Author: Jalatian Sonya

The Vancouver Sun (British Columbia)
November 26, 2004 Friday
Final Edition
Faith, death and violence: A researcher seeks to determine why some
people turn to hatred
Douglas Todd, Vancouver Sun
University of B.C. psychology professor Ara Norenzayan grew up in
Beirut, Lebanon, during a savage religion-fuelled war between
Christians and Muslims. As an altar boy in the Armenian Orthodox
Church, he sensed the power of religion for good and evil.
He also became familiar with death.
Now, 15 years after emigrating to North America at the peak of
Lebanon’s bloody conflict, Norenzayan is returning to his roots to
research the relationship between faith, thoughts of death and
violence.
The soft-spoken social psychologist has received a $105,000,
three-year grant from Canada’s national research council to deepen
his exploration into why people become religious and some turn to
hatred.
Devising unique psychological experiments, Norenzayan has already
discovered that the more people are exposed to the reality of death,
the more likely they are to believe in “supernatural agents,” like
God, angels or ancestral spirits.
He’s also concluded prominent scientists, such as Richard Dawkins,
are off track when they argue belief in God is, along with the atomic
bomb, the greatest danger to world peace.
Norenzayan’s studies suggest antagonism toward outsiders is not a
result of belief in God. It’s the byproduct of people finding a sense
of identity in a religious group.
To find out if there is a link between thoughts of death and belief
in the supernatural, Norenzayan devised two series of tests, one
involving hundreds of students at UBC and another involving subjects
in Malaysia.
He asked one group to write essays about death, reflect on pain in
the context of mortality and read a short story about a boy who dies.
He asked the control group to think about pain in relation to
visiting a dentist and read a story about a boy who doesn’t die.
Norenzayan and his team found subjects asked to contemplate death
were much more likely than those who weren’t to report they strongly
believe in supernatural agents.
Norenzayan says his experiments are the first to provide “solid
empirical evidence” to back up theories by Soren Kierkegaard and
Ernest Becker that humans become religious because they’re capable of
recognizing they will die.
“One of the definitions of religion is it’s a way of dealing with
anxiety-provoking thoughts,” Norenzayan says in his tidy third-floor
office overlooking the forest and ocean surrounding UBC, as quiet
classical music plays.
“All religions say death is not literally death, that mortality is
not the end of our being.”
Norenzayan — who maintains he’s not a “strict” religious believer,
despite maintaining ties to the Armenian Orthodox Church — says it’s
shocking how little research psychologists have done into the origins
and effects of spirituality.
“Most academics are blind to the power of religion.”
A typical psychology textbook, he says, contains virtually no mention
of religion, despite the 19th-century American founder of psychology,
William James, devoting a great deal of energy to the subject.
“Most psychologists have no idea why two people who are probably
equally religious — the Dalai Lama and Osama bin Laden — could end
up being so different, with one teaching peace and one preaching
violence.”
– – –
With his grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research
Council, Norenzayan plans to make his first trip to Lebanon since he
left at age 18.
He’ll explore more deeply the impression he developed as a young man
in the war-torn country that spiritual beliefs can be exploited by
leaders to foment aggression against outsiders.
And he’ll continue his experiments into why religion can breed both
peace-loving tolerance and intolerant fury, in the Middle East and
North America.
Norenzayan recognizes religion isn’t the only cause of violence, but
he also believes it “is at the top of the list of ideologies that can
kill.”
How exactly does religion lead to mayhem?
Norenzayan and his graduate student, Ian Hansen, have discovered it’s
not spiritual devotion that causes violence.
Norenzayan’s work builds on studies of Palestinian Muslims by his
alma mater, the University of Michigan, where researchers found the
more often Palestinian Muslims attended mosque, the more they
supported suicide terrorism. There was no link, however, between
Palestinians’ support for violence and how often they prayed at home.
The goal of one of Norenzayan’s experiments was to test North
Americans on their tolerance of religious pluralism. In effect, he
wanted to explore how subjects would respond to someone like the main
character in Yann Martel’s book, The Life of Pi, who claims he’s a
Hindu, a Muslim and a Christian.
Norenzayan’s team discovered Buddhists were most tolerant of
followers of other religions. Christians were less tolerant and
Muslims were the least tolerant.
Norenzayan believes that may be because Christianity and Islam
provide more group cohesion, leading to a belief there’s only one
true religion.
So how does thinking about death relate to religious tolerance?
For one thing, Norenzayan found study participants who were reminded
frequently about death were more likely to believe in supernatural
agents from not only their own religion, but from other religions.
In other words, a Christian contemplating death would become more
open to the Asian idea of revering ancestors.
“There’s an old saying: ‘In a storm, voyagers will believe in any god
to rescue them.’ To some extent, it’s hopeful that people facing
death will consider addressing other supernatural agents,” says
Norenzayan.
But his research also led him to a more negative side-effect tied to
when people think often about death: They become less accepting of
people who don’t belong to their culture.
Many Christians, for instance, became less tolerant of Jews and less
tolerant of prostitutes. More intense thoughts about death “seemed to
make people draw stronger cultural boundaries.”
Norenzayan is also wondering what the ramifications of his research
are for North America since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001,
which made a lot more North Americans anxious about their mortality.
He believes the terrorist attacks created a unique experimental
condition for a study of how increasing consciousness of death
affects religious tolerance.
“Sept. 11,” he says, “was one humongous manipulation of North
Americans’ thoughts about death.”
[email protected]
GRAPHIC: Color Photo: Glenn Baglo, Vancouver Sun; Ara Norenzayan:
‘Most psychologists have no idea why two people who are probably
equally religious — the Dalai Lama and Osama bin Laden — could end
up being so different, with one teaching peace and one preaching
violence.’

