The writer presents the historical incidents in Muslim-
Christian
relationships in Egypt.
He starts with Roman times, when Christians were closely related to the
church which was mainly involved in religious teachings and had nothing to do with politics, except
patriotism.
They confronted the Roman state until they got their right of citizenship.
The writer
turned to the era of
1919 revolution, in which the concept of the "National University" was aroused for its
first time and Egyptians
were all gathered under one slogan "Religion is for Allāh, home is for
all.”
Then, the July
1952 revolution came with new ideas that support the poor, both Muslims and
Christians, against feudalism. Although
some people accused the revolution of ending Christians’ political
days, historically relations between the
government and the church were very good.
During the era of
al-Sadāt, religious movements were
encouraged to participate in politics. As a result two competing
trends developed, the Muslim Brotherhood and the
Coptic nation movement [Umma al-
Qibtīya].
The writer ended with Mubarāk’s era saying
that, although Mubarāk believes
in the role played by the church, outer variables has given American
organizations the opportunity to
interfere with Muslim-Christian relations in Egypt. As a result the church has two
different trends, one
refuses external interference in its affairs and the other supports the external defense of
their rights.
Egyptians have ended up belonging more to religious organizations than to their own home, and
national unity
is now exclusively for television shows.
