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Saturday 25 October 2008
Obama-Biden the Right Choice for Armenian Americans
Thursday 23 October 2008
FATHER FRANK’S RANTS - Gospel of Atheism
FATHER FRANK’S RANTS
Rant Number 234 23 October 2008
Gospel of Atheism
And so London bus adverts will soon spread a new gospel: there is probably no God.
Hurrah! The priest likes that. The good cause stands a chance, after all. When our atheists start getting bellicose about religion…that’s great. God isn’t dead yet.
You might ask who needs that kind of proclamation. Most advertising already does a pretty good job at plugging practical atheism: Eros, Mammon and Mindlessness – that unholy trinity of our time – hold sway across the board. But the priest is no fanatic – once upon a time he was himself an atheist (folies de jeunesse) - so he feels strongly that the ‘no God’ brigade should be heard. Even if they take people for a ride.
Atheism comes in umpteen shapes and sizes. First, there is political atheism. Of the State or party variety. One powered by violent ideologies. Exemplified by the Bolsheviks or the Spanish anarchists. That aggressive variety often burns or shuts down churches, murders priests and nuns, sends believers to concentration camps and sets up a bogus, collaborationist KGB-style church instead of the true one. In Russia that kind of atheism raged for more than 60 years but eventually ended up in the gutter. Al Hamdulillah!
Of course, less virulent forms of political atheism exist. The British government and Parliament to all intents and purposes pursue a thinly veiled legislative atheism. As the priest sees it, only a military coup can save England. Maybe our Army generals will take the hint…
Second, there is theoretical or logical atheism. It would put most bus passengers (and maybe you, o reader) to sleep yet it is intellectually important. Professor Anthony Flew, an academic philosopher, was a typical exponent. Basically, it consists in finding fault with the traditional proofs for God’s existence. For example, the argument from design looks at our world and sees evidence of design, of a plan in it. Like your watch naturally makes you infer the existence of the watchmaker. From design to designer: God. Flew and many others pointed out how the world at most exhibits evidence of order, not of design. Design implies a designer, yes, order does not. Hence the argument sucks.
Surprisingly, Professor Flew recently changed his mind. He now says he believes in God. (Maybe he is getting old.) As to the argument from design, Professor Richard Swinburne has patched it up. Interesting arguments die hard.
A subset is ‘science’ atheism. Of the type Professor Dawkins – a donor to the godless bus adverts - assiduously propounds. Actually, Dawkins’ approach is not really science but ‘scientism’. Still, his arguments must be met. Rowan Williams for example rejects creationism as the answer. Instead, he claims that science must take the existence of God as a necessary presupposition. Scientists assume the world is amenable to rational investigation. Only a Creator can guarantee that assumption, so to speak. Do you buy it? Hmmm…bit dodgy.
Third is ethical atheism. The world contains evil. A good God would never have engendered such a world, hence either the creator of the world is evil or there is no God. Bleak.
Some idiots, like Mrs Baker Eddy, the inventor of ‘Christian Science’, deny evil exists. Evidently, they never had toothache. But Leibniz, the German genius, logician and mathematician, one of my heroes, dealt seriously with the problem of evil. He even coined the word theodicy to counter it. I invite you to read him. There are good reasons why God allows evil to happen – that is the gist of Leibniz’s treatment. An admirable solution.
One tiny problem. You might feel theodicy logically satisfies you, yet it still leaves a bitter taste in your mouth. The sufferings of the innocent, for example, are too awful for mere logic to explain away. Leibniz’s way is perhaps a fraction too pat, or even smug.
In Brothers Karamazov Dostoyevsky has Ivan dramatically embody this objection. Ivan accepts, rationally, that there is a God. The torture of a single child, however, impels Ivan to want to have nothing to do with him. He returns God the ticket.
Sigh…me, a puny, marginal priest – can I disagree with a giant like Dostoyevsky? Nonetheless, I don’t like emotional blackmail. Ivan Karamazov is too sentimental. Innocence is all very well but since Dr Freud we are perhaps a less starry-eyed about child psychology. Besides, innocence has nothing to do with age, it is a moral quality. All may share in it, from the very young to the very old. By the way, the sufferings of the young did not particularly exercise ancient ethics. Plotinus in the Enneads laughs at some kids who have been beaten up –he advises them to take up physical training, so they can learn to defend themselves. Callous? Discuss.
