Holy Wisdom and Hagia Sophia

I've never been impressed by the notion of a "bucket list" the experiences one wants to have before "kicking the bucket", or dying. We live in a world of consumerism and it feels too much like acquiring more stuff, even if material things aren't involved. Why not just live our lives to the fullest and enjoy the opportunities afforded to us, including travel?

 I will admit that if I had a bucket list the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey, would be on it. The Hagia Sophia or Holy Wisdom is a 6th century marvel of architecture which is almost beyond comprehension as a feat of engineering and symmetrical beauty by the standards of any age. It was built as a church and functioned in that capacity for nearly a 1000 years, then became a mosque for most of  another 500. In the 1930's it became a museum which honoured its Christian and Islamic past, an excellent compromise.in a country which is predominantly Muslim in religious practice but is a secular state in many respects.

Recently the current strongman leader of Turkey, Recep Erdogan, jolted the world by announcing that Hagia Sophia would again be a mosque, summarily wiping out the nearly century old spirit of cooperation between religions. This past Friday thousands of Muslims, including Erdogan, gathered for prayer, with the crowd of worshipers spilling outside. 

While this may have seemed like a triumph for some it has created international tensions. Leaders in the Greek Orthodox church and Greek government have condemned this move. Pope Francis has expressed his concern as well, along with other religious leaders who see this as a step backward in terms of interfaith cooperation. Hagia Sophia is also a Unesco World Heritage Site and the UN agency has expressed its deep concern over this decision, made without consultation.




Why does it seem that religious tolerance is such a fragile and endangered concept and practice? People around the world co-opt the good of religion in its varying expressions for their tribal purposes. Even though we repeatedly witness the dire consequences of doing so, we backslide into this sinful behaviour, again and again. Our prayers can be for a "holy wisdom" which fosters conversation and mutual respect for the health and wholeness for all living creatures and the planet itself. 



Why might you keep a nature journal? Today's Groundling blog 
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