Weekly Photo Challenge: Future Tense

 
It was in 2008 when I went to Turkey, but the memories of that trip remain fresh in my mind. It involved long walks on rugged terrains and accommodations that weren’t at par with Western standards. The rewards more than compensated for all the troubles.

One of these rewards was the opportunity to visit churches built during the early days of Christianity. Although I don’t consider myself a Born-Again Christian (actually, I’d be excommunicated for my beliefs), entering these churches had evoked some kind of religious experience within me.

After the Muslim takeover of the country, Christian churches like the hagia sophia and the St. Chora Church were turned into a mosque. As a result, their frescoes and mosaics were covered following the Muslim edict of not allowing any kind of images inside a mosque. Since tourism has become the country’s number two industry, these churches were transformed once again. This time, they were converted into a museum and their interior artwork restored for public viewing. Lesser known churches, such as those carved from the side of the mountains in Cappadocia, were abandoned and left to ruins.

As people turn away from organized religion, I see a future where churches and other places of worship may become mere objects of curiosity and nothing more. The future is tense indeed.

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