The last type of atheism is not very profound. But it is lethal. It is the chilling unbelief of those vast multitudes in many sprawling Western cities which now live as if there were no God. They go from the cradle to the grave behaving as if God’s existence mattered to them less than what is on TV Channel 4 tonight. It is not that they don’t give a damn whether God exists or otherwise. In fact, they no longer even comprehend what the word ‘God’ means. That terrible old story – man walks into a jeweller’s, points out in the window to a crucifix he wants to buy it, so the shop-assistant asks: ‘Do you mean the one with the little man on?’ – is now all too plausible.
‘There is probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life’ the bus ads will run. That betrays our home atheists for what they are: a hopelessly out of date bunch of faddy-daddies. They are fighting yesterday’s battles. They assume people are still sufficiently concerned about God, judgment and the afterlife to feel liberated when told that there probably isn’t an old man with a beard up in the sky. But you cannot free someone from chains whose weight he does not feel. Telling hedonists to enjoy life is like advising Russian billionaires to make money. They are both redundant as reminders.
Yet, this latter kind empty atheism frightens me. Because I don’t see how we can beat it. Not that I lose heart. Because I know that, in the end, God.
Revd Frank Julian Gelli
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700 couples in mass wedding in Artsakh - GIBRAHAYER e-magazine
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700 COUPLES TIE THE KNOT IN | ||
STEPANAKERT (Combined Sources) - Some 700 couples tied the knot Thursday in a mass ceremony, through an event organised by benefactor Levon Hayrapetyan, in an effort to encourage an increase in Karabakh's population. | ||
SLOVAK JUSTICE MINISTER TO PRESS | ||
PanARMENIAN.Net - 13.10.2008 - On invitation of Slovak Justice Minister Stefan Harabin, Armenian delegation, led by Justice Minister, Gevorg Danielyan, visited Bratislava October 6-7 to discuss implementation of agreements signed by Armenia and Slovakia, the RA Justice Ministry's press office reported. | ||
SWISS COURT FINDS TURKS, GUILTY | ||
GENEVA, Oct 21, 2008 (AFP) - A Swiss court on Tuesday ruled that three Turks were guilty of racial discrimination after having claimed that the Armenian genocide was an "international lie". Ali Mercan, the Europe-based representative of the Party of Turkish Workers, was sentenced to pay a fine of 4,500 Swiss francs (3,900 dollars, 2,950 euros) by the district tribunal of Winterthur. Two others were ordered to pay 3,600 Swiss francs each for complicity in the racial discrimination. During a demonstration in June last year, Mercan had denied that the Armenian genocide had taken place. The other two Turks were co-organisers of the demonstration. All three said during the court case that they were ready "at any time" to organise a new demonstration and to take the same line. In April, Armenia's president vowed to redouble efforts to have mass killings of Armenians during the Ottoman Empire recognised as genocide, a label staunchly rejected by Turkey. | ||
ARMENIAN RELIEF SOCIETY (HOM) | ||
YEREVAN - Tuesday, October 21, 2008 - The Armenian Relief Society's 69th International General Assembly convened Saturday with the participation of delegates representing the various chapters of the organisation, including Karabakh and Javakhk.
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GIBRAHAYER LAUNCH THE FIRST ARMENIAN | ||
What do you need to know about the Armenian food e-Bazaar? | ||
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A PROMENADE AROUND THE ARMENIAN QUARTER OF TURKISH-OCCUPIED NICOSIA | ||
Sunday, 12 October 2008 - At around 12 o’ clock noon, my good friend Rosita Efstathiou and I cross the Ledra street roadblock and we enter the Turkish-occupied areas. The last time we had done this was in June 2008, where we covered about two thirds of occupied Nicosia within the walls. Back then, amidst the hot Cyprus summer, we toured everything to the east of Kyrenia Street, including the majestic cathedral of Santa Sophia, and we were shocked by the simultaneous preservation of the historical monuments and the ruining negligence for the private residences. | ||
THE ARTICLE OF THE WEEK | ||
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News in brief by Sevag Devletian | ||
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THE MOUFFLON BOOKSHOP will be celebrating its 4th annual book fair at the Holiday Inn, in Nicosia
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INTER MILAN Vs ANORTHOSIS | ||
After throwing Greek Champions Olympiakos out of the Champions League, Cyprus Champions Anorthosis defeated Panathinaikos 3-1, in the Champions League on Cyprus Independence Day at GSP Stadium. Anorthosis now top the table with Italian Champions Inter Milan with four points and face Jose Mourinho's boys in Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on the 22nd of October at 9:45 pm. | ||
AGBU Europe HOSTING A CONFERENCE IN THE EU PARLIAMENT "A Journey of Cultural Rediscovery:Armenian Heritage in Turkey" | ||
