Is Modern Armenia (2016) a Secular Country?

[Petros Agapetos]

Is modern Armenia a secular country?

How secular is our country? Secularism means separation of religion from government.

Secularism is the principle of the separation of government institutions and persons mandated to represent the state from religious institutions and religious dignitaries.

One manifestation of secularism is asserting the right to be free from religious rule and teachings, or, in a state declared to be neutral on matters of belief, from the imposition by government of religion or religious practices upon its people.

Another manifestation of secularism is the view that public activities and decisions, especially political ones, should be uninfluenced by religious beliefs and/or practices.

[Petros Agapetos]

Secularism draws its intellectual roots from Greek and Roman philosophers such as Epicurus and Marcus Aurelius; from Enlightenment thinkers such as John Locke, Denis Diderot, Voltaire, Baruch Spinoza, James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, and Thomas Paine; and from more recent freethinkers and atheists such as Robert Ingersoll and Bertrand Russell.

[Petros Agapetos]

The purposes and arguments in support of secularism vary widely. In European laicism (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secularism), it has been argued that secularism is a movement toward modernization, and away from traditional religious values (also known as secularization). This type of secularism, on a social or philosophical level, has often occurred while maintaining an official state church or other state support of religion.

In the United States, some argue that state secularism has served to a greater extent to protect religion and the religious from governmental interference, while secularism on a social level is less prevalent. Within countries as well, differing political movements support secularism for varying reasons

[Jehan]

I don't think anybody on this forum have a real knowledge about armenia and might give you an answear.


Mine will be very superficial.
Armenia seems to be a secular country but due to history and geopolitical reason, christianity have a huge spot in armenian identity.

[Petros Agapetos]

I don't think anybody on this forum have a real knowledge about armenia and might give you an answear.


Mine will be very superficial.
Armenia seems to be a secular country but due to history and geopolitical reason, christianity have a huge spot in armenian identity.

That is absolutely right. I wish our country were more secular though. The best countries in the world in terms of standard of living and civil rights are all secular, US, France, Norway, Sweden, Czech Republic, etc.

I opened this thread so that Armenians who live in Armenia could tell us the truth about our country.

[magyar_lány]

Deleted.

[Petros Agapetos]

http://i64.tinypic.com/8xn7lj.jpg
Poll: Armenia second most religious country in the world

The seven most intensely religious nations (http://www.armradio.am/en/2015/04/13/poll-armenia-second-most-religious-country-in-the-world/) in the poll are Thailand, with 94 percent of the population saying it’s religious, followed by Armenia, Bangladesh, Georgia, Morocco, Fiji, and South Africa.

[Petros Agapetos]

It looks like the Armenian people strongly identify as Christian.
But I wonder whether the government is secular nonetheless.

[Bezprym]

I opened this thread so that Armenians who live in Armenia could tell us the truth about our country.

You may have to wait quite long.

[Root]

http://i64.tinypic.com/8xn7lj.jpg
Poll: Armenia second most religious country in the world

The seven most intensely religious nations (http://www.armradio.am/en/2015/04/13/poll-armenia-second-most-religious-country-in-the-world/) in the poll are Thailand, with 94 percent of the population saying it’s religious, followed by Armenia, Bangladesh, Georgia, Morocco, Fiji, and South Africa.




Importance of religion by country


https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/92/Importance_of_Religion_in_the_World.svg

source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Importance_of_religion_by_country



other image with percentages

http://image.noelshack.com/fichiers/2016/01/1452158199-religion-importante.jpg

[Petros Agapetos]

Importance of Religion in Europe (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Europe) (including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Georgia)

During 2008–2009, a Gallup poll asked in several countries the question "Is religion important in your daily life?"

The table and map below shows percentage of people who answered "Yes" to the question.

Estonia 16%

Sweden 17%

Denmark 19%

Norway 21%

Czechia 21%

United Kingdom 27%

Finland 28%

France 30%

The Netherlands 33%

Belgium 33%

Bulgaria 34%

Russia 34%

Belarus 34%

Luxembourg 39%

Hungary 39%

Albania 39%

Latvia 39%

Germany 40%

Switzerland 41%

Lithuania 42%

Ukraine 46%

Slovenia 47%

Slovakia 47%

Spain 49%

Azerbaijan 50%

Serbia 54%

Ireland 54%

Austria 55%

Croatia 70%

Montenegro 71%

Greece 71%

Portugal 72%

Italy 72%

Moldova 72%

Armenia 73%

Poland 75%

Cyprus 75%

Macedonia 76%

Bosnia and Herzegovina 77%

Georgia 81%

Turkey 82%

Romania 84%

Malta 86%

Kosovo 90%

[magyar_lány]

Armenians are religious but secular. This is my impression.

