title: Is Scala a Functional Programming Language?
body: <p>I've learned programming from Java, then tried to learn one programming language per year, second was C++, then Python. It came to learn next one, I looked for something new, I choose Scala because it was compatible with Java and could be some transition from OOP to Functional Programming. </p>
  
  <p>It was cool, learning new paradigms, new style and new way of thinking. It was great experience just read about elegant Scala concepts, and much better to code on Scala. </p>
  
  <p>Reading a lot of articles I faced <a href="http://enfranchisedmind.com/blog/posts/scala-not-functional/" rel="noreferrer">this</a> article criticizing Scala:</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>Scala is not a functional programming language. It is a statically typed object oriented language with closures.</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>After reading this articles some doubts came to me, I really like Scala and was starting to write on Scala more, but is Scala suits definition of Functional Programming? Is that article says truth or just faking readers? Must I learn Haskell or some other Functional Programming Language to really experience FP?</p>
  
  <p><strong>UPDATE</strong>: Expecting rational answers with good examples, without causing disputes.</p>