Topic: An Outsider's Impressions of Orthodoxy

[PeterTheAleut]

What are your thoughts on the last religion census, David?
And which subsets of protestantism are practicing and where abouts are they concentrated in Albania?

Is this a translation of your Albanian-language post above?

[David Young]

I love the Arberesh dances and way of life.

I was, as you'd expect, visiting the Evangelical community each time. On the third visit two other chaps were with me (one English, one Kosovar), and we also visited the Orthodox bishop and had a fairly long session with him. He gave me a gift of two CDs of Arbëresh singing, much of it religious, and I find a lot of it hauntingly beautiful.

You ask about my thoughts concerning the Religious Census. Remember I live in Britain. Our one and only religious census was taken in 1851, more than 160 years ago. I have a copy for the county where I was born (Hampshire), and of course it gives a wealth of information - but probably not about what you're asking about!

[Trebor135]

What are your thoughts on the last religion census, David?

Do you have a link where non-albanophiles can read about this?

[David Young]

What are your thoughts on the last religion census, David?

Do you have a link where non-albanophiles can read about this?

Is the 'you' Trebor135 or me? Is the link to the religious census, or to Albania? Sorry to be so dense.

[Trebor135]

Is the 'you' Trebor135 or me? Is the link to the religious census, or to Albania? Sorry to be so dense.

I was hoping for a link from your side about the Albanian religious census.

[David Young]

Is the 'you' Trebor135 or me? Is the link to the religious census, or to Albania? Sorry to be so dense.

I was hoping for a link from your side about the Albanian religious census.

Sorry. I didn't know there had been one. In Zog's time it was always said that the population was about 70% Moslem (Sunni and Bektashi), 20% Roman Catholic, and 10% Orthodox (originally Greek, later autocephalous). People assume the religious affiliation or heritage is the same today. There are estimated to be about 8,000 Evangelcials and Pentecostals, maybe as many as 10,000, though with more people attending meetings than have been converted to Christ in that context.

[Trebor135]

Sorry. I didn't know there had been one. In Zog's time it was always said that the population was about 70% Moslem (Sunni and Bektashi), 20% Roman Catholic, and 10% Orthodox (originally Greek, later autocephalous). People assume the religious affiliation or heritage is the same today. There are estimated to be about 8,000 Evangelcials and Pentecostals, maybe as many as 10,000, though with more people attending meetings than have been converted to Christ in that context.

No problem. But, in a country of just under three million inhabitants, isn't eight to ten thousand low-Church Protestants a drop in the bucket, amounting to less than 0.05% of the population?

[David Young]

isn't eight to ten thousand low-Church Protestants a drop in the bucket,

Especially if the bucket leaks - and there is always a hemorrhage of personnel to Greece and elsewhere. I should have added that the Evangelical community is the fifth legally recognised religion: Moslem, Bektashi, RC, Orthodox, Ev.

[PeterTheAleut]

Pershendetje!!

Falemnderit, gjithashtu juve. Nga jini? Unë kalova shumë kohë në Korçë dhe në Gjirokastër, si dhe Prishtinë. Pres me memzi përgjigjje.

Me origjine sigurisht nga Jugu i Shqiperise. E dini shume mire shqipen? Sa vjet keni jetuar atje??

English Translation (from Google Translate): Originally from the south, of course. You know Albanian very well? How many years have you lived there?

[David Young]

Pershendetje!!

Falemnderit, gjithashtu juve. Nga jini? Unë kalova shumë kohë në Korçë dhe në Gjirokastër, si dhe Prishtinë. Pres me memzi përgjigjje.

Me origjine sigurisht nga Jugu i Shqiperise. E dini shume mire shqipen? Sa vjet keni jetuar atje??

English Translation (from Google Translate): Originally from the south, of course. You know Albanian very well? How many years have you lived there?

You didn't translate the emoticon!