European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 08, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 10 the stars and stripes religion saturday january 8,1994 armenian Church Leader condemns film violence by the los Angeles times los Angeles the spiritual Leader of Many of the world s armenian christians has called on filmmakers to turn away from violence sex and moral permissiveness. On his fifth pontifical visit to the unite states his holiness Karekin ii of the armenian apostolic Church said too Man films distort the image of the United states overseas and encourage impressionable youths to copy what they see. Many Young people not Only Are impressed temporarily and superficially Karekin said in joining a rising wave of criticism of Hollywood s work. More than that they begin to copy the things they see. The begin to consider this form of culture As normative for dignified  Karekin s Church is headquartered in Bei rut Lebanon and is one of two major armenian orthodox bodies in the world. He arrived in los Angeles on tuesday to participate in Christmas observances for armenians who celebrated Christmas on thursday. The armenians follow the East Ern custom of honouring Christ s birth on Jan. 6, the Day of the Epiphany when the magi visited the infant Jesus Karekin s visit tuesday night at St. Garabed Armeni an apostolic Church in Hollywood Drew several Hun dred faithful. Karekin was elected As a catholics or patriarch in 1983. The armenian Church of North America is led by his holiness Vazken i and based in etch Madzin Armenia. In an interview Karekin said the America depicted in films is not the America he came to know As Arch Bishop in new York before he became a catholics. I have seen the american life i have seen the Prin his holiness Karekin ii blesses a child upon arrival tuesday at  armenian apostolic Church in Hollywood. Caples the moral stature of these american family lives the belonging to a family and the moral standards he said. A  By contrast he said recent films unlike earlier Pic Tures he said depicted authentic human life great ideals and dedication substitute technological Vio Lence for actors who Are personally  All these artificial weapons and futuristic Means of showing the destruction of the world nuclear annihilation and so Forth Are so unreal he said. The Yare directed toward violence killings and sexual abuses and different moral degradations. I must think. Why All of this i think it is All economic  religious revolution7 forecast As Turkey sees islamic revival Istanbul Turkey a bumper stickers pro claim that Power belongs to  the Power of islam is growing in Turkey a Muslim but constitutionally secular nation of 60 million peo ple. As it does the division widens Between religious activists and people dedicated to secularism. Radical islam is not considered Likely to dominate the country As in neighbouring Iran. Its anti Western message conflicts with Turkey s position As a nato member and aspirant to the european Union formerly called the european Community. Enforcement of sanctions on Iraq and the Protection of kurd in Northern Iraq depend on Turkey s cooperation. The ground is Fertile for polarization said Cengiz Candor a columnist for the Istanbul daily Sabah. There is a feeling of revolt in the conscience of the people. We feel our Muslim identity much More  some see the islamic revival As a belated reaction against How the modern Republic was founded 71 years ago by Mustafa Kemal who later was named Mustafa Kemal stat Kirk. He ruthlessly sought to rid Turkey of its ottoman and Muslim past using Western oriented secular nationalism to unite it. He closed religious schools and a few mosques turning them into museums banned the Public wearing of religious clothing and changed to the roman alphabet from arabic the language of the Koran. The Koran is the sacred Book of islam. Nowadays mainstream politicians take care to be observed going to mosque and the  pre Mier Tansu Ciller says thank god i am a  the circulations of islamic newspapers Are increasing. Although no statistics Are available analysts said turks Are becoming More observant of their religious rules. Women in ankle length Black Robes showing Only a Small Triangle of face Are common in some quarters of Istanbul a City of 11 million. The fundamentalist welfare party a group led by Necmettin Erb akan won 40 seats in the 450-Mernber parliament in 1991 and captured six Istanbul districts in local elections a year ago. It is expected to do Well in nationwide local elections in March. Erb akan said his followers have doubled in number to 1.6 million Over two years. He draws support from those who Are dissatisfied with corruption and from the masses of Rural migrants to the cities Many of whom find Refuge from unemployment and