Hi All. Would a muslim be offended if i gave a St.Christopher pendant as a gift? The person is Turkish by the way. Do other religions recognise Patron Saints ?

Maybe a silly question but i really dont want to offend anyone or their beliefs, by giving this as a gift, if its not the done thing to do

Any advice,thoughts or comments on this would be most appreciated.

Janette

i dont know what u talking about but i have a question too & i hope u answer it.

have ramdan started in turkey or not?

thnx

Sorry i may not have explained the question clearly enough.

Not sure on your question either.... Sorry cant answer that for you.

Yes, 1st September

 Well,i dont know about others,but i guess i wouldnt be offended ´im Muslim´ but not Turk btw

İts your believe and you care about that person that much so you want to give him/her something holly,or spiritual ´for you´ to protect him,to ..mmm whatever the reason

İ remember i was taking a course,and i was having an exam and i was worried,so friend of mine told me he lighten a candle for me

İ thought it was nice.

But dont give statues or something like this,because mainly we dont keep statues in our homes.

 Why would you give a Muslim a Christian related symbol?  Would they understand the relevance of it?  I would be very careful about giving anyone a religious symbol, I personally would not like it unless that person was very close to me.  I would feel that the person is trying to push their religion onto me.

But it would be better to get opinions from Turks on this.

Thank you Canli. The person i want to give it to travels a lot, so thought it was appropriate to give a St Christopher pendant.

Also thanks for the advice on the statues, something i didnt know, learn something new everyday on here .

Thank you also Libralady. Never saw it like that...... forgive my ignorance here, but i really didnt know wether parton saints was followed by all religions.

So will re think the gift on that note. Thank you though for your thoughts and coments

 İf it was me,i wouldnt mind it,even i would think its nice,it shows your care,but also,i wouldnt put it in a holly position,i mean,i would treat it as nazarlık

İts something we ´grow up to THİNK not believe´ it keep the evil eye away,but still its not holly

İf thats ok by you,then i dont see a reason why cant you give it as a gift.

What´s wrong with a St Christopher?  It´s hardly a major religious symbol in Christianity is it? You might think twice about giving him a cross - but St Christopher is the patron saint of travellers and a St Christopher pendant seems a nice gift to give to someone who travels a lot - not much different to a Turkish person giving you a Nazar as a gift (and they often do!)

since when nazar relates to Islam?

 I thought it did - sorry my mistake - but it is given by Turkish people as a good luck charm isn´t it?  And this is really what a St Christopher medal is - a charm against accidents.

Modify:  OK just looked it up - I really did think it was religious rather than traditional

Nazar is more like a pagan tradition. Islam in fact bans these kind of objects that are believed to protect people.

 But you see them EVERYWHERE - all taxis and buses have one hanging up - every house round here has one over the doorway - the ban can´t be very effective.

 You can see them here too,in Taxis,buses,given as a gift when a baby born...ect,but it has NOTHİNG to do with İslam

İts baned,but not haram

Really??? I never knew about that we see them so much or the statue thing either, we have a lot of statues at home (they really scare me at night, lol, REALLY!)

janette, the goal of giving gifts is to make the people happy. therefore, it really doesn´t matter if you give that pendant as a gift. all religions are same. you can certainly give it.

 The goal is to give something meaningful yes, but it should be meaningful to the recipient more than to the gift giver. 

 İf it was a Cross,i would be restless yes

But if its a pendant,and i know what it means to the person who is giving to me,so i will appreciate it,and it will be meaningful to me as well.

Same as when my friend lighten the candle for me,its meaningless for me personally,meanss nothing,but because what it meant to him,it became meaningful to me too

He was praying to God for me,that is meaningful,and very nice too.

Btw,what does lightening the candle means ?

İ know he was praying,but when you light a candle along with the praying,what does it means?

İ thought its not nice to ask him ,not appreciative

i don´t need your agreement. clean your house at first.

Au contraire...I was not agreeing with you.  And my house is quite tidy, but thanks for your concern!

Mmmm,guys,i hate to interrupt,but can you tell me about the candle thing ?

 In the Chrisitian religion a candle symbolizes life and hope and being out of the darkness.

Thank you GG

These links may be useful Canlı:

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_do_Catholics_light_candles

http://landru.i-link-2.net/shnyves/candles.htm 

I find most Turkish people (at least the ones I know) very respectful of other faiths.

When every I visit Turkey, I always have to stop in the church of St. Anthony in Taksim. I just love to stop in and say a prayer of thanksgiving for my safe trip to and return home. My fiance knows I always light a candle and he goes over to buy one or two for me everytime. When his sisters went with us, they also light a candle and said a prayer.

I loved that they accepted me and my religion, just as I accept them and their religion

Wendy, that is wonderful!

 if more people accepted each others religious beliefs a lot of misconceptions and prejudices would be gone from the world .. in my opinion .. but more importantly there would also be "respect" and that is why turkey and turkish people hold a special place in my heart .. it is the respect that I saw whilst there.

