Orthodox Christian countries vs Buddhist countries

[Odelia]

That's the point of Orthodox Christianity - conservatism of religion

Um Greece and Georgia are Orthodox but they're not very conservative. Heck, Georgia is a Christian Orthodox nation that allows gay marriage.

[oszkar07]

I exaggerated a little bit, I think the only notable difference is the religion, but I don’t think Armenians are culturally close to Europeans, at most to Greeks due Byzantine, Anatolian and Ottoman history. I would get lynched by both sides, but Turks and Armenians are culturally almost identical, even their mindset. We shouldn’t forget that Armenians also had huge Persian impact if it comes to their culture. Honestly I think Europeans want to make Armenians „European“ because of sympathy, especially since Armenians were massacred during the Ottoman empire.

There is a lot of Armenian diaspora communities eg in Iran,Syria,Lebanon. hence i can see those having middle east influences.
Otherwise Im not sure that from my own experience that i would see Armenians as Middle eastern, nor do i see them as European, perhaps they are somewhere between the 2.
From those that moved to the west and or Europe they seem to adapt to the culture pretty well perhaps this is due to their Christian culture which I feel has allowed them to lean towards Europe culturally more so than for eg a Muslim of Arab background. Not to mention Armenians have had diasporas in Europe eg Italy,Poland,Romania,Hungary that go back 1000 years and this I feel has linked European culture to Armenians/Armenia. You are correct some their early influences were very Persian like. Btw apparently the closest language to Armenian which is still very distant but closer than other languages is Greek.
Altogether they are very old ethnos and very old Christian culture the first christian nation. There ethnos dates back 3000 years and they have had a lot of varied cultural influences over that time.

[Mejgusu]

There is a lot of Armenian diaspora communities eg in Iran,Syria,Lebanon. hence i can see those having middle east influences.
Otherwise Im not sure that from my own experience that i would see Armenians as Middle eastern, nor do i see them as European, perhaps they are somewhere between the 2.
From those that moved to the west and or Europe they seem to adapt to the culture pretty well perhaps this is due to their Christian culture which I feel has allowed them to lean towards Europe culturally more so than for eg a Muslim of Arab background. Not to mention Armenians have had diasporas in Europe eg Italy,Poland,Romania,Hungary that go back 1000 years and this I feel has linked European culture to Armenians/Armenia. You are correct some their early influences were very Persian like. Btw apparently the closest language to Armenian which is still very distant but closer than other languages is Greek.
Altogether they are very old ethnos and very old Christian culture the first christian nation. There ethnos dates back 3000 years and they have had a lot of varied cultural influences over that time.

The main problem is that „Middle East“ is an indeterminate term. Like you said, Levantine Arabs are culturally close to Armenians, Gulf Arabs aren’t. It is like saying someone has Asian culture, that isn’t a clear description. Another reason why many don’t like this term is because they are confusing Middle East with Arab world and the reason for it is that most Middle Eastern land is populated by Arabs. On the other hand many countries of former Soviet Union were part of European definition of Middle Eastern land before they were annexed by them. In „Middle East“, Persian, Turkish, Ottoman, Byzantine, Mesopotamian, Caucasian and Levantine(though thats Arab too) are most important cultures. And historically Middle East had a huge Christian population too(I mean it emerged there). Armenians are culturally closer to their neighbors than to Europeans, I think the main reason why they are better integrated than Muslim migrants is the religion. But there are Russians who told me(here and in real life) that Armenians are quite unpopular in Russia, I can’t say anything about this.

Yes Greek, Armenian and maybe Albanian belong to the same archaic stock of IE languages, but I am not sure how related they are. I don’t know who exactly said this, but ancient Greek sources indicated that Armenians came from Western Anatolia(therefore from Balkan route) to East Anatolia/Caucasus.

[true_southron]

Um Greece and Georgia are Orthodox but they're not very conservative. Heck, Georgia is a Christian Orthodox nation that allows gay marriage.

And you think that's good?

[oszkar07]

The main problem is that „Middle East“ is an indeterminate term. Like you said, Levantine Arabs are culturally close to Armenians, Gulf Arabs aren’t. It is like saying someone has Asian culture, that isn’t a clear description. Another reason why many don’t like this term is because they are confusing Middle East with Arab world and the reason for it is that most Middle Eastern land is populated by Arabs. On the other hand many countries of former Soviet Union were part of European definition of Middle Eastern land before they were annexed by them. In „Middle East“, Persian, Turkish, Ottoman, Byzantine, Mesopotamian, Caucasian and Levantine(though thats Arab too) are most important cultures. And historically Middle East had a huge Christian population too(I mean it emerged there). Armenians are culturally closer to their neighbors than to Europeans, I think the main reason why they are better integrated than Muslim migrants is the religion. But there are Russians who told me(here and in real life) that Armenians are quite unpopular in Russia, I can’t say anything about this.

Yes Greek, Armenian and maybe Albanian belong to the same archaic stock of IE languages, but I am not sure how related they are. I don’t know who exactly said this, but ancient Greek sources indicated that Armenians came from Western Anatolia(therefore from Balkan route) to East Anatolia/Caucasus.

Don't forget Armenia has been influenced by its asscociation with being under Soviet rule and affiliation with Russia also.

The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic 1922–1991. Armenia has the Soviet style vodka drinking culture and making toasts with drinks same as the Russians do.

As someone perhaps a Russian member here mentioned about some corrupt Armenian mafia groups in Russia too. But lets be honest that culture of corruption- Russian Mafia-crooked oligarchs- Russian Gangs/Thiefs in Law, this existing in Russian culture too...so maybe that culture rubbed off on some of the Russian Armenians and Soviet Armenians from Armenia (like we said Armenia has lot of influences over the years).

Anyway we can also look at the long history of Armenians in Europe such as France,and many other parts of Europe where they have had diasporas for hundreds of years and have integrated into Europe as Christian population. I have read that the Armenians in Hungary were loyal to the Hungarian cause in Hungary's revolution against the Hapsburgs.

Three of the Hungarian revolutionary Martyrs of Arad were of Armenian descent , don't forget this revolution was in the 1800's so this gives an idea how old this Armenian diaspora in Europe/Hungary already had been. The Hungarian ultra nationalist who headed the Arrow Cross Szalasi was also of Armenian descent.

Point is there is much evidence of Armenian positive integration into Europe and the West despite some complaints you mention from some Russians ... that doesnt change the fact also that the Editor in Chief of one of Russias largest media outlets "Russia Today", is what nationality ???
a chechen = no, a circassian = no, a Russian Greek = no, a Georgian = no, an Azerbaijani = no, an Armenian = yes.

I could make a list of famous Armenians from Europe or the West, such as the very middle eastern ...Charles Aznavour