On November 13 from 9.30am to 1.00pm AGBU Europe will host a conference in the European Parliament entitled «A Journey of Cultural Rediscovery: Armenian Heritage in Turkey ». | ||
53,537 HAVE VISITED | ||
GIBRAHAYER E-MAGAZINE TO LAUNCH | ||
Gibrahayer - Nicosia - As part of its plans to expand its online activities, Gibrahayer e-magazine will be launching an Educational online Trivia Game, that parallel to providing prizes to its winners, will provide an educational forum on important historical and political happenings of Armenian reality. A team across Armenia and the Diaspora has already started working on the project and the Game will be officially launched this autumn. More than 100 major prizes have been donated and will be given out to our winning subscribers. We urge our subscribers to support our new online activities by financially contributing to the team that will be working on the project. | ||
MAKE OUR EDUCATIONAL TRIVIA GAME A REALITY BY CALLING 909-35037 | ||
Thank you for extending Gibrahayer e-magazine's lifeline and providing us with the opportunity to constantly bring innovation to our online services. Call 909-35037. Every call costs 7.86 euros for Cypriot subscribers. International subscribers can make contributions to: Marfin Popular Bank Public Company Ltd, Bank Address: Strovolos Industrial Area sub-Branch Stavrou Avenue 96-I, 2034 Nicosia - Cyprus, A/C Name: Aynedjian Simon, Account No: 101 1100 3412, Swift Code: LIKI CY 2N, IBAN: CY13 0030 0101 0000 0101 1100 3421 | ||
Letters to the Editor | ||
Dear Simon, | ||
VISIT WWW.GIBRAHAYER.COM | ||
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Sports on www.Gibrahayer.com | ||
Read all the important news related to Cyprus and Armenian sports-world by visiting the section entitled Sports on www.Gibrahayer.com
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Gibrahayer Calendar | ||
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Tuesday 21 October 2008
Armenian News...Last news until 3rd week in November
RUSSIAN PRESIDENT IN YEREVAN FOR AN OFFICIAL VISIT
armradio.am
21.10.2008 10:16
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev arrived in Armenia on a two-day
official visit. At "Zvartnots" airport the high guest was welcomed
by the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan.
Following the welcome ceremony the two Presidents headed for RA
President's Office, where an official dinner was served in honor of
Dmitry Medvedev.
Today the Presidents of the two countries will meet tête-a-tête,
following which the negotiations will continue in an enlarged
format. At the end of the talks the leaders of Armenia and Russia
will give a joint press conference.
The two presidents will participate in the solemn ceremony of opening
of the Russian Square in Yerevan.
This morning the Russian President visited Tsitsernakaberd, where he
will laid a wreath at the memorial to the Armenian Genocide victims,
left a note in the Guest Book and planted a fire tree at the Memory
Square.
TURKEY 'COUP PLOTTERS' FACE CHAOTIC SCENES IN COURT
By Damien McElroy, Foreign Affairs Correspondent
Daily Telegraph
9:43PM BST 20 Oct 2008
UK
Dozens of opposition activists accused of seeking to bring about the
collapse of the Turkish state went on trial in Istanbul yesterday as
their supporters massed in the streets in protest.
Chaotic scenes surrounded the opening of the trial of 86 people
including high-ranking officials alleged to be involved in a
conspiracy designed to create social turmoil. Prosecutors unveiled
a 2,500-page indictment that detailed activities that ranged from
murder and terrorist plots to schemes to plant black propaganda in
popular newspapers.
However the trial was quickly adjourned as the court was overwhelmed
by sympathisers who sought to disrupt the proceedings.
The alleged conspirators include a retired general, the leader of a
small Leftist and nationalist party, a newspaper editor, a best-selling
author and a former university dean. Two more retired senior generals
have been questioned in connection with the plot.
Prosecutors said that the ultimate aim was to depose the Islamic AK
party, which has ruled Turkey since 2003. The conspirators were said
to believe the party was bent on destroying Turkey's secular state
system, which replaced the theocratic Ottoman empire in 1923.
One defendant spoke out against the charges as a politically inspired
charade. "An imaginary group has been invented," Muzaffer Tekin,
a retired army captain, told the judges. "I see this as a political
plot."
The existence of the so-called "deep state" underground plot has held
the public in thrall for months and judges were forced to suspend the
opening session after the courtroom on the outskirts of Istanbul was
mobbed. The plotters are alleged to have adopted the name, Ergenekon,
from a legend of a lone wolf of the Central Asian steppe and the
leitmotif of Turkish nationalism.
Although senior military figures were said to be central to the plot,
the group also allegedly planned the assassination of the chief of
the Turkish general staff. But it was Turkish minorities that are
said to have suffered most. Posing as radical Islamists, the group
was said to have carried out the murders of prominent Christians,
including the ethnic Armenian writer Hrant Dink, a Roman Catholic
priest and a group of missionaries.