[Petros Agapetos]

You may have to wait quite long.

Are there few Armenians on this forum?
Or do they not actively participate?
Or do you think they might find secularism objectionable?

[Petros Agapetos]

Armenians are religious but secular. This is my impression.

The constitution of the Armenian Republic is modeled on the French one, which is very laic (secular), and our penal code is based on that of Italy.

[Petros Agapetos]

I wonder whether Armenia is compatible with the values of secular humanism:

As a philosophy, Humanism is usually defined based on something like the following tenets:

1. Reason, evidence, and the scientific method are the best methods of finding solutions to problems and answers to questions, rather than faith.

2. In consequence of the preceding point, rejection of metaphysics and absolute morality.

3. Fulfillment, growth, and creativity are emphasized for both the individual and mankind in general.

4. An emphasis on making this life the best it can be for everyone, since humanists (especially those who include the word "secular") tend to believe that this life is the only one a person gets.

5. A search for a good system of individual, social, and political ethics.

6. An ultimate goal of building a better world for ourselves and our descendants by working together.

7. Mainstream religions are out of date and do not adequately address contemporary problems.

8. Support for democracy, a secular society and human rights.

9. Actions are judged based on their likely consequences (consequentialism).

10. Support for artistic and creative endeavors.

11. Negotiation is to be preferred over violence.

12. Some more recent manifestos call for a "planetary humanism", including environmentalism, having our concerns transcend national and ethnic boundaries,
progressive policies such as universal (global) education, anti-discrimination and anti-intolerance of minorities, economic security and health care.

These points are not a dogma or creed. It is not necessary to agree with every idea or every part of any Humanist manifesto to be a Humanist. There is some controversy as to how broadly should Humanism is defined. Some Humanists prefer a simple broad definition and others use a more detailed narrow description.

[Bezprym]

Are there few Armenians on this forum?
Or do they not actively participate?
Or do you think they might find secularism objectionable?

The only Armenian who sometimes visits the forum (mostly Chatbox) is Armenian_Bishop, but I think he doesn't live in Armenia.

[Petros Agapetos]

Freedom of Religion in Armenia

The Constitution as amended in December 2005 provides for freedom of religion; however, the law places some restrictions on the religious freedom of adherents of minority religious groups, and there were some restrictions in practice. The Armenian (Apostolic) Church, which has formal legal status as the national church, enjoys some privileges not available to other religious groups. Some denominations reported occasional discrimination by mid- or low-level government officials but found high-level officials to be tolerant. Jehovah's Witnesses reported that judges sentenced them to longer prison terms for evasion of alternative military service than in the past, although the sentences were still within the range allowed by law. Societal attitudes toward some minority religious groups were ambivalent, and there were reports of societal discrimination directed against members of these groups.

[Petros Agapetos]

Religion in Armenia

Approximately 98% of the population is ethnic Armenian. As a result of Soviet-era policies, the number of active religious practitioners is relatively low, but the link between Armenian ethnicity and the Armenian Church is strong. An estimated 90 percent of citizens nominally belong to the Armenian Church, an independent Eastern Christian denomination with its spiritual center at the Etchmiadzin cathedral and monastery. The head of the church is Catholicos Garegin (Karekin) II.

There are small communities of other religious groups. There was no reliable census data on religious minorities, and estimates from congregants varied significantly. The Catholic Church, both Roman and Mekhitarist (Armenian Uniate), estimated 120,000 followers. The Jehovah's Witnesses estimated their membership at 9,000. Groups that constitute less than 5 percent of the population include Yezidis, an ethnic Kurd cultural group whose religion includes elements derived from Zoroastrianism, Islam, and animism; unspecified "charismatic" Christians; the Armenian Evangelical Church; Molokans, an ethnic Russian pacifist Christian group that split from the Russian Orthodox Church in the 17th-century; Baptists; the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons); Orthodox Christians; Seventh-day Adventists; Pentecostals; Jews; and Baha'is. Levels of membership in minority religious groups remained relatively unchanged. There was no estimate of the number of atheists.

