On the morning of January, 28th, 2011 -- the morning of the "Friday of Anger" protests in Egypt -- I was attending Friday mass at the Coptic Orthodox church next to home. I still remember vividly how people at church on that day were praying and pleading due to fear and anxiety over the unstable situation in Egypt. I waited anxiously for the priest to send a clear message through his sermon. I wanted him to tell the people how they should react to what's happening in Egypt now and what role they should play. Instead, he pointed out the role that Christians should not play. In a light tone that doesn't match the seriousness of the topic, he said:
"We Christians have nothing to do with what is happening in the streets these days, ok? Don't tell me we're going to the streets and protesting. I urge every family to take its son and daughter and go directly home, make a nice breakfast and switch on the TV; at least, this is what I'm going to do."
The priest's comment was followed by soft laughter from the audience. I felt outraged.
While walking back from church, I kept thinking over and over about the subtle message underlying the priest's words to Christians, "Do nothing, be passive, and just watch!" In fact, I thought about this very same topic the other day when two of my fellow Egyptians and I reflected on our role in the revolution in Egypt during a panel here in Washington, DC. The group included one Christian (myself), and two Muslims. Yet, when we talk about the challenges we face, it is not as Christian or Muslim, but as Egyptians. Egypt has had a long and complex history when it comes to these two religions, but I believe and I hope that most young Egyptians are starting to realize that we must address these issues in a unified way if we are going to succeed.
Unfortunately, this has not been consistently the case. For years and years, many of the Christians in Egypt have been taking a passive stand on what is happening on the national level. Many, if not the majority, have been confining themselves to an isolated Christian community -- a ghetto. Part of this isolation can be attributed to the special nature of the Coptic Orthodox church institutions in Egypt, which act more like a comprehensive community centre than just a prayer house. Inside the Coptic Church institution, Coptic Christians are raised. In the process, they develop life-long family and friends, learn about God, others and themselves, and practice their social and spiritual life to the full. Even when most Christians choose to do community service, they do it through the church. Another reason for this isolation is the fact that many Coptic Christians in Egypt don't feel comfortable dealing with Muslims and going into deep relationships with them. They prefer to keep those relationships to a minimum, confining them to college or work settings.
It is ironic to think of the fact that even though many Christians had Muslim friends during college years, worked with Muslim colleagues, and exchanged felicitations with Muslims during big events and religious occasions; they usually had the underlying perception that they would never have a sincere and meaningful relationship with a Muslim. It was a relationship built on distrust, which made many Christians interpret any of the negative actions taken by Muslims as purely religious discrimination. I wouldn't argue that there isn't religious discrimination in Egypt against Christians by some Muslims. I would assertively claim that there is also a subtle discrimination in Egypt against Muslims by some Christians. How many Christian business owners prefer to hire Christian workers instead of Muslims claiming that Christians are more trustworthy or claiming that if they didn't hire Christians, who else would?
On January 28th, most of the Coptic Christians in Egypt preferred not to participate in what's happening in their country. They went to churches, prayed to God and then went home to watch their fellow citizens fighting and getting killed to liberate their country. However, gradually the scene started to change. As days passed and protests moved forward, many Christians realized how they have always been an inseparable part of this country, and that much of the oppression and persecution that fell on them was from the corrupt government and not from their fellow Muslim citizens. Specifically, many Christians believe that the ex-Minister of Interior was directly involved in the New Year's Eve church bombings in Alexandria.
Gradually, waves of Christians started flowing to El-Tahrir square and other parts across Egypt to take part in the glorious moments in Egyptian history, and to claim their rights as Egyptian citizens. Who can forget this grand moment when Muslim protesters were praying in El-Tahrir square amid the protests, while Christian protesters surrounded them to protect them from the brutal police attacks? It was a moment where the protesters transcended all the differences among them and remembered what unites them: a quest for freedom.
Now, during the most critical period in Egypt's life, when Egyptian citizens are working hard to ensure Egypt's safe transition to democracy, one asks the question: Where will Coptic Christians be during this period? Are they going back to their isolation? Or, will they realize that if they don't become active members in their country, they might lose their voice and their place in their country as a new day dawns. I continue to believe that it will be the latter, because months ago, many of us wondered if change was ever possible, and now, Egyptians of all walks of lives and religions are starting to believe that anything is possible.
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I did not hear you talking about the killing of Christians which mening COPTS, not only through the history when Arabs (Islam) has conqured Egypt in the 632 AD in burned ALEXANRIA Library which the first library on the earth!!!
Saying that do not meant to be living the past, but it is in the current time and to the same, if not a worse!
