I continue to Erzincan where I meet Ozgur, a fellow couchsurfer. We come to the language school, which Ozgur manages and I take part in a spanish class. There I get to know Ekram, a biochemistry professor and Murat, a law professor, both from the Erzincan University. Together, after the lesson, we go atop of a hill overlooking the Erzincan plain; the view is magnificent.
We talk about the islamic society and how central marriage is to relationships. Although this is much more prevalent in the west of Turkey a intersexual relationship is very rare in eastern Turkey before marriage. The concept of boy-friend and girl-friend is not known at all in large parts of the country.
"I think this is good. This provides stability for society, for the family and most importantly for the children" says Murat.
A stereotype, which is very common in Turkey is that westerners, Europeans and Americans, do not value their family, that they live and choose individualistically, irrespective of whether this is conducive to the well-being of all family members. I am asked whether I am married or plan to do so.
"Actual marriage is something which exists apart from formalities and contracts. It is a fact completely independent of it, mutually understood, needing no elaboration. I don't see why I would ever need a written confirmation of it."
I think of the positive and negative aspects of the deeply engrained social norm of formal marriage. Yes, I am accustomed to look from a westerners point of view; But do formalities pose limitations where there is true love and peace?
In the evening we have an exquisite dinner at Ekram's house. The small daughter brings the food from the kitchen. I get to know Ekram's wife only as a reflection in the balcony window leading to the kitchen. Later I learn that it is common for housewives to get to know foreigners only after these have visited several times and both the host and guest have become more familiar with one another.
The following day I spend time at the language school and Murat invites me to his friends house for dinner; once again the food is exquisite. The company is also great, mostly students and professors from university. Murat and me converse until late in the night.
He tells me of how in Turkey increasingly more people becoming practicing muslims nowadays. He himself is taking part in the rewriting of the nations' constitution to take into account aspects of Islamic social life. Up to know the system of law was based mostly on the German and Swiss with some elements of the British system.
Murat mentions the masons. On asking what he means with this he depicts the Star of David and mentions the jewish people. I am surprised but think of the little I have learned of the Zionism. I recall a man from Bangladesh that I have met in London, who emphatically stated that WWII was infact a war between two rivaling Jewish parties.
"The freemasons are in control of most of the governmental positions and have tried to ban Islam from the country. In recent years a degree of sovereignty has been gained politically with 'true' Turks is power again" he says. "Recently the removal of military officials, which were apparently connected with the masons, was a subject in the media. Many people seek guidance and an answer to deep lying questions and dissatisfactions; in Turkey a large number are returning to Islam for the answers."
He introduces me to the Risale-i-Nur by Said Nursi, which is playing a central role in this movement of society. Nursi authored a large portion of his works in prison, because the Turkish government at the time wanted to prevent his works to be disseminated. Now it is becoming increasingly popular and many religious groups take it as the foundation of their studies.
We talk about the islamic society and how central marriage is to relationships. Although this is much more prevalent in the west of Turkey a intersexual relationship is very rare in eastern Turkey before marriage. The concept of boy-friend and girl-friend is not known at all in large parts of the country.
"I think this is good. This provides stability for society, for the family and most importantly for the children" says Murat.
A stereotype, which is very common in Turkey is that westerners, Europeans and Americans, do not value their family, that they live and choose individualistically, irrespective of whether this is conducive to the well-being of all family members. I am asked whether I am married or plan to do so.
"Actual marriage is something which exists apart from formalities and contracts. It is a fact completely independent of it, mutually understood, needing no elaboration. I don't see why I would ever need a written confirmation of it."
I think of the positive and negative aspects of the deeply engrained social norm of formal marriage. Yes, I am accustomed to look from a westerners point of view; But do formalities pose limitations where there is true love and peace?
In the evening we have an exquisite dinner at Ekram's house. The small daughter brings the food from the kitchen. I get to know Ekram's wife only as a reflection in the balcony window leading to the kitchen. Later I learn that it is common for housewives to get to know foreigners only after these have visited several times and both the host and guest have become more familiar with one another.
The following day I spend time at the language school and Murat invites me to his friends house for dinner; once again the food is exquisite. The company is also great, mostly students and professors from university. Murat and me converse until late in the night.
He tells me of how in Turkey increasingly more people becoming practicing muslims nowadays. He himself is taking part in the rewriting of the nations' constitution to take into account aspects of Islamic social life. Up to know the system of law was based mostly on the German and Swiss with some elements of the British system.
Murat mentions the masons. On asking what he means with this he depicts the Star of David and mentions the jewish people. I am surprised but think of the little I have learned of the Zionism. I recall a man from Bangladesh that I have met in London, who emphatically stated that WWII was infact a war between two rivaling Jewish parties.
"The freemasons are in control of most of the governmental positions and have tried to ban Islam from the country. In recent years a degree of sovereignty has been gained politically with 'true' Turks is power again" he says. "Recently the removal of military officials, which were apparently connected with the masons, was a subject in the media. Many people seek guidance and an answer to deep lying questions and dissatisfactions; in Turkey a large number are returning to Islam for the answers."
He introduces me to the Risale-i-Nur by Said Nursi, which is playing a central role in this movement of society. Nursi authored a large portion of his works in prison, because the Turkish government at the time wanted to prevent his works to be disseminated. Now it is becoming increasingly popular and many religious groups take it as the foundation of their studies.
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