Yezidis are concentrated primarily in agricultural areas around Mount Aragats, northwest of the capital Yerevan. Armenian Catholics live mainly in the northern region, while most Jews, Mormons, Baha'is, and Orthodox Christians reside in Yerevan. In Yerevan there is also a small community of Muslims, including Kurds, Iranians, and temporary residents from the Middle East.
Foreign missionary groups are active in the country.

[Petros Agapetos]

Legal and policy framework

The Constitution as amended in 2005 provides for freedom of religion and the right to practice, choose, or change religious belief. (Legal and policy framework[edit] The Constitution as amended in 2005 provides for freedom of religion and the right to practice, choose, or change religious belief. It recognizes "the exclusive mission of the Armenian Church as a national church in the spiritual life, development of the national culture, and preservation of the national identity of the people of Armenia." The law places some restrictions on the religious freedom of religious groups other than the Armenian Church. The Law on Freedom of Conscience establishes the separation of church and state but grants the Armenian Church official status as the national church. Extended negotiations between the Government and the Armenian Church resulted in a 2000 framework for the two sides to negotiate a concordat. The negotiations resulted in the signing of a law March 14, 2007, that codified the church's role. The law establishes confessor-penitent confidentiality, makes the church's marriage rite legally binding, and assigns the church and the state joint responsibility to preserve national historic churches. The law does not grant the church tax-exempt status or establish any state funding for the church. The law formally recognizes the role that the Armenian Church already plays in society, since most citizens see the church as an integral part of national identity, history, and cultural heritage. January 6, the day on which the Armenian Church celebrates Christmas, is a national holiday. The law does not mandate registration of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), including religious groups; however, only registered organizations have legal status. Only registered groups may publish newspapers or magazines, rent meeting places, broadcast programs on television or radio, or officially sponsor the visas of visitors, although there is no prohibition on individual members doing so. There were no reports of the Government refusing registration to religious groups that qualified for registration under the law. To qualify for registration, religious organizations must "be free from materialism and of a purely spiritual nature," and must subscribe to a doctrine based on "historically recognized holy scriptures." The Office of the State Registrar registers religious entities. The Department of Religious Affairs and National Minorities oversees religious affairs and performs a consultative role in the registration process. A religious organization must have at least 200 adult members to register. By the end of the reporting period, the Government had registered 63 religious organizations, including individual congregations within the same denomination. According to the Department of Religious Affairs and National Minorities, some minority religious groups, including the Molokans and some Yezidi groups, have not sought registration. Although it was not registered as a religious facility, Yerevan's sole mosque was open for regular Friday prayers, and the Government did not restrict Muslims from praying there. The Law on Education mandates that public schools offer a secular education but does not prohibit religious education in state schools. Only personnel authorized and trained by the Government may teach in public schools. Classes in religious history are part of the public school curriculum and are taught by teachers. The history of the Armenian Church is the basis of this curriculum; many schools teach about world religions in elementary school and the history of the Armenian Church in middle school. Religious groups may not provide religious instruction in schools, although registered groups may do so in private homes to children of their members. The use of public school buildings for religious "indoctrination" is illegal. The law on alternative military service allows conscientious objectors, subject to government panel approval, to perform either noncombatant military or civilian service duties rather than serve as combat-trained military personnel. The law took effect in 2004 and applied to subsequent draftees and those serving prison terms for draft evasion. An amendment to the law on military service that took effect in January 2006 criminalizes evasion of alternative labor service. Conscientious objectors maintained, however, that military control of the alternative labor service amounted to unacceptable military service. The military employs Armenian Church chaplains for each division, but no other religious groups are represented in the military chaplaincy. The Armenian Church runs a prison ministry program but does not have permanent representatives in prisons. The Armenian Evangelical Church has chaplains in seven prisons. The Government's human rights ombudsman and the head of the Department of Religious Affairs and National Minorities met with minority religious organizations during the reporting period.) It recognizes "the exclusive mission of the Armenian Church as a national church in the spiritual life, development of the national culture, and preservation of the national identity of the people of Armenia." The law places some restrictions on the religious freedom of religious groups other than the Armenian Church. The Law on Freedom of Conscience establishes the separation of church and state but grants the Armenian Church official status as the national church.

Extended negotiations between the Government and the Armenian Church resulted in a 2000 framework for the two sides to negotiate a concordat. The negotiations resulted in the signing of a law March 14, 2007, that codified the church's role.

The law establishes confessor-penitent confidentiality, makes the church's marriage rite legally binding, and assigns the church and the state joint responsibility to preserve national historic churches. The law does not grant the church tax-exempt status or establish any state funding for the church. The law formally recognizes the role that the Armenian Church already plays in society, since most citizens see the church as an integral part of national identity, history, and cultural heritage.

