The only theocracy in Europe shaken as more Church scandals are revieled

[MarkG]

theocracy??
"seat in goverment"?


what on earth are you talking about?

[molly bloom]

Originally posted by Ted Striker
What is Greece?

Something you cook Turkey with in Japan when you're Hungary.


See, it Serbias you right for asking a silly question. Czech with me later for more atrocious puns. We Congo through a whole list, if that's not too Sudan a suggestion. Israel fun talking with you.


Must Russia, my Korea's in jeopardy!

(Iran away....)

[alva]

Painfull Molly..very painfully..

[VetLegion]

Wow molly, not bad

MarkG, well theocracy was a bit of an overstatement, of course Greece is not "the only theocracy in Europe", as someone said, there's also Vat.. ok, bad joke

I can't give a link since I read the article in a Croatian paper which also said that in Greece church has:

- a seat in government
- is the largest landowner
- is the richest institution

How many of that is true I don't know, but I was thinking the first is since I heard it elswhere also. Perhaps not a ministerial seat, but advisory or something?

[MikeH]

You're the one that I want, you are the one I want Oooh ooh ooooh.

[molly bloom]

Originally posted by alva
Painfull Molly..very painfully..

Oooh, you sweet little truffle you.

How could I ever ganache my teeth at you?

Let me moule over your retort.

[alva]

[axi]

Facts about the church in Greece:

- No, the Church has no seat in government.

- The Church IS the biggest landowner after the state.

- The Church IS the richest institution and it doesn't pay taxes.

- All priests have salaries from the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs. Priests and monks are exempt from service in the military (priests, as a rule, serve after getting their theology degree, before their inauguration).

- The state safeguards the special status of Mt. Athos where access is restricted to men only, with a special permit.

- The state appoints the religious leaders of the muslim minority in Thrace. This is not uncommon; it happens with the Patriarchs and the Orthodox bishops in Istanbul and Jerusalem (in fact both current Patriarchs had trouble in getting elected because of Turkish and Israeli policy).

- Religious education is a mandatory course for Orthodox pupils in school.

[OzzyKP]

The priests get paid by the state? That's weird.

And the fact that religious leaders are appointed by the state in Israel, Istanbul, and Greece is really fricken troubling.

[St Leo]

Originally posted by axi
- Religious education is a mandatory course for Orthodox pupils in school.

Is atheism mainstream? How are atheists treated?

[Dinner]

What happens if a student is not orthodoxed? Say Catholic or Protestant or even a nonGreek Orthodoxed?

[OzzyKP]

Originally posted by St Leo

Originally posted by axi
- Religious education is a mandatory course for Orthodox pupils in school.

Is atheism mainstream? How are atheists treated?

I'm sure Greece is just as godless as the rest of Europe, don't worry...

[alva]

Hmm, not quite yet but the're getting there.

[VetLegion]

Originally posted by axi Religious education is a mandatory course for Orthodox pupils in school.

Jesus Christ, this is in the neighbourhood of Saudi Arabia and such.

Here in Croatia religious education exists in primary and secondary shcools, but it's not compulsory, schools usually provide an alternative course in Ethics or something for those who wish not to attend. I did attend religious education, but I would have been very pissed off if I had been forced to do so.

[Last Conformist]

There's a few other non-disestablished national churches in Europe. The UK is the most well-known sinner.