Posted by Jeff from bgp01107368bgs.wbrmfd01.mi.comcast.net (68.42.59.180) on Friday, July 12, 2002 at 12:49PM :
Re: What's the difference between...?
Posted By: Jeff <jeff@attoz.com> (bgp01107368bgs.wbrmfd01.mi.comcast.net)
Date: Friday, 12 July 2002, at 12:48 p.m.
In Response To: Re: What's the difference between...? (Peter BetBasoo)
: Well, no. It should be pretty obvious that I
: meant a Christian of our churches (from a
: Syriac speaking church). You have to take
: the entire cultural context into
: consideration.
Peter, it should be obvious that when I sad "UI" was raised a Christian, that I was referring to myself, and that, knowing who I am (at least through these boards and through emails we have exchanged), that I was raised "Christian" in the syriac speaking churches.
: Yes, you can theoretically have a non-Christian
: Assyrian, just like you can theoretically
: travel in time. Does it happen? No. It's not
: reality.
Here's where I disaree with you, Peter. I happen to know Assyrians that speak our language, prepare our food, sing our songs and dance our dances, and otherwise practice our culture... yet they are not Christians (they don't identify with organized religion). So, it is reality. It is reality... I know them personally.
Does it happen? Yes.
: This argument is such a waste of time, sorry to
: say that. Because anyone entertaining this
: line of thought has a major identity crisis
: or a major reality crisis.
I think that anyone entertaining the line of thought that such and such is not reality, when in fact is is reality has a major crisis (identity, and otherwise).
: Stop, look at our people, and then tell me what : defines an : Assyrian.
I believe that the definition of Assyrain, an ethnicity, can NOT be religious based. An ethnic identity must consists of language, cuisine, traditions, music, arts, and all of those things that consist of a culture and/or an identity. Here are some definitions (general) which can be applied to Assyrians (from the dictionary):
cul·ture Pronunciation Key (klchr)
n.
1.
a. The totality of socially transmitted behavior patterns, arts, beliefs, institutions, and all other products of human work and thought.
b. These patterns, traits, and products considered as the expression of a particular period, class, community, or population: Edwardian culture; Japanese culture; the culture of poverty.
c. These patterns, traits, and products considered with respect to a particular category, such as a field, subject, or mode of expression: musical culture; oral culture.
d. The predominating attitudes and behavior that characterize the functioning of a group or organization.
2. Intellectual and artistic activity and the works produced by it.
3.
a. Development of the intellect through training or education.
b. Enlightenment resulting from such training or education.
4. A high degree of taste and refinement formed by aesthetic and intellectual training.
5. Special training and development: voice culture for singers and actors.
As you can see, Peter... religion is not involved.
: You may still be, for a while at least, but
: your seedlings would be Jewish, and that
: would be the end of their Assyrianism.
I disagree with that. Can one not be Jewish, or an atheist, and still practice those elements of culture defined in the dictionary AS culture ... which would make them uniquely Assyrian??
This is a very important and relevant question.
-- Jeff
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