January 6, the day on which the Armenian Church celebrates Christmas, is a national holiday.
The law does not mandate registration of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), including religious groups; however, only registered organizations have legal status. Only registered groups may publish newspapers or magazines, rent meeting places, broadcast programs on television or radio, or officially sponsor the visas of visitors, although there is no prohibition on individual members doing so. There were no reports of the Government refusing registration to religious groups that qualified for registration under the law. To qualify for registration, religious organizations must "be free from materialism and of a purely spiritual nature," and must subscribe to a doctrine based on "historically recognized holy scriptures." The Office of the State Registrar registers religious entities. The Department of Religious Affairs and National Minorities oversees religious affairs and performs a consultative role in the registration process. A religious organization must have at least 200 adult members to register. By the end of the reporting period, the Government had registered 63 religious organizations, including individual congregations within the same denomination.

According to the Department of Religious Affairs and National Minorities, some minority religious groups, including the Molokans and some Yezidi groups, have not sought registration. Although it was not registered as a religious facility, Yerevan's sole mosque was open for regular Friday prayers, and the Government did not restrict Muslims from praying there.

The Law on Education mandates that public schools offer a secular education but does not prohibit religious education in state schools. Only personnel authorized and trained by the Government may teach in public schools. Classes in religious history are part of the public school curriculum and are taught by teachers. The history of the Armenian Church is the basis of this curriculum; many schools teach about world religions in elementary school and the history of the Armenian Church in middle school. Religious groups may not provide religious instruction in schools, although registered groups may do so in private homes to children of their members. The use of public school buildings for religious "indoctrination" is illegal.

The law on alternative military service allows conscientious objectors, subject to government panel approval, to perform either noncombatant military or civilian service duties rather than serve as combat-trained military personnel. The law took effect in 2004 and applied to subsequent draftees and those serving prison terms for draft evasion. An amendment to the law on military service that took effect in January 2006 criminalizes evasion of alternative labor service. Conscientious objectors maintained, however, that military control of the alternative labor service amounted to unacceptable military service.
The military employs Armenian Church chaplains for each division, but no other religious groups are represented in the military chaplaincy. The Armenian Church runs a prison ministry program but does not have permanent representatives in prisons. The Armenian Evangelical Church has chaplains in seven prisons.

[Petros Agapetos]

As a philosophy, Humanism is usually defined based on something like the following tenets:

1. Reason, evidence, and the scientific method are the best methods of finding solutions to problems and answers to questions, rather than faith.
2. In consequence of the preceding point, rejection of metaphysics and absolute morality.
3. Fulfillment, growth, and creativity are emphasized for both the individual and mankind in general.
4. An emphasis on making this life the best it can be for everyone, since humanists (especially those who include the word "secular") tend to believe that this life is the only one a person gets.
5. A search for a good system of individual, social, and political ethics.
6. An ultimate goal of building a better world for ourselves and our descendants by working together.
7. Mainstream religions are out of date and do not adequately address contemporary problems.
8. Support for democracy, a secular society and human rights.
9. Actions are judged based on their likely consequences (consequentialism).
10. Support for artistic and creative endeavors.
11. Negotiation is to be preferred over violence.
12. Some more recent manifestos call for a "planetary humanism", including environmentalism, having our concerns transcend national and ethnic boundaries, progressive policies such as universal (global) education, anti-discrimination and anti-intolerance of minorities, economic security and health care.

These points are not a dogma or creed. It is not necessary to agree with every idea or every part of any Humanist manifesto to be a Humanist. There is some controversy as to how broadly should Humanism is defined. Some Humanists prefer a simple broad definition and others use a more detailed narrow description.

[Petros Agapetos]

Restrictions on religious freedom

The law places some restrictions on the religious freedom of adherents of minority religious groups, and there were some restrictions in practice.
The Law on Freedom of Conscience prohibits "proselytizing" but does not define it. The prohibition applies to all groups, including the Armenian Church. Most registered religious groups reported no serious legal impediments to their activities during the reporting period.

Although the law prohibits foreign funding of foreign-based denominations, the Government did not enforce the ban and considered it unenforceable.

During the reporting period, the Jehovah's Witnesses and Seventh-day Adventists reported that low-level government officials denied them the use of public space for religious gatherings. However, the Jehovah's Witnesses noted that, in general, they were free to assemble without harassment by police or other government entities.