poverty in the promises of religion. Islam will make a revolution in civilization said one welfare party supporter Firat Oruc a 19-year-Oldsociology student at Istanbul University. He spoke during noon prayers one Friday in Decem. Ber at the 16th-Century Bayazit mosque where worshippers spilled out into the courtyard. Islamic revival takes different forms in Turkey. One is a kind of cultural expression that harkens Back to the ottoman past As the Center of the islamic world said Dogu Ergil a political scientist at Ankara University. Analysts also Point to a Liberal capitalist  the Best example of that is Ikhlas a $200 million a year holding company that puts its profits Back into operations and is modelled after Muslim charitable foundations. A third kind of islamic revival is More threatening. On july 2, thousands of fundamentalists rampaged through a hotel in the Central town of sivas to protest a meeting of Liberal intellectuals. The fundamentalists set fire to the hotel and 36 people were killed. Prominent critics of islamic extremism have been slain most recently journalist Ugur Kumcu in january 1993. Hundreds of thousands of people marched in his funeral procession to show support for secularism. When Turgut Ozal Turkey s first president to openly embrace islam died in april millions marched in what Candor the Sabah columnist called a pro Muslim demonstration. Church easing pressure on members to contribute from wire reports Philadelphia not everyone is fit to Beti thed says the Rev. Glenn Zorb of ascension lutheran Church. Zorb Hopes to attract More members to the Church by easing the pressure to contribute during special seekers services for potential new members. We Don t want people to come thinking the Only reason we want them Here is because of their Money said Zorb whose congregation meets in a auditorium at Washington crossing state Park in Buck county. In november Zorb did away with collection during the special service which includes Rock music. Congregants May drop Cash into a collection plate before or after the service. If someone comes to my House for dinner i m embarrassed if they offer to pay he told the Philadelphia inquirer. The plate is still passed during the traditional lutheran Liturgy later in the morning. Zorb 40, said the 6-year-old, 182-member churches risking a Short term financial loss for a Long term return in membership. Any time people get committed to something you Don t have to ask them to give Money they just give it he said. A True House of god Virginia Beach a. Sharing Sanctuary space for eight years has Given a Reform jewish congregation and a Catholic Parish greater appreciation of both faiths. Beth Chevarie holds services at the Church of the ascension on Friday evenings a Catholic priest conducts mass there sundays. Our separate uniqueness ought not to be an obstacle rabbi Israel Zoberman said. Rather it should help us discover one another s unique  it s a House of god said the Rev. William j. Dale founding pastor of the ascension Parish. Focusing on the common elements of our worship does not do a disservice to either Community Zoberman said his is the Only jewish congregation in the world that worships regularly in a Catholic Church. He said Beth Chevarie s 250 families could t feel any More Welcome there. They share in religious and social events have a place on the Church sign and plan to maintain ties even after they build their own place of worship. Israel Vatican peace hailed new York the establishment of diplomatic relations Between the Vatican and Israel Ushers in a new Era for millions of catholics and jews an american jewish Leader says. Rabbi James Rudin inter religious affairs director of the american jewish committee said the historic agreement last week Marks the normalization of relations Between the roman Catholic Church and the jewish people after 2,000  Rudin said his committee also was pleased that the Church reaffirmed its opposition to All forms of anti semitism. Diplomatic relations Between the Vatican and Israel will add a new spirit to the Catholic jewish encounter,." Rudin said. More teens vow celibacy Anaheim Calif. More than 1,000 teen agers at a Baptist convention signed cards vowing to remain virgins until marriage joining other youths nationwide who have taken similar pledges. Virginity is the greatest gift you can give your future mate Seth Rodriquez 17, said last week to cheers from other teens at the Southern Baptist state youth conference. Rodriquez was one of about 1,200 people attending the convention who signed True love Waits cards pledging themselves to god and promising to remain Chaste. Other churches and organizations have joined the program. By july the coalition Hopes to have gathered 500,000 signed pledges for display in Washington . V