In the time of my existence, I have learned a few things about life and people. One thing I've learned is that often religion has a negative connotation. Lots of people don't like to talk about it. But I'm gonna talk about it.
WARNING: All of this is based on experience. I have done no research. If you find anything factually incorrect about anything I say, please let me know so I can correct it.
Alright, let's begin. Egyptians are religious. Not just Muslims, but the majority of people here are very religious.
I lived in Virginia until 2012, there I was a member of FCA. Most, if not all, of my friends belonged to a religion and practiced it regularly and openly. When I moved to California, I noticed lots of people didn't. In fact, I don't really know any religious people outside of my church. The US also had the whole separation of church and state thing. As far as I know, Egypt doesn't.
In school, teachers and students alike are openly religious. The religion class is taught in Arabic so I don't know what they talk about, but I feel like it is taught in a factual manner as opposed to belief. By this I mean they don't say "Christians believe there is one god." Rather, they say "There is one god." There is nothing wrong with this way of teaching, if it is how they teach. I'm just not used to it. Every Saturday, during the religion period we go to the in-school chapel. There they sing praise songs and listen to some sort of sermon thing (again it's in Arabic do I don't know exactly).
My friends do not miss church. Period. They don't miss church because they don't want to miss church. No one (as far as I know makes them go). It's weird because I think that they are very religious, but now that I think about it, I think I am just as religious. I just don't think I'm as forward about it. Or at least I try not to be.
The next part of this is about atheism. Is that a word? I don't know. Anyway, atheists are not accepted in Egypt. My orientation coordinator made sure to tell me that. Again, I'm Christian so there wasn't really a problem. No one assumes you don't belong to a religion here. On the visa application on the part where it has name, birthdate, passport number, etc. it has religion on it. The German exchange student in my class doesn't belong to a religion. My friends were talking about it and how they wanted to help home find Jesus or something. I had to explain that culturally most western-ish countries don't put a lot of emphasis on religion, and how there are many non religious people. Atheism is as foreign a concept to them as the whole very open religiousness concept is to me, and maybe you.
On my first day when we were going to the chapel, I didn't know what was going on. They said "are you Muslim or Christian?" The bluntness of the question had shocked me because in America we ask "so... What are you?" I mean when people hear I'm going to Egypt, they ask if I'm Muslim. When I say no, that's what they ask "what are you?" I'm guilty of this too. Americans are so careful with religion we ask that question like different religions are different species. "So... What are you?" "Oh, I'm an iguana. You?" "I'm a beaver." Like is it so offensive to ask "What is your religion or lack there of?"
This last part I'm gonna be quick with. If you want to read or hear more of this, there's like a million and one debates in the comments section of any positive Muslim post on any website on the internet.
First things first. Not all Egyptians are Muslims. In fact according to the CIA world factbook. 10% of the people are not Muslim. With a population of 86,895,099 people that's a lot of non-Muslims, in this case Christians. The whole 10% are Christian. So there's that myth busted.
Next, if you think Muslims = terrorists. You are wrong. So wrong, I'm not gonna explain how wrong you are. Google can help with that.
Next, if a woman is wearing a hijab by choice, it is just that. Her. Choice. So back off.
Finally, apparently every time I meet someone new there's a 9/10 chance they're Muslim. My host family is a Muslim family. They are literally the nicest people I know. They took me in and feed me and buy me toothpaste and make sure I'm happy and they are incredible. Same goes with everyone I've met so far. The thing about Egyptians, Muslim or Christian, is that they are all so nice. So nice. I get offered food all day. All day. People are always making sure others are happy. There are arguments and fights and stuff, I mean it's not the most peaceful country in the world. It's no Canada, but I cannot stress the generosity and kindness and welcoming....ness that this country and the people have shown me. There are not enough words in the 3 languages I take in school to explain how grateful I am for all of it.
If you are Egyptian and you've extended kindness to me or anyone, thank you. I am now hugging you.
If you do not qualify for the last virtual hug. Here's another one because you are awesome.
As I was writing this I remembered there were like so many religious events that happened in Egypt. Like Moses, "Let my people go!" I mean the Red Sea that was parted by Moses is like an hour an a half away. Actually, no that's the Suez Canal. Whatever I'm closer to the Red Sea than some of you are so there.
If you learned anything from this, I hope it's to watch yourself before making generalizations about a culture you haven't experienced and get to know a person for who they are instead of "what they are". And also, religion isn't a bad thing. And that "what is your religion or lack there of?" should be an appropriate and acceptable question.
Thanks for reading. Eat your broccoli. Here's a picture of a baby lion:
Stay beautiful.
Byeeeeee
Corie.
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