Azeri defence minister urges NATO to press Armenia to pull out of Karabakh
ANS TV, Baku
27 Nov 04
Azerbaijani Defence Minister Safar Abiyev has called on NATO to press
Armenia to end the occupation of Azerbaijan’s territories.
“It would be better if NATO would demand that Armenia withdraw its
armed forces from Azerbaijan’s occupied territories,” Abiyev said
in his address to the Rose-Roth seminar of the NATO Parliamentary
Assembly in Baku on 27 November.
The 58th Rose-Roth seminar of the NATO Parliament Assembly opened in
the Azerbaijani capital on 25 November and is due to end today.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EQUATORIAL GUINEAN COURT SENTENCES ARMENIAN PILOTS TO LONG PRISON TERMS
Arminfo
26 Nov 04
Yerevan, 26 November: A court in Equatorial Guinea has sentenced
Armenian pilots to prison terms ranging from 14 to 24 years.
It must be remembered that on 8 March of this year, the authorities
in Equatorial Guinea arrested a large group of people, which among
other foreigners, included six Armenian pilots. The Armenian pilots
were charged with complicity in the organization of a coup d’etat in
that country and are now facing imprisonment for up to 26 years. The
Armenian pilots are flatly denying the accusations.
The prosecutor had reportedly demanded that the Armenian citizens be
sentenced to 26 years’ imprisonment.

