1. Greece is NOT a religious state. Sure the priests get a salary from the state, and the oath is religious in courts etc., but that's about it. If you consider that the Queen (head of state) is also head of the Church in the UK, then that would be a much more religious state, but it is a very secular society.
2. Greeks do believe in their religion to a large extent. Mostly because the religious practice is connected to the traditional customs, and the holidays are connected with religious feasts. But that doesn't mean they are intolerant to other religions. No one in Greece has a problem if he/she believes or expresses another religion.
3. What Greeks don't tolerate usually is any insults to religion or Christ. I believe that even if we don't believe in a religion, it is wrong to insult what is sacred to others. I wouldn't insult any religion, I could disagree with it but not insult it.
2007-10-17 05:45:28 · answer #3 · answered by cpinatsi 7 · 9⤊ 2⤋
I think Greece is a bit less tolerant, as they are a religious state, but overall, unless you are overly vocal about your views and/or belief onto others, they're relatively tolerant. The country has very strong Christian roots, and the state of Greece and the Greek Orthodox Church are inseparable, a a result, vocally doubting the merits of Christianity will make them contemptuous.
2007-10-17 03:14:49 · answer #4 · answered by S P 6 · 3⤊ 3⤋
Don't believe that.
We have many many people who are Jewish, Catholics, Muslims, Budists and so on.
2007-10-20 12:25:09 · answer #5 · answered by Cle@r Sky 07 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Greece is a Democratic country!
We host people from all over the world here (and we dont express racist feelings as other EU countries) and we have no problem allowing them to follow their own religion!
Plus not all Greeks are Orthodox Christian!
we have many Muslims, Catholics, Jews, Massons, Paganists, Atheists etc!
Everybody is free to follow what religion he/she wants as long as he/she respects the religion of the others
2007-10-17 04:05:07 · answer #6 · answered by ..Tolia.. 5 · 7⤊ 7⤋