The prosecution also alleges the suspects planned to kill the prime
minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Nobel literature laureate Orhan
Pamuk and prominent Kurdish politicians.
Human rights campaigners welcomed the trial as an opportunity to expose
the powerful position of groups with military links and strengthen
the country's democracy, which has been interrupted by four coups
since the country was established.
"This case gives Turkey a chance to make clear that it will hold
security forces accountable for abuse," said Benjamin Ward of Human
Rights Watch.
"But that can only happen if the investigation follows the evidence
wherever and to whomever it leads."
Canada.com
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Canada
GENEVA - A Swiss court on Tuesday ruled that three Turks were guilty of
racial discrimination after having claimed that the Armenian genocide
was an "international lie."
Ali Mercan, the Europe-based representative of the Party of Turkish
Workers, was sentenced to pay a fine of 4,500 Swiss francs ($3,900)
by the district tribunal of Winterthur.
Two others were ordered to pay 3,600 Swiss francs each for complicity
in the racial discrimination.
During a demonstration in June last year, Mercan had denied that
the Armenian genocide had taken place. The other two Turks were
co-organizers of the demonstration.
All three said during the court case that they were ready "at any time"
to organize a new demonstration and to take the same line.
In April, Armenia's president vowed to redouble efforts to have mass
killings of Armenians during the Ottoman Empire recognized as genocide,
a label staunchly rejected by Turkey.
Armenians say up to 1.5 million of their kinsmen died in orchestrated
killings during the final years of the Ottoman Empire.
Turkey says 300,000 Armenians and at least an equal number of Turks
were killed in civil strife when the Christian Armenians, backed by
Russia, rose up against the Ottomans.
Armenian News Network / Groong
October 20, 2008
By Eddie Arnavoudian
LONDON, UK
`Daredevils of Sasun: Poetics of an epic' (263pp, 2008, Mazda,
translated into English by Peter Cowe) is a timely and erudite study
of the Armenian epic born of the 7/8th century resistance to Arab
occupation. On Wednesday 15 and Thursday 16 October its English
edition was launched first in London and then in Oxford by its author
Professor Azat Yeghiazaryan Director of the Manuk Abeghyan Institute
of Literature of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia.
With reference to European, Russian and Eastern epics Azat
Yeghiazaryan set an international context for appreciating the
singularity of the Armenian epic. A tale of solidarity, patriotism,
courage and honour `Daredevils of Sasun' was, uniquely, created,
developed and preserved as an oral tale and survived for a thousand
years with no connection to official Armenian literature. It was
written down only in the 19th century. In this aspect `Daredevils of
Sasun' is a genuine people's epic, a reality evident the epic's
history, its art, democratic sensibility and its moral compass.
The Daredevils of Sasun are like the heroes of other epics are indeed
kings, princes and knights. But they are so only formally. Their
palaces are cottages little different from those of the common people.
They live their daily lives among the people. They are extraordinary
individuals but they are simultaneously from and of the common
people. They do not regard themselves different from or opposed to the
common people and they put their extraordinarytalents to the
collective interest, primarily the battle against foreign oppression.
In their epic fights for freedom there is no glorification of violence
that one finds elsewhere. They slay, but only in self defence and
readily spare ordinary Arab soldiers sent to war against their will.
Discussing these and numerous other ways in which the `Daredevils of
Sasun' differs from other international epics, Azat Yeghiazaryan
revealed how this epic preserves a mode of human existence which has a
great deal to say to us today.
To obtain copies please contact Abril Bookstore (http://www.abrilbooks.com/)
in the USA or the Armenian Institute in London
(http://www.armenianinstitute.org.uk/).
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Appeal to help the Armenians of Iraq - Wales-Armenia Solidarity
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Armenian News
ARKA
Oct 20, 2008
YEREVAN, October 20. /ARKA/. The reason for gloomy forecasts of
Armenia's economy is financial flows from the country's main trade
partners, RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said last week.
"Since the European Union has 60% share in Armenia's trade, we
depend much on the financial situation in the European trade zone,"
the premier said, summing up the Armenian delegation's visit to
Washington on October 9-15.
Armenia-EU trade turnover totaled $1,219.3mln in January-August 2008 -
20.5% year-on-year increase. The share of EU in Armenia's trade was
36.8% in the reporting period. European exports to Armenia rose 9.6%
to $392mln.
Armenian imports to EU increased by 26.4% to $827.3mln.
"Inflation risks remain high in EU, and the European Central Bank
has to lower the interest rate to avoid further economic downturn,"
Sargsyan said, stressing the importance of overhauling European and
U.S. economies.