SOUTH CAUCASUS – IS PRIORITY REGION FOR NATO, SYMON LUNN BELIEVES
BAKU, NOVEMBER 26. ARMINFO-TURAN: One of the priorities of NATO is
protection and safety provision to the NATO member-states and the
countries which are under transition period, state the secretary
general of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Symon Lunn responding the
question of TURAN correspondent on priorities of the Alliance in the
South Caucasus.
Lunn noted that the South Caucasian region is priority for NATO and,
first of all, due to geographic situation. According to him, the
processes going on in the region may affect every country NATO-member.
“Global threats cause trouble in all countries”, Lunn noted. According
to him, one of the prior tasks for NATO is help in elimination of
this threat and providing of stability in the countries living under
transition period.
Responding the question on the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, Lunn
noted that the conflict can be solved only with agreements of both
sides. “Here, first of all we must take into account the security
questions. Both sides must work intensively with each other so that
to be able to regulate the conflict on mutually acceptable terms”,
Lunn said but he admitted that it is a long process.
“It seems that the other sides also may help in searching the ways
for the resolution of the conflict”, Secretary General said. According
to him, NATO does not take direct part in settlement of the conflict.
Responding the question on democratization in the countries of
South Caucasus. S. Lunn said that NATO followed the events but it
is difficult yet to give any concrete assessment. Speaking about
nuclear programs of Iran, he said that UN dealt in the question. But
some members of NATO, USA, Great Britain, France “very seriously”
treat the nuclear programs of Iran.

Police disperse Azeri pressure group’s anti-Armenian rally in capital
MPA news agency
25 Nov 04
Baku, 25 November: The Karabakh Liberation Organization [KLO] today
attempted to hold a picket outside the Hyatt Regency hotel in protest
against Armenian MPs’ arrival in Baku to attend the NATO Parliamentary
Assembly’s Rose-Roth seminar.
Police stopped the pickets near the entrance to the hotel, where
the seminar is being held. Following a clash [between the police and
the protesters], several pickets were arrested and taken to the 27th
police station.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FIVE SOLDIERS OF NKR DEFENSE ARMY KILLED AND SEVERAL INJURED IN ACCIDENT
STEPANAKERT, NOVEMBER 24. ARMINFO. Five militaries of NKR Defense Army
were killed and several were injured in a road accident in Mardakert
region, NKR, last Sunday. The NKR Defense Ministry confirmed this
information to ARMINFO.
A lorry transporting soldiers from bath-house to the military unit
turned over. An investigation is initiated on the fact. The details
have not been provided yet.

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Phone 212.319.6383 x.118
Fax 212.319.6507
Email [email protected]
Website
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, November 23, 2004
ARMENIAN PHILHARMONIC PLAYS TO PACKED HOUSE IN ISTANBUL
The AGBU-funded Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra (APO), along with the
State Academic Choir of Armenia, performed together in a sold-out
performance at Istanbul’s Lutfi Kirdar concert hall on October
15, 2004. The performance was the first of its kind in Turkey’s
cultural capital and was at the invitation by the Sahakian School
Alumni Association and sponsored by the district of Sisli, Istanbul,
an area with a large Armenian community.
Over 2000 people attended the event, including local politicians such
as the mayor and deputy mayor of Sisli, Mustafa Sarigul and Vasgen
Parn respectively, the Mayor of Pagirgiukh, Jacqueline Qeoseh, the
Russian Ambassador to Turkey, the Armenian representative to the Black
Sea Economic Cooperation, Arsen Avagian, as well as representatives
of various cultural and community organizations, and reporters from
all major Armenian and Turkish media outlets.
Under the direction of Istanbul-born Maestro Hovhannes Tchekidjian,
the APO performed some of the better-known works of Rossini, Orff,
Handel, Mozart and Verdi, along with a number of Armenian pieces
that moved the capacity crowd. During the Armenian program, soprano
Karine Avetissian sang highlights from the “Anoush” opera and soprano
Zemfira Daniyelian performed the “Sayat Nova” cantata, while during the
second half tenor Rafael Melkonyan performed a solo from Chukhajian’s
“Leblebiji” operetta.
The concert ended with a prolonged standing ovation and shouts of
“Bravo, Chekdji.” In response to the applause the APO performed
the recently anointed anthem of the Armenian capital of Yerevan,
“Erebouni-Yerevan”, followed by the popular, “Ara Ho”.
Formed over 75 years ago, APO has been mainly subsidized by the AGBU
since 1992 in recognition of the importance of the performing arts
in Armenia. Annual grants are allocated for weekly concerts, new
instruments, administration, salary supplements, international guest
artists and special festivals. APO has successfully toured Austria,
France, Greece, England, Lebanon, Iran, Russia and the UAE and has
produced over a dozen CD recordings. For more information on APO
please visit or
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian leader hails economic reforms
Arminfo
22 Nov 04
Yerevan, 22 November: Armenia has finished structural reforms,
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan said at the Berlin Economic Forum
on 19 November.
In his speech, Robert Kocharyan said that for the time being Armenia’s
aim was to move towards the European Union standards, the presidential
press service has told Arminfo news agency.
The number and scale of reforms, which involve large-scale
privatization, trade liberalization and the streamlining of the
functions of the state apparatus, currently ensure a steady economic
growth in the country, the Armenian president said. He recalled that
in the last four years, this growth amounted to a double-digit figure.
“The share of the private sector in GDP has exceeded 80 per
cent. Moreover, 38 per cent of them are small and medium-sized
businesses,” Robert Kocharyan said. Armenia is cooperating fruitfully
with the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the European
Commission in the economic sphere, he added.