A customs issue pertaining to the Jehovah's Witnesses ability to obtain shipments of religious literature was not resolved at the end of the reporting period. On March 29, 2007, customs officials in Yerevan reevaluated a shipment of religious periodicals received by the Jehovah's Witnesses at a significantly higher rate than the group expected, making it financially difficult for them to arrange clearance of the shipment. Customs officials maintained that the reevaluation complied with the customs code.

At the end of the reporting period, the Jehovah's Witnesses reported that following complaints to high-ranking officials, the military commissariat had issued certificates of registration (necessary for obtaining passports) to the majority of a group of Witnesses who had completed prison sentences for conscientious objection to military service.

[Petros Agapetos]

Freedom of expression and of the media

While the media has a degree of independence, the freedom of press in Armenia is limited. Some independent channels, such as A1+, Noyan Tapan, and Russian NTV, have had their frequencies taken away by the government. Journalists covering a demonstration against President Robert Kocharyan were attacked when police intervened to detain the protestors.

In January 2011, the Committee to Protect Journalists – international media watchdog – criticized the Armenian government for maintaining a tight grip on the country’s broadcast media and accused them of routinely harassing local journalists challenging them. According to the CPJ report, new amendments to Armenian broadcasting law in 2010 positioned President Sarkisian "to maintain control over the country's docile television and radio stations, most of which were owned by pro-government politicians and businessmen." The report also claims that the Armenian police officers “routinely harassed, assaulted, and arrested journalists” in 2010. “Prosecutors regularly colluded in this practice by failing to investigate police officers, even filing charges on occasion against journalists who protested abuses, CPJ research showed.”

[Armenian Bishop]

It looks like the Armenian people strongly identify as Christian.
But I wonder whether the government is secular nonetheless.

Just watch some Karabakh War Videos, and take note of the crosses painted on Armenian battle tanks, as well as the pious Christian sobriety of Armenians whom fought in the war. Decades of the USSR's atheistic ideology failed to extinguish Armenia's Christian foundation, despite anti-religious Soviet dogma channeled into society. More than 1,700 years of crosses are sprinkled throughout the Armenian Highlands, like wildflower seeds in meadows.

A multitude of cross-stone grave markers (also known as Katchkars) are a notable example -- Katchkars typically exhibit impressive sculpted crosses engraved into gravestones. It isn't easy to erase, and it serves as a landmark proof of the Armenian historical presence in the homeland. More sinister than neglected church grounds, during Soviet times, is Armenia's hostile neighbors (Turkey and Azerbaijan) whom have endeavored to destroy or erase religious artifacts, churches and monasteries, as documented by film and photographs, in an endeavor to erase Armenia's legacy to the Armenian Highlands (beyond the political boundaries of present day Armenia).

[Armenian Bishop]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOSWpV2JbfY

Film shows the blessing and consecration of an Armenian Church (1992),
in Shushi, after it was liberated during the Karabakh War (1988-1994).
The church chapel was used as an ammunition depot,
for Azeri Grad Missile Launchers, until it was liberated by Armenians.
In watching this, the Christian Piety of Armenians is undeniable.

[Petros Agapetos]

Just watch some Karabakh War Videos, and take note of the crosses painted on Armenian battle tanks, as well as the pious Christian sobriety of Armenians whom fought in the war. Decades of the USSR's atheistic ideology failed to extinguish Armenia's Christian foundation, despite anti-religious Soviet dogma channeled into society. More than 1,700 years of crosses are sprinkled throughout the Armenian Highlands, like wildflower seeds in meadows.

A multitude of cross-stone grave markers (also known as Katchkars) are a notable example -- Katchkars typically exhibit impressive sculpted crosses engraved into gravestones. It isn't easy to erase, and it serves as a landmark proof of the Armenian historical presence in the homeland. More sinister than neglected church grounds, during Soviet times, is Armenia's hostile neighbors (Turkey and Azerbaijan) whom have endeavored to destroy or erase religious artifacts, churches and monasteries, as documented by film and photographs, in an endeavor to erase Armenia's legacy to the Armenian Highlands (beyond the political boundaries of present day Armenia).

I am well aware of Turkish and Azeri savagery against our nation.
What do you think inspires in them so much genocidal hatred for Armenians?
Do you think Islam has a dominant role to play here?
Why did they commit the genocide against Armenians, Greek, and Assyrians, etc.?