"However, the record-low fuel prices in stock markets have no influence
on consumer prices due to considerable economic lags," the premier
was quoted saying.
He underlined the Washington debates and talks over 2009 fuel price
forecasts.
Sargsyan urged Armenia to keep a vigilant watch over economic
developments in Europe, adding setback of import prices will be
this year's record-high inflation was the hike in import prices.
"If import prices plummet, Armenia's harsh monetary and credit policy
will help curb inflation and the Central Bank will be able to lower
interest rates, covering liquidity needs and boosting economy,"
the premier said.
Azerbaijan's military expenses to make $7 bln for 2003-2009
18 October 2008 [10:46] - Today.Az
Day.Az reports with reference to AzerTac that in 2003 the overall
military expenses of Azerbaijan made $163,000,000, while in 2008 this
figure makes $1,850,000,000.
In 2003-2008 $4,500,000,000 was allocated for military purposes.
In the future Azerbaijan will raise its military expenses over this
year. Thus, about $7 bln will be used for military expenses in
2003-2009.
Armenia To Cut Visa Fees In Bid To Boost Tourism
By Emil Danielyan
The government will ask parliament to approve a fivefold reduction in
visa fees for foreign citizens making short trips to Armenia as part of
its efforts to boost the national tourism industry.
Foreigners traveling to Armenia currently have to pay a fixed fee of
15,000 drams ($50) for a visa valid for up to 120 days. Under a draft
legal amendment approved by the government on Thursday, those of
them who plan to stay in the country for up to 21 days would be
charged only 3,000 drams. The fee for those planning longer stays
would remain unchanged.
A government statement said the measure is designed to attract more
tourists to Armenia. It argued that such travelers typically spend no
more than three weeks in a particular country.
Obtaining an Armenian visa is already quite easy. Foreigners can get it
not only at Armenian consulates abroad but at Yerevan airport and the
country's land border crossings. Also, in 2003 Armenia became the second
country in the world to issue visas online.
Armenia's tourism sector has expanded significantly over the past decade
parallel to its economic growth and improving services infrastructure.
Successive governments in Yerevan have declared its development a top
economic priority.
The cabinet of Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian also approved on Thursday
a separate four-year plan of measures which it hopes will spur further
growth in tourism. The government statement said they are specifically
aimed at `improving the legal framework regulating the sector and
developing the tourism infrastructure.' It did not elaborate.
According to government estimates, a record-high 500,000 foreigners,
most of them ethnic Armenians from Europe, the United States and Russia,
visited Armenia last year. Tourism officials at the Armenian Ministry of
Economy say their number will likely rise to 600,000 this year despite
the recent war in neighboring Georgia.
Opposition says evidence of police violence against protesters in
By Gegham Vardanian in Yerevan
Fierce debate is continuing in Armenia over the bloody events that took place
The focus of attention is a parliamentary commission set up in June to
The opposition said the government was trying to break up peaceful protests,
More than 100 opposition activists were arrested after the night of violence
Last week, the monitoring commission of the Parliamentary Assembly of the
A statement on October 2 read, "Serious questions remain regarding the nature
The parliamentary commission was due to present its findings this month, but has
The commission contains representatives from the main pro-government parties
The commission has set up a fact-finding group and is considering evidence
The opposition has said it may take part in the fact-finding group if it is given
In recent sessions of the commission, there has been heated debate about
If confirmed to be human remains, they indicate that there was a further victim
Shota Vardanian, an expert with the Armenian ministry of health, told the
Human rights ombudsman Armen Harutiunian was not convinced, saying,
Viktoria Abrahamian, a correspondent with A1+, said that she was working
"They were young inexperienced cameramen," she said. "They came back
Abrahamian said she had no doubt that the pictures were genuine, having
"On March 1 I came into the studio and my trousers and shows were covered
The head of the commission, Samvel Nikoyan, has complained that not
"There are both policemen and demonstrators who are eye-witnesses,"
Opposition activist Armen Khachatrian responded, "Someone has to be
The opposition is angry about the trial next month of seven of its supporters,
The man leading the investigation into what has been called "the case
Anna Israelian, a journalist with the newspaper Aravot, has published a
"The enquiry has been conducted with the clear goal of collecting the
"The testimony of people who were hurt and who bore witness to the use
"There were definitely cases of throwing of stones; of barricades; of
Human rights ombudsman Armen Harutiunian said that his office has
"People say that they were beaten so as to give voluntary confessions
PACE is insisting it wants to see an impartial investigation into what
Gegham Vardanian is a correspondent with Internews in Yerevan.
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