Word: secularized
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Dates: during 2000-2009
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East meets West here in a multicultural, multifaith yet secular democracy dating from 1923, when Ataturk, one of the world's most influential political figures of the 20th century, proclaimed a republic after almost 500 years of rule by the Ottoman Empire. And although Istanbul is home to synagogues and churches and is also the capital of the Greek Orthodox world, the city remains predominantly Islamic. On the one hand, it is so liberal that during Ramadan fasting is considered a private choice and lunchtime joints are packed. On the other, the sight of women in head scarves, which...
...Chief among Greek Orthodox grievances is the closure of a seminary to train priests on Halki island, just off Istanbul. Turkey closed the school in 1971 in line with strict secular laws that prohibit private religious higher education. Priests are currently trained in the U.S. and Greece. "Sure we can train priests elsewhere," says Karioutsos, "You can train a Catholic priest anywhere in the world, but training at the Vatican is completely different. We have a strong spiritual and historic connection here...
...into the war. Support for Maliki, the document suggests, should be based on his willingness to remake himself politically along lines preferred by the Administration, specifically by jettisoning much of his Shi'ite support base and governing instead at the head of a new coalition with strong Sunni and secular representation - all of which the U.S. would help orchestrate...
...Still, Benedict ultimately made clear that he will be tweaking, rather than changing, his fundamental message on inter-faith dialogue. In the speech to diplomats, he called out rather pointedly for religious freedom - using the secular Muslim state of Turkey as an example. The following passage may well wind up being the strongest of the entire voyage: "The fact that the majority of the population of this country is Muslim is a significant element in the life of society, which the State cannot fail to take into account, yet the Turkish Constitution recognizes every citizen's right to freedom...
...reconciliation, may be the first act in the "post-POST-Regensburg" phase of Benedict's papal diplomacy. How clearly can he draw the lines on the question of religious freedom? When will the "frank" public dialogue with Islam recommence? Can he lay out a new vision for a modern secular state - in both the Western and Muslim worlds - that gives due space to faith? And, perhaps just as importantly, can he keep the world's attention? The answers will depend on whether Benedict can strike the right balance between his newfound flexibility and an ancient, iron-clad faith...