 I support you wholeheartedly...

You can pray for anything you want. I - being an agnost for years now - still light a candle at a Maria statue (mother-figure to me) while thinking of my late father. Small inheretage of my catholic upbringing....

 I think if you were a strong Roman Catholic you might have a different view!  He may be a patron Saint of Travellers, but only originally in the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Christian faiths.

My point was that it would not have the same meaning to a Muslim as it would to a Christian.  If I was looking for a gift of this nature I would try and find something that is relevant to the persons culture, faith (if they are believers), country etc etc

Thank you so much to all of you for your thoughts and comments on this. Very interesting views i must say.

I suppose it would do no harm to offer the gift to my friend and ask if they would accept and let them know the meaning of it.

All i wanted to do what to let them know i would be thinking of them and their safety while they were travelling.

If they didnt want to accept it, then i wouldnt be offended by that at all.

Libralady ... i will do some research into gifts of this nature for a muslim and their beliefs. Thank you

Everytime a TC member asks for advice on a gift to take to Turkey for friends or boyfriend´s relatives, it is suggested that they take something from their own culture/country!  Personally if a Turk was to bring me a present in the UK I would much rather have a Turkish ´Eye´ than a St Christopher I could walk into Argos and buy any day of the week!

Sorry Lady in red. i cant do the goin to args bit.. i dont have 4 kids.. a buggy and a tracksuit to do that haha.

However i do see your point, but to give a turk a turkish eye is not something different is it. Maybe i should give my friend  compass so they dont get lost on their travels.. omg why didnt i think of that ages ago!!! lol 

 Haha!  And your name´s Janette and not Waynetta!! .  OK - I amend ´Argos´ to ´Ernest Jones´  !!

Modified:  How relevant!  Just go an advert email from Argos - how about one of these!!

Tom Tom 

Oh thank you sooo much... i totally forgot about sat nav! must drag myself into the 21 st century!

Would have to be in Turkish language though! haha .

Im so sorry too lady in red about the comment i made on Argos shoppers.. didnt know you shopped there too.. been on their mailing list an all

NOTE TO SELF... DO NOT STEREO TYPE ARGOS SHOPPERS!!!  hehe

Yes!! Be VERY careful what you say!! .  Never bought jewellery from there but even people who don´t have buggies, 4 kids and a velour tracksuit and aren´t called Waynetta are allowed to shop for electrical goods, garden furniture etc. you know! (although I do have 3 kids and I did once have a buggy for them and when I wasn´t so lazy and used to go to the gym 3 times a week, I even owned a tracksuit!!

Isn´t the Argos Catalogue a Chavs Bible?  and I am waiting to be struck by lightening!

Janette, I have an idea: why not introduce your Turkish friend to GPS (Global positioning system) Lots of fun for adults and children:

http://www.drive.subaru.com/Win06_Feature.htm

Excuse me LL - but what exactly are you implying!!!   Are you telling me - hand on heart - that you have never bought anything from Argos???  Because I won´t believe you!

What in the world is Argos?lol, is it like a flea market or bazaare or what in the world????I never knew there were so many people here from the Uk lol!!!!!

 Nope!  I won´t set foot in the place, on the other hand, my sister-in-law used to make the pages where she wanted things for her, her children and her husband for Christmas!

Oh I might have bought lego or toy tractors when my sons where small

 It is certainly bazzar and yes, it is like a bazaar!  It is like a big catalogue shop.  You can buy online or you can go the the shop and choose your item from the catalgoue and buy (unseen!) and carry it home.  If it is a big item you can get it delivered. 

Argos is renowned in the UK for having cheap jewellry and being able to sell items cheaper than most other shops.  Why not google Argos and take a look!

Cool LL!! Yu should like work in advertisement or something, you reall knew how to sell it to me lol!!! Ill google it now, Thx

I love argos..I always get my underwear from them..cheap yet sexy

 hmmm....my point exactly - personally most people I knew in the UK have shopped in Argos at some time - and I didn´t mix with ´chavs´ so I think you are being a bit snobby.

 ....any photos????  

EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!! Now im gonna get nightmares!!!! Thx a lot!!! lol

 Doudi - if you want to mix with the grownups you have to get used to this sort of thing!!

 I am such a grown up, my birthdays in like 10 days!!!! Plus now Ill have images that can never be deleted..............

Yes yes piccys please !!!  we wont share them.. will we ladies ! haha

Ooh handsome! Yu can make yourself a pretty good business here, lol, So whats the bidding price? Anybody wnna start?Lol

 Janette - please concentrate on your St Christopher v Turkish Eye problem!!!  Don´t get sidetracked .

To handsom:  Would you take a couple of Argos vouchers per pic??

Yes so sorry , must not get sidetracked here.. but the mental pics have taken over now haha

Handsome.. ill give you a whole book of argos vouchers per pic, plssssssssssssssssssssssss!

 Mine are worth £20 each!!!

We gotta 20! 20, 20 anybody wanna bid anymore??? 20, who  wants to raise???

