Christianity and Corruption

One day, a Turkish official asked me, “Do you think Christianity is what makes other countries less corrupt?”

I hesitated and said, “Well, maybe.”

He then asked, “Have you lived in America?”

I replied, “Yes, I have.”

“Do you think Turkey is more corrupt than the local government in America?” he asked.

Reluctantly, I had to admit that it wasn’t.

He said quickly, “Ah! And America calls itself a Christian country. We admit we are corrupt, but you Western countries are more corrupt and don’t admit it. Muslims are more honest than Christians.”

Reform in Turkey

Turkey has a strong and growing group of reformers. However, all governments tend to be conservative. Anyone who wants change, even if they truly believe it will be beneficial, is in opposition to the existing government. This is a big obstacle to progress in European Turkey. Many educated Turks, even some from the government, realize that Turkey cannot continue as it is in the Balkans. They know that for Turkey to stay part of Europe, it must adapt to European ways. But each step toward that change is seen as a step toward revolution, and Europe supports it Central Synagogue.

The Turkish Sultan and government, whether short-sighted or not, are fighting for their survival by resisting the reforms that seem obvious to outsiders.

The Plight of Christians Under Ottoman Rule

We often feel sympathy for the Christians living under Ottoman rule. However, the oppression they face is not just because of religious hatred from Muslims; it also has political reasons. Mourad Bey, a thoughtful man who cared deeply about Turkey, said:

“I believe that before the first foreign consul and missionaries arrived here, the Christians in the East were more peaceful, free, and happy than they are today.”

The Sultan, who is often ignorant and superstitious, sees the movements to help the Christians as attempts to destroy his empire. And, to some extent, he is right.