"The secularists in Turkey haven't underestimated religion, they just made the mistake of believing they could control it with the power of the army alone"

This quote by Orhan Pamuk speaks to the tension between secularism and religion in Turkey. It recommends that the secularists in Turkey have not ignored the power of religious beliefs, however rather have overstated the power of the army to control it. This indicates that the secularists have actually not taken into account the power of faith and the strength of spiritual convictions. It likewise suggests that the secularists have not taken into account the fact that religious beliefs is not something that can be managed by force. Instead, it is something that must be appreciated and comprehended in order to be successfully handled. This quote highlights the significance of understanding and appreciating religion in order to successfully manage it, rather than attempting to control it through using force.