Thomas P.M. Barnett :: Weblog

The article's just one more example of how the media get religion wrong. The Catholic position under Benedict is asking for reciprocity, to allow seminaries and Catholic schools in muslim lands to the extent that muslims are allowed their own similar institutions in say, Italy, France, or Spain. I strongly expect reciprocity to crop up as an issue in the EU talks, possibly *the* issue that will eventually founder the enterprise.

The fact is, with reciprocity, christianity is very likely to make a comeback in Anatolia. At that point, Turkey ceases to be a religious problem for the long haul.

Freedom of religious choice is a great idea for Islamic countries, but it puts the cart before the horse. That kind of social confidence can't be the opening bid for economic connectivity. It's simply unrealistic and unreasonable.

You don't ask for the peak of Maslow's hierarchy as pricetag for starting at the base.

The Pope apparently just made it explicit (again) so it's not just me chasing phantoms. I think you're misplacing the sort of accommodation that is being asked for by the Turks. Dhimmitude means that if you, a Catholic, act as normal people act in a muslim country, you get beaten, stabbed, or otherwise physically put "in your place". It has to come to an end or you lose physical security because people have to be socialized to accept the sorts of restrictions that dhimmitude demands and some always rebel. These people get pushed out or killed. That problem is hardly one of self-actualization.

Physical security for ordinary believers and priests is not assured in Turkey. Just try to follow the normal ecclesiastical calendar of Catholicism/Orthodoxy (either one) and very quickly you get to batons and knives, probably right at the first procession.