I did not hear you talking about the GOVERNOR OF the Qina province which he is A COPT and the vast majority of the province are muslims, has rebelled againdt him, simply because he is A christain (COPT) and they do not wanted t be governed by a Christian, simply called an INFIDEL!
In fact they have killed too many Christian out there for the same simple reason; and this is not an ancient history, it ia has happened a few weeks ago!!!!
I do not know where have you been? But I do know you are have no understanding of what the church is meant and means to those people! It is only a place where they can feel safe!
This is what the secular mafia said about Iran. Hah!ha!! ha!!!
"More than 50,000 people on Saturday attended a joint rally held by the Muslim Brotherhood group and Salafis in Haram district, Giza.
The organizers chanted slogans stating that the Brotherhood and the Salafis are one, and that both seek to apply the Islamic Sharia.
“The United Arab States and the United Islamic States are inevitably coming,” said prominent Salafi preacher Safwat Hegazy at the rally. “And soon we will have one caliph to rule us all.”
Hegazy condemned those who burnt the church in Imbaba on Saturday. “They are not Salafis or Brothers, nor are they Egyptians,” he said. “They are the enemy that incites sectarian strife.”
Salafi preacher Mohamed Hassan, for his part, called on all Islamic groups to reassure Muslims and Christians alike. “Egypt does not belong to the Muslims alone,” he said. “And Copts are protected by Islam. They need not resort to the United States for that.”
http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/node/428732
Of course they will live under dhimmitude. What about athiests and polytheists; they will have to disappear. Great!!!
Yes, it's a war; war between the good and evil!
Concerning the aid, I totally agree. We all know that the USAID was channeled through the corrupt government and was doing much on grounds. How many millions if not billions of dollars have been pumped to Egypt in the form of aid for the past years? Where did it go and how it helped the country? a question to be posed.
I say let them all do unto each other what they want to so long as they leave me out of it.
There is no muslim country in tthe world where they treat minorities with fairness and justice. The religion prohibits it. Egypt was a Christian majority country; Islam entered and over a period 300/400 years all Christians were driven out, killed or forcibly converted. Before the revolution at least Mubhaarak was giving them some protection and now it is free for all. The punishment for apostacy in Islam is death. Read this:
"Tensions have risen this year between Egypt's Muslim majority and its Coptic minority.
A Coptic church in the town of Alexandria was bombed on New Year's Day, killing 23 people -- the deadliest attack on Christians in Egypt in recent times.
Ten days later, a gunman killed a Christian man and wounded five other Christians on a train in Egypt.
In November, a group with ties to al Qaeda in Iraq announced that all Christians in the Middle East would be "legitimate targets," as the group's deadline for Egypt's Coptic church to release alleged Muslim female prisoners expired.
The group's claim that the Coptic Church in Egypt is holding female prisoners is based on widespread rumors of Coptic women in Egypt converting to Islam and being detained by the church in an attempt to compel or persuade them to return to their original faith."
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/05/07/egypt.clashes/
Racism can be found in any religion, not only in Islam.
But these Christians need full protection under the interim military government and then under any democracy, if any, that forms subsequently. This will not prevent incidents but will at least address them after they occur bringing the perpetrators to justice rather than sweeping it under a rug denying the bias link to their crimes. And maybe also serve as a deterrent. Only when this besieged community feels safe can such a dialogue begin.
You leanred an important lesson.... going to church for inspiration is like going to a hardware store for milk.
They are in the proverbial rock and hard place. The previous regime did precious little to protect them even denying them the right to renovate or build their churches. And, the future is most uncertain.
What does one expect that community should do as a whole in such a difficult situation? .
Further, if a people haven't been steeped in the Gospel of grace for a good long time, the fading of the dictator lets out all the resentments both just and petty, and there will be anarchy until someone else who's pretty ruthless comes along and imposes an end to everyone seeking his pound of flesh.
Tyranny will be the lot of the Arab and Muslim worlds until Christian clergy are able to openly preach and serve the sacraments in Mecca itself--and to people named Ali and Muhammad as well as to those named Butros and Antun.
Are you kidding?! If the situation was reversed, the fundy Chirstians would give us nothing but the same tyranny. Look at the headlines in the papers. They want a christian theocracy just as much as the funy Muslems want an Islamic theocracy. The only way to democrary is "of the people, by the people and for the people" and separation of church and state. No religion is going to give anyone Liberty. (I can't believe we're still having ths discussion after July 4, 1776.)
pursuit for world hegemony in religious matters only gives rise to a similar response in others?
The tyranny of one begets the tyranny of the other. So it is true with an expansionist approach that the imposition of a ministry on others will beget the same in return.
But now, if I am not mistaken, there is fear of al Ikhwan (Muslim Brotherhood) filling the political vacuum left behind by the former regime.