Christians in Egypt between hope and fear

For both Christian and Muslim youth the Arab Spring fostered hopes for greater democracy and respect for human rights. Recently, however, increasing sectarian violence and a rise in fundamentalist voices calling to establish Egypt as an Islamic state are dimming these hopes and isolating Christians. This new political shift combined with Islamist militant violence, opens a dark new chapter on Egypt's post revolution future.

Should Egypt become a full-fledged religious state governed by Shar'ia law, Egyptian Christians would confront a stark choice: submission to ever-greater religious persecution or emigration. The question facing the world's political leaders, however, is another: with Egyptian Christians numbering eight million, the risk of aggression begetting aggression could engender a spiral of sectarian violence destabilizing Egypt and the whole of the Middle East.

For Christians in the Middle East, the prophecy of Jesus Christ is lived out every day: 'If anyone wants to follow me, let him take up his Cross'. And this Cross is heavy, because it touches not only the individuals, but entire families.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Christianity
• Egypt
• Copts
• Coptic Church
• Coptic-Catholic Church
• Sharia law
• Fundamentalism
• islamists
• muslim brotherhood

[mammyoriordan]

The West's "murmurs" of condemnation are an absolute travesty!! - Blessings - Rene