[Hadouken]

you forgot to add this to your question :

- Petros Agapetos

[Armenian Bishop]

I am well aware of Turkish and Azeri savagery against our nation.
What do you think inspires in them so much genocidal hatred for Armenians?
Do you think Islam has a dominant role to play here?
Why did they commit the genocide against Armenians, Greek, and Assyrians, etc.?

Well, my point is that the very earth of the Armenian highlands is immersed in Christianity, and its Armenian warrior spirit has been crowned by Christian piety. The Armenian Highlands is covered with Christian artifacts, crosses, churches and monasteries. I went on to say that Turkey and Azerbaijan are responsible for much of the looting, vandalism and destruction of Armenian Christian landmarks and artifacts that lay in historically Armenian regions now controlled by those countries. Therefore, there is less to be seen, in historically Armenian regions controlled by hostile neighbors.

Turkish and Azeri actions to erase these Christian landmarks and artifacts obliterate the evidence of an historically Armenian legacy, within areas now in their custody. Another words, state managed looting, vandalism, and destruction have constituted premeditated acts of cultural genocide. The genocide against Armenian, Greek and Assyrian minority groups was carried out in an atmosphere of racism and paranoia; it served to fatten the plunderers with loot and real estate, reshape the ethnic makeup of the areas, obliterate Christianity in the region, and build a dominant presence of Turks and Kurds (for a Pan Turkic dream).

[Annie999]

you forgot to add this to your question :

- Petros Agapetos
Yes please DO so I know where NOT to click!!

(Having this guy on my ignore list is not enough as his threads still can be seen!)

[Armenian Bishop]

you forgot to add this to your question :

- Petros Agapetos

Please explain, so that I can laugh too. I got a good clue, but would like to know if I'm on the right track.

[Armenian Bishop]

Yes please DO so I know where NOT to click!!

(Having this guy on my ignore list is not enough as his threads still can be seen!)

What's so terribly bad about him? Yes, he spits out a lot of posts, and the way he bumps his own threads can be annoying; but, many of his posts are academic and interesting. Would you prefer more "Who's Whiter" threads, more of the "Dames scored by Alphas" threads, or something else of that ilk?

[jingorex]

all the armenians i know are christian but they dont make a big deal about it.

[Annie999]

What's so terribly bad about him? Yes, he spits out a lot of posts, and the way he bumps his own threads can be annoying; but, many of his posts are academic and interesting. Would you prefer more "Who's Whiter" threads, more of the "Dames scored by Alphas" threads, or something else of that ilk?

I used to think like you, at first. In fact I even said "I liked his posts" in his own "ask me anything" thread. But after the 4th "look at me, look at me" thread I got tired of his narcissism and how he thinks the world spins around him, in other words he became completly annoying. :dunno:

[Petros Agapetos]

Yes please DO so I know where NOT to click!!

(Having this guy on my ignore list is not enough as his threads still can be seen!)

Have you read my threads under philosophy, religion, and atheism?

[Petros Agapetos]

I used to think like you, at first. In fact I even said "I liked his posts" in his own "ask me anything" thread. But after the 4th "look at me, look at me" thread I got tired of his narcissism and how he thinks the world spins around him, in other words he became completly annoying. :dunno:

What exactly makes me a narcissist?

[Armenian Bishop]

You may have to wait quite long.

Yes, that's very true, his wait will be quite a while lol. But, there were about a dozen active Armenians here 4 years ago (in 2012).


Are there few Armenians on this forum?
Or do they not actively participate?
Or do you think they might find secularism objectionable?

There are only a few, but it wasn't always that way; in fact, the Armenian Subforum was opened before Turks joined, and opened there own section. There were more than a dozen Armenians here, in 2012, but only a few remained after April, 2012, because of disputations sparked by the recent arrival of Turkic members. A number of Turks (especially Onur) trolled against Armenians with genocide denial threads, thus contributing to the problem. A number of other Armenians have come and gone, since then (i.e., Musso, Gregorius, roro4721 and Stella).


The only Armenian who sometimes visits the forum (mostly Chatbox) is Armenian_Bishop, but I think he doesn't live in Armenia.

That's right, I don't live in Armenia, but I've been a guest visitor in Armenia.

Aside from Petros and me, there are one or two others: (1) Arsen, occasionally contributes to the Armenian Subforum. (2) Anulik, also makes contributions to the forum, but she doesn't come by often.

Stella was active, last year, but her 30,000 posts were lost, when the Forum crashed, and she didn't return.