Today, 98% of the 65 million people of Turkey are Moslem with the remainder made up of Jews, Roman Catholics, various Eastern Orthodox groups and others. Almost 60% of the people live in cities and more than half of the population is under the age of 20. School through the fifth grade is required while those wishing to complete college can go mostly for free. Eight out of ten people can read. Farmers raise olives, fruits, nuts, tea, cotton, tobacco, sugar beets, potatoes and various other vegetables.
Turkey has an elected president and is a constitutional republic in which Islamic religious law was replaced by Turkish secular law. Indeed, a visitor to Turkey cannot miss the gratitude the nation has for the leadership of Mustafa Kemal "The founder of modern Turkey." Statues and plaques in his honor are everywhere. This man who look the surname of Ataturk, "Father of the Turks," saw to it that the Turkish nation became a secular (non-religious) state with Sunday being the national day of rest. Also, during the opening years of the new Republic of Turkey, the Islamic calender was replaced with the Gregorian (our standard calender in the West) and men and women over 18 were required to vote. The outward symbols of old Islamic customs were banned. Items of clothing such as the "fez" hat were no longer allowed. Men's hats were to have brims. Nowadays, city dwellers and rural people have mostly adopted the Western clothing styles. It seems that every kid you see is wearing a t-shirt with some American English logo or phrase printed on it.
Learning To Speak English
English is definitely in! Our tour group was regularly approached by young people wanting to practice speaking the English they were learning in school. In Thyratira, our tour stopped at a location in the center of town where we were viewing the few remains of the old city. As we visited, we were approached by a group of young people around ages 10 thru 12. Listening while they were struggling to speak English, we were talking, gesturing, and trying to communicate as best we could when their teacher arrived. It turns out that her elementary school class was on an outing, so she invited us to be their guests for afternoon tea at a nearby outdoor cafe. It was fun. We experienced such acts of spontaneous kindness everywhere we visited in Turkey. In small villages, people would wave as the monster tour bus lumbered through their little towns. Even on the plane trip to Turkey I enjoyed making the acquaintance of Dr. Galip Gurel, President of the Turkish Academy of Esthetic Dentistry and noted auto racer. It so happened that Dr. Gurel was on his way home to Istanbul after lecturing in the U.S.. We discovered that Dr. Gurel and I share a love for the German built Porsche 911 automobile. The universal friendliness of the Turkish people was genuine and appreciated. I wonder if Dr. Gurel got his new Porsche?
Fairy Castles
Turkey, or Asia Minor has had people living there since the stone age. Over the ages, paganism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam have all had their influences. Christianity became wide spread from about 300 A.D. until 600 A.D.. Evidences of early Christian churches are especially evident in the Cappadocia region where whole Christian communities were carved out of soft volcanic rock. It's a fascinating sight to see, this area, which covers about 12,000 square miles is called the "Land of the Fairy Chimneys." This place, known as the "Eighth Wonder of the World," is where wind and weather has eroded away the soft stone and soil--- leaving pointed rock formations that resemble chimneys--- in which people carved out living quarters and churches. One area alone is thought to have had about 400 Christian churches. In that same region 36 underground cities have been discovered that were dug down into the soft volcanic stone. The underground cities, sometimes twenty stories deep, are estimated to have held as many as 10,000 citizens and their animals. Thought to have been dug shortly before the time of Christ, the cities had secret entrances that were protected by huge biscuit shaped stones that were rolled into the opening. Evidence has been found of Christians taking refuge in these cities during religious persecution, but the identity of the people who originally dug the cities remains unknown. There is no evidence of the cities being used after 800 A.D..
Eventually Christianity began to fade as the Muslim influence grew because of people moving into Asia Minor and conversions among the residents. By about 1200 A.D. all of Asia Minor was Muslim, as it is today.
Some selected Bible references or mentions of places to modern Turkey are: Antioch-of-Pisidia, Bithynia, Cappadocia, Colossae, Derbe, Ephesus, Euphrates river, Hierapolis, Hittites, Iconium, Laodicea, Lystra, Mt. Ararat, Miletus, Pergamum, Philadelphia, Pontus, Smyrna, Tarsus, Tigris river, Troas, and Thyatira.
A final note: For those interested in reading about Turkey or preparing to visit, I suggest you purchase TURKEY'S RELIGIOUS SITES, by Anna G. Edmonds, published by Dako Publications, 1997. This is absolutely the finest, most well written book I have ever seen on the subject. I found it here at home by going through Amazon.com.

Blessings in your study of God's Word!

Marvin Hunt

There is never a charge for my articles, and if you have a good reason, there is no limit to how many you may request. However, if you find them valuable you may want to order my latest book, History, Mystery and Facts About the Bible. Order at 1-800-845-7618 (ext. 301). You may also order from Amazon.com. Proceeds from the book go to support this ministry.

Blessings!
Marvin Hunt

Http://www.biblehistory.com

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