Our Faith is Part of the Country's Profile: Political Scientist to the Ministry of Education

Political scientist Styopa Safaryan wrote on his Facebook page:

“I must apologize, but I absolutely cannot agree with the question, ‘What does a clergyman have to do in a school?’ I too support a secular state, and I have demanded and will continue to demand the separation of Church and State, but that does not mean that everyone should grow up eating yogurt on their own. Our ancestors fought for their faith in life and death, because whether we like it or not, religion is one of the pillars of Armenian identity.

I am not saying it is the only one, or unique. I am not suggesting that there cannot be an Armenian of another religion or an atheist. If that is no longer the case, then we can simply consider our past, the bloody battles for faith, as mere history and distance ourselves from it. I am not going to claim that as citizens, we Armenians have blue blood through our Apostolic faith, and that we are superior to others. But our faith is part of the profile of our country. In our value system, Christianity and Apostolicism have left an undeniable and indelible mark.

And as much as I find the history textbooks on Religion taught in schools to be incomprehensible, somewhat laughable, and trivial, as much as I know that there are unworthy clergymen in my Church, and despite the controversial parts of our history, I want my child to be familiar with his roots and the value system of that faith. By the way, like many others, we have not rushed to baptize him. I still believe that it should be a conscious choice. He should want it, and it should be his choice. And I see that he accepts my Church; it is also his, just like it is for his grandmothers and grandfathers.

I am not saying that the course should turn into a religious sermon, but a clergyman and other professionals can enter schools and present our faith, especially since our Constitution recognizes the unique role and significance of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

I am aware of the opposing views of many of my friends; I respect them, but I also cannot agree with extremes.”