 I´m just going for a swim - I´ll be back - keep an eye on the bids for me doudi - I can go higher! (and btw its 40 - I have 2 vouchers!!!)

 LIR!!! And you accused me of being naughty! Shame!

 Sexy?  In whose opinion, before I start bartering for the pics!  Please, no string vests, all that hair poking through would not do my headache any good!

 I kept some Greenshield Vouchers....................just in case I ever needed them!

Right now im fainting

The bid has just been raised! 40, 40, 40! Who dres to raise, our item today is .......... no need to say! Our top bidder LIR, whose still gonna compete??

 There seems very little interest  - can I lower my bid?

 If I said he buys his vests from Damart would that change your mind? 

 HOW DO YOU KNOW???????  - ARE YOU !!!!

Hey im still interested.. i been out for a while thats all, even more interested  if theres a string vest and sticky out hairy bits to go with it

We had this discussion last year about a bit of fur on men.. i like it so ill up my bid to 2 books worth of Argos vouchers and ill throw in a comb for the really hairy bits too

Look - Janette whoever you are with the friend in Turkey - please stick to your St Christopher buying and stop thinking about hairy men in underwear.

I WILL NOT LET YOU OUTBID ME!! . It was my idea to ask for photos and you needn´t think chucking in a free comb or 2 will get you anywhere - my bid is back up to £40 + ermm....some Tesco´s vouchers   (I think we can forget LL and her out of date GreenShield stamps)

Have you got any vouchers for extra Tesco Clubcard points with vegetable purchases?  He´s 40 points short of a weekend at The Legoland Hilton (Basement suite). . . he´s trying to impress a certain lady he has his eye on.

 Ha ha funny we both thought of handsom and Tesco as a pair. 

aww i was about to chuck in some greenshield stamps too to out bid you ! out of date are they? never mind.

Ok here´s the deal, you win the bid, scan the pix and send me copies  .  then we both happy and i can get back to sorting out me gift for me matey in turkey, hey maybe the pics be a nice gift hahahahaha.

right off for a cold shower now, all this talk of hairy turkish men has me all hot and bothered lmao.

 Hmm...???  You seem to know FAR too much about him - but yes I do actually have some and I will add them to my bid. (btw are you sure that isn´t 40 bricks short??)

 Why do you think he booked the basement and not the penthouse? 

 Ok handsom - we´ve decided - you send me the pics - I´ll scan copies to Janette and then I will send you £40 of Argos vouchers + some Tesco extra stamps towards your Legoland holiday.  How does that sound to you??

img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/10_01/LjungbergKleinFILER_468x645.jpg

Actually he (thehandom) sent me this but I don´t think he is telling the truth

 oooooh-that was niiiiice!

 Who is thehandom? ......sounds like an imposter to me! 

Aww thats not Handsom, sure i saw a pic of him before, hes more furrier than that!haha.

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh49/sebenton01/hairy_beach_dude_for_jesus.jpg

you are soo lucky.....this is the picture he sent me!!!

 OMG!!!  I´m not paying £40 (+ Tesco vouchers) for THAT!!!!

btw - did you pay for that - I didn´t notice your bid but somehow I am grateful!!!

 well i actually came across him advertising on a "sponsor a dudu" site ...... the pic cost me a mobile but it was my old one so don´t feel so bad

 Ama....he lives in the UK  - does this mean duduism is now international???

 god damn it a double con!! i feel so used

You are all MAD!!

ps..actually, Trudy joined with pm and offered a price which is the highest so far..I am still thinking about it..

 I told her half a kilo of sprouts might secure the deal.  Looks like I was right.

Soo, should i delete all the bids???

Itw as soo fun being the auctioneer auction guy whatever hes called , lol

Whats hilarious is this started out as a religious thread! Again TC does its magic...

 OMG if I did not know better .. THAT would put me off turkish men forever!!!

Let´s move this thread to "off-topic" section

Half a kilo? I offered him 50 gram! Apparently he can´t read that well, knowing no difference between 50 and 500!

 OK Yasın - I agree   Sorry - my fault really for mentioning Argos!!!

 LIR, the dudu rule is you can be a dudu in any country, so long as you are Turkish!

 And mine for being so childish

Naughty, naughty, naughty Moderators!!!!! 

ooh, this thread is hilarious! I know I´d love to see those pictures!

But shame on you people! Leave this poor handsom fellow alone! (btw can you pm me the real pictures?)

Just a  little swiss humor

~daisy - you have to put in a bid - you have to win them!! - Offers at the moment are £40 Argos vouchers + Tesco Club Vouchers (from me ), 2 books of Argos vouchers + one comb (Janette) and 50 grms brussels sprouts from Trudy (strange I know but she´s from the Netherlands so we have to make allowances ).  Can you do better???

How many sprouts in 50g ?  Clearly handsom "doesn´t know his brussels sprouts from his bean sprouts".  I think he´s been a little "green" accepting such an offer.