A Sense of Belonging

Did the Muslims Conquer Jerusalem?

Did the Muslims conquer the Middle East? History says they did, from both the Western and Islamic perspectives. Much of the self-understanding of modern civilization has been built upon this premise, the resulting Crusades, and eventual colonization by European powers. Some fear there are signs of a renewed animosity between the Western and Muslim worlds, a … Continue reading →

Friday Prayers for Egypt: Militant Human Rights

God, Egypt is abuzz over human rights allegations, accusing security of systemized torture. Egypt is ablaze in militant conflict, attacking security in systemized violence. Clarity, God, and safety. Settle the challenges Egypt must face. The government refutes the charges of torture, stating any examples are individual, investigated, and prosecuted. It states the research into the … Continue reading →

Saudi Arabia’s Neighbor Defends Religious Freedom of Individuals

This article was originally published by Christianity Today, on September 13. The cause of religious freedom received a significant boost from the Muslim world today. The island Kingdom of Bahrain—connected by bridge to Saudi Arabia—has declared “freedom of choice” to be a “divine gift.” “We unequivocally reject compelled observance,” states the Bahrain Declaration for Religious … Continue reading →

A Long Good-Bye, From Far Away

Today, September 12, would have been my mother-in-law’s 67th birthday. Tayta, as our children call her, passed away six months ago. She fought courageously through two bouts of cancer, and the first time she triumphed. The second time, she succumbed. We remember her well, but the relationship will never be the same. Complicating things completely … Continue reading →

Friday Prayers for Egypt: Rohingya

God, The Azhar spoke out about the death and displacement of Muslims from Myanmar. It called on the world’s conscience to care, and the international community to do something about it. It also asserted—rightly or wrongly—that if they were Jews, Christians, or Buddhists, there would have been action already. God, some of the images are … Continue reading →

Happy Birthday: The First Coptic Church in North America

At least in urban and suburban America, it seems like Copts are everywhere. There is an Orthodox Church a town over from where I grew up in New Jersey. I played soccer with an Egyptian Christian in high school. Strange to think then, the church in North America is only 39-years-old, today. Technically that … Continue reading →

The Uneasy Life of a Middle East Skeleton

Meet Max. In skeleton-years he is at least 55. Max came to our home about three years ago, and I must confess we have not treated him very well. At the time of his arrival our young children had Egyptian friends playing over the house, and we are unsure if there was any unspoken trauma … Continue reading →

Is Sex Slavery Legal in Islam?

In my recent post about al-Azhar and the doctrine they spread around the world, one reader offered this question in the comments: Someone I know wrote an article about Islam recently and made the statement that, according to his knowledge, official Islam has never condemned the action of ISIS soldiers in raping Yazidi women. He … Continue reading →

Friday Prayers for Egypt: Eid Precaution

God, As Muslims celebrate, keep their joy. As Egyptians observe, keep them safe. In Egypt and around the region, security is stepped up in prevention of extremist attacks. The pilgrimage, a time of piety for many, is a time of advertising for others. May the eid pass peacefully, God. May peace come in their supplication. … Continue reading →

An Iraqi Refugee Leads Us Home

Abu Rafi surveyed what once was a familiar scene. Displaced from Qaraqosh, Iraq by the marauding ISIS forces, his family of ten fled to Kurdistan where he secured a two bedroom apartment. Now with ISIS in retreat, he traveled back to see the wreckage. Their home was robbed and burned. They used to host many … Continue reading →

The Coptic Church in Japan

There may be three million Christians in Japan, one percent of the population. They now have a Coptic Orthodox Church among their options. Egypt’s Pope Tawadros arrived on August 26 to consecrate Japan’s first Coptic Orthodox congregation, the Church of St. Mary and St. Mark. Tawadros hailed the cooperation between Japan and Egypt, especially the … Continue reading →

Friday Prayers for Egypt: Trump Trial

God, They started out friendly. Probably they still are. But the American president played an unexpected wild card, with developments still uncertain. The US cut its military aid. Trump has repeatedly praised Sisi, who has returned the admiration. But even so his administration followed an Obama pattern in holding back some aid pending better progress … Continue reading →

The Muslim Brotherhood’s Fatal Mistake

In his recent article for Foreign Affairs, Eric Trager says the Brotherhood miscalculated at Rabaa, and in post-Morsi policy in general. It certainly hasn’t worked out well for them, but I have one small quibble, perhaps: Indeed, from the moment of Morsi’s July 3 overthrow, the Brotherhood’s leaders understood that they were in a kill-or-be-killed struggle … Continue reading →

Rethinking Political Islam, but then What?

The first part of the title is the name of a very good explanatory piece in The Islamic Monthly. It also is the name of a new book by Shadi Hamid and Will McCants, collecting analysis from Islamists published individually at Brookings. The trouble is, this article leaves me with more questions. First the good stuff: In … Continue reading →

Friday Prayers for Egypt: New Proposals

God, Egypt is debating significant changes. Give her the wisdom to walk the right path. Some have proposed the constitution be amended to allow the president a six-year term. Others say leave the constitution alone, and implement it. Some have proposed the marriage age be lowered to 16 to legalize longstanding practice. Others say there … Continue reading →

God in the Little Things, For Us

For the first time in my life, I locked the keys in the car. Worse, it was borrowed. All the movie tricks with wire hangers came into my mind, but none seemed like they’d work. I was stuck. Stuck an hour away from home. With two of my kids, picking them up from camp. One … Continue reading →

The Egyptian Founder of the Sunday School Movement

Perhaps it is likely you find one word in this title a bit odd? We’ve had Sunday School in American churches long before I can remember – could it really have been an Egyptian immigrant? That would be a tale, but the idea traveled in the other direction. Sunday Schools in Egypt are thriving, and … Continue reading →

“Why Call for Having a Church Now?”

From Open Democracy, a translation of local sheikhs in Upper Egypt who led a campaign against the construction of a church in their village. In late February 2017, a major international conference hosted by Al-Azhar concluded with the issuance of an important declaration affirming Muslim and Christian religious institutions’ commitment to the principle of equal … Continue reading →

Friday Prayers for Egypt: Ag, HR

God, Egypt used to be a breadbasket. Now she imports her food. But vegetables are still desired abroad, if only they would accept them. Several nations have put a ban on Egyptian agriculture, wary of pesticides. Egypt had been hoping for boom harvest sales, having recently devalued the currency. Now they may face a domestic … Continue reading →

A Primer on Salafism III

Salafism is often wrongly criticized. But it can be rightly criticized also. The first post in this series emphasized how it is often a popular (meaning of the people) expression of Islam. The first essay here shows how this happens, though I think it errs in conclusion. The second doesn’t even err, because it doesn’t … Continue reading →