FIRST HOLOCAUST OF 20-TH CENTURY
PanArmenian News
Nov 22 2004
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Fronda Warsaw publishing house printed a book by
Polish historian, doctor of the Poznansky University Gregosh Kukharchik
titled “The First Holocaust of the 20-th Century” (Pierwszy Holocaust
XX wieku). The book consists of 220 pages and is dedicated to Armenian
Genocide in the Ottoman Empire. To note, Armenian businessmen residing
in Poland Ruben Yesayan contributed to the publication of the book.

WORLD BANK ALLOCATES FIRST THEME OF POVERTY REDUCTION SUPPORT CREDIT TO ARMENIA
YEREVAN, November 19 (Noyan Tapan). The World Bank will allocate the
first theme of a Poverty Reduction Support Credit (PRSC) for Armenia
worth $20 mln. Roger Robinson, the Director of the WB Yerevan Office,
and RA Minister of Finances and Economy Vardan Khachatrian signed
the credit agreement on it in Yerevan on November 19. Roger Robinson
said during the November 18 press conference which followed the
signing that the Board of Directors of the World Bank completely
approved this new credit program consisting of four themes. It
is directed at the implementation of the RA government’s Poverty
Reduction Strategy program. A total of 75 mln dollars (the whole
sum of PRSC) will be allocated to Armenia during four years. The
credit will be made to Armenia on standard IDA terms, including 40
years maturity and a 10-year grace period. It will be given at 0.75%
annual interest rate. According to R. Robinson, the credit will be
transfered to the state budget and will contribute to the government
in poverty reduction. The first theme recognizes that a continuation
of Armenia’s exemplary macroeconomic performance over the past five
years is necessary to underpin high rates of growth. Moreover it
is supposed that the governance reforms will improve the climate of
public sector investment. The second theme of sharpening competition
and entrenching property rights – sutting across trade, utilities
regulation, property and contract law, banking and capital markets
and rural sectors – adrresses the key weaknesses in the competition
environment. According to V. Khachatrian, it became possible to
approve the program owing to a number of complex arrangements carried
out by the RA government. In particular, business atmosphere improved,
and it is expected that the work directed at the regulation of the
finacial market and the development of rural infrastructures will
be carried out next year. The Minister expressed hope that the first
part of the credit will be given to Armenia this December. A grant of
4.3 mln euros allocated by the Netherlands government will be also
directed at the implementation of the program. Vardan Khachatrian
also mentioned that Armenia’s work with international organizations
was very effective this year. He assured that the RA government is a
hopeful partner for international organizations and donor countries:
they work with Armenia in quite an active way and without doubts. Since
joining the World Bank in 1992 and IDA in 1993, the commitments to
Armenia make total approximately US $841 million for 37 operations.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress