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I am saddened to hear of the latest news happening in Egypt. Coptic Egyptians (Christians) and Muslims have clashed following the supposed conversion of a Christian woman to Islam (but I read elsewhere that this may not be entirely accurate either?).
It seems 12 have died and hundreds have been wounded.
My heart and prayers go out to all who have been affected by this traumatic event. +
Link to washingtonpost article, with some pictures:
Hundreds of Christians, Muslims clash in downtown Cairo after mobs burn church
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Friday, April 8, 2011
A little note
As I am currently in Jerusalem for Easter and staying a while, I am mostly writing about Easter events here. I don't feel the need, or see the point, in posting to both blogs if the topics are the same. Some may pertain mostly to Christians in the Middle East, regardless of the time of year, which I would post here. Obviously if it's Easter-appropriate then it will go on the other blog.
That is all :)
I am wishing everyone a very happy Easter season and celebration!! +
Sunday, April 3, 2011
'Incendies' Movie
Flying. I really do not like to fly but I gladly endure it to have life-altering experiences.
I would never expect to see important and/or meaningful movies offered for viewing
on a flight, yet that is what happened on my Air Canada flight to Tel Aviv 4 days ago.
The movie in question is a Canadian movie called "Incendies" which translates to "Fires."
It is basically about 2 Canadian twins who, upon their Christian mother's death,
go in search to uncover a secret from her past. Since the movie is about the Lebanese
civil war, I presume that the mother is Christian Lebanese. However the movie is never
really specific about the location, which could have been done intentionally.
civil war, I presume that the mother is Christian Lebanese. However the movie is never
really specific about the location, which could have been done intentionally.
This is definitely a memorable movie but also tops my "saddest movies I've ever seen" list.
It's in Canadian French and Arabic and is subtitled.
Be ready to watch/do something ridiculously cheerful after viewing this!!!
YouTube trailer:
Sunday, February 27, 2011
From the Holy Mountain: A Journey in the Shadow of Byzantium by William Dalrymple
William Dalrymple’s From the Holy Mountain: A Journey in the Shadow of Byzantium may quite possibly be my favorite read thus far. His account chronicles his encounters with Christian communities starting from his passage through Greece’s Mt. Athos, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel and the Occupied Territories and Egypt. His goal? To walk in the footsteps of Orthodox monk John Moschos, albeit 1400 years later. As Moschos witnessed the increasing threats to the Byzantine Empire (Persian, then Arab Islamic invasions, as well as plagues and diseases), so does Dalrymple explore and highlight the complex situations of today’s Middle Eastern Christians.
There are a few things to note on his account. Despite the apparent contradictions, reading it was heartbreaking, anger-inducing but also hilarious on several occasions. Tears aside, I laughed hysterically for minutes on end, with my favorite moments including the taxi driver at Aleppo (searching for a Syrian Orthodox Cathedral), the man I refer to as the “cat-hunter,” and of course those drunken Egyptians in the taxi cab. Despite the 454 pages, I consider this a complete page-turner, so easy it is to read and hard to put down. For those who don’t know much about Middle East Christians, I’d say this account covers it quite effectively and would be a great place to start. It’s also very useful to read prior to a trip to any/all of the Middle Eastern countries in question due to its substantial historical information.
As sad as it may be to see that the Christian population of the Middle East is steadily declining, it’s also true that it has not entirely disappeared. At least not yet (and who knows? Maybe it never will…?!). 17 years ago, when Dalrymple wrote his account, some of his interviewees were estimating that “no one would be left in 15 years.” I am delighted to say that this is not so. Surely, no one can deny their declining presence, but perhaps my heart also rejoices at the thought that maybe this unfortunate decline is taking its time, that the little that is left is holding on by everything it’s got…
Are Christians deciding to stay no matter what? Is it ‘betrayal’ when/if one chooses to leave and start a life elsewhere? If it was ever an option, would the ones who left ever consider going back? Many are the questions, abounding are the answers.
Depressing aspects aside, one thought lingers steadfastly in my mind: if nothing else, such an account reminds me that some things take much time to disappear, or in fact, never entirely do. +
Amazon.com links (published under 2 similar yet distinct names):
From the Holy Mountain: A Journey in the Shadow of Byzantium
From the Holy Mountain: A Journey among the Christians of the Middle East
There are a few things to note on his account. Despite the apparent contradictions, reading it was heartbreaking, anger-inducing but also hilarious on several occasions. Tears aside, I laughed hysterically for minutes on end, with my favorite moments including the taxi driver at Aleppo (searching for a Syrian Orthodox Cathedral), the man I refer to as the “cat-hunter,” and of course those drunken Egyptians in the taxi cab. Despite the 454 pages, I consider this a complete page-turner, so easy it is to read and hard to put down. For those who don’t know much about Middle East Christians, I’d say this account covers it quite effectively and would be a great place to start. It’s also very useful to read prior to a trip to any/all of the Middle Eastern countries in question due to its substantial historical information.
As sad as it may be to see that the Christian population of the Middle East is steadily declining, it’s also true that it has not entirely disappeared. At least not yet (and who knows? Maybe it never will…?!). 17 years ago, when Dalrymple wrote his account, some of his interviewees were estimating that “no one would be left in 15 years.” I am delighted to say that this is not so. Surely, no one can deny their declining presence, but perhaps my heart also rejoices at the thought that maybe this unfortunate decline is taking its time, that the little that is left is holding on by everything it’s got…
Are Christians deciding to stay no matter what? Is it ‘betrayal’ when/if one chooses to leave and start a life elsewhere? If it was ever an option, would the ones who left ever consider going back? Many are the questions, abounding are the answers.
Depressing aspects aside, one thought lingers steadfastly in my mind: if nothing else, such an account reminds me that some things take much time to disappear, or in fact, never entirely do. +
Amazon.com links (published under 2 similar yet distinct names):
From the Holy Mountain: A Journey in the Shadow of Byzantium
From the Holy Mountain: A Journey among the Christians of the Middle East
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Sociology of Early Palestinian Christianity by Gerd Theissen
Continuing in my endeavor to read books on Christianity, I have completed Gerd Theissen’s Sociology of Early Palestinian Christianity (originally published under the title The First Followers of Jesus). The book discusses the effects of the “Jesus movement” within both Judaic and Hellenistic societies. Not an easy subject to research or even to explain (as per Theissen: “there is hardly any literature which gives a thematic treatment of the sociology of earliest Palestinian Christianity” p.120), I of course did learn quite a bit from his analysis.
It was interesting to find that although the “Jesus movement” was first construed as a renewal movement within Judaism, it soon became clear that it was a separate religion. By analyzing the 3 roles of the “Jesus movement”— the wondering charismatics, their supporters in local communities, and the bearer of revelation—we see how each society was influenced (or not so much) by this “Jesus movement.” Theissen highlights that Judaism was undergoing an identity crisis, with various groups constantly arguing over the concept of “true Torah” and debates over “stricter interpretation of the Torah or laxer interpretation” (p.77). He hypothesizes that some of these renewal movements came about as a reaction against Hellenistic influences, thus intensifying norms. It is amidst the tensions of Judaic and Hellenistic societies that the “Jesus movement” emerged, eventually finding ground in Hellenistic society.
Although a mere 119 pages, this analysis is very dense and is by no means ‘a quick read’ (or at least it wasn’t for me?! and I say this having had religion classes as a kid in Brussels, having taken religion classes in college and acquiring my Bachelor’s, and having numerous religious books at home… go figure!). At the very least, one’s vocabulary is sure to be enriched following the completion of this book. Terms like apodeictic, eirenic, monistic, and Palestinian Jewish society abound and may leave you reaching for your dictionaries and religious texts on repeated occasions (as it did for me). Since various subjects in this analysis interest me, I am delighted that a bibliography of helpful works is provided to help us launch our own personal quest for answers, if we are so inclined.
Amazon.com link:
Sociology of Early Palestinian Christianity by Gerd Theissen
It was interesting to find that although the “Jesus movement” was first construed as a renewal movement within Judaism, it soon became clear that it was a separate religion. By analyzing the 3 roles of the “Jesus movement”— the wondering charismatics, their supporters in local communities, and the bearer of revelation—we see how each society was influenced (or not so much) by this “Jesus movement.” Theissen highlights that Judaism was undergoing an identity crisis, with various groups constantly arguing over the concept of “true Torah” and debates over “stricter interpretation of the Torah or laxer interpretation” (p.77). He hypothesizes that some of these renewal movements came about as a reaction against Hellenistic influences, thus intensifying norms. It is amidst the tensions of Judaic and Hellenistic societies that the “Jesus movement” emerged, eventually finding ground in Hellenistic society.
Although a mere 119 pages, this analysis is very dense and is by no means ‘a quick read’ (or at least it wasn’t for me?! and I say this having had religion classes as a kid in Brussels, having taken religion classes in college and acquiring my Bachelor’s, and having numerous religious books at home… go figure!). At the very least, one’s vocabulary is sure to be enriched following the completion of this book. Terms like apodeictic, eirenic, monistic, and Palestinian Jewish society abound and may leave you reaching for your dictionaries and religious texts on repeated occasions (as it did for me). Since various subjects in this analysis interest me, I am delighted that a bibliography of helpful works is provided to help us launch our own personal quest for answers, if we are so inclined.
Amazon.com link:
Sociology of Early Palestinian Christianity by Gerd Theissen
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Jerusalem 2009 slideshow
What's a blog without at least a few photos? Here are some taken during my trip in 2009. I shall soon be going back for a longer period of time, and I can only imagine the ridiculous amount of pictures I'll be taking then... Just the thought gets me all excited and is making me hunt down a deed-appropriate camera...
I'll let the visuals do the talking. +
I'll let the visuals do the talking. +
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Blood Brothers - Elias Chacour
I recently read Blood Brothers by Elias Chacour. At first it surprised me that this book didn’t seem to pop up immediately on search engines when I’d browse this subject matter. I’d already created a list of books I’m dying to read, but this one I hadn’t really heard of. It was by chance that I found this copy at a new & used bookstore for $3 (gotta love it when that happens!)
After reading, perhaps now I understand why I hadn’t heard much of it. In comparison to a myriad of more recent books, this one may seem "dated," although of course it’s still a worthy read. The issue is still as relevant as ever, and Chacour’s story is truly a touching and unique Christian Palestinian experience. We can never have enough of those. It is also non-evangelical, which I enjoy.
His story covers the time span from 1947 to 1982, starting with the arrival of European Jews to Palestine--including Chacour’s very own town of Biram-- and concluding with the events of the Lebanese refugee camps of Sabra and Shatila. There is no mention of the 1979 Iranian Islamic revolution or of its influence throughout the Middle Eastern world, possibly because this influence took many years to manifest itself...
Chacour seems like a very honorable man who has done much to spread his wish for peace between Jews and Palestinians and who seems unmoved by personal or political gain. He studied in Paris and made connections throughout Europe, and was the first Palestinian to study at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He has encountered different lifestyles and people and has accepted in his heart what matters most to him, culminating in his return to the land of his birth.
He continues his work in the Galilee region of Israel and if there was any way I could, I would truly love to meet him in person (but I’m sure he’s the rather busy man…).
As always, I have other books lined up which I hope to read and deliberate on very soon.
Among them:
Sociology of Early Palestinian Christianity by Gerd Theissen
Palestine at the time of Christ by Henri Daniel-Rops
But these will come as soon as I conclude Orhan Pamuk’s “Snow,” in which I am completely engulfed and finding very hard to put down…
Truly I’d be lost without books! +
After reading, perhaps now I understand why I hadn’t heard much of it. In comparison to a myriad of more recent books, this one may seem "dated," although of course it’s still a worthy read. The issue is still as relevant as ever, and Chacour’s story is truly a touching and unique Christian Palestinian experience. We can never have enough of those. It is also non-evangelical, which I enjoy.
His story covers the time span from 1947 to 1982, starting with the arrival of European Jews to Palestine--including Chacour’s very own town of Biram-- and concluding with the events of the Lebanese refugee camps of Sabra and Shatila. There is no mention of the 1979 Iranian Islamic revolution or of its influence throughout the Middle Eastern world, possibly because this influence took many years to manifest itself...
Chacour seems like a very honorable man who has done much to spread his wish for peace between Jews and Palestinians and who seems unmoved by personal or political gain. He studied in Paris and made connections throughout Europe, and was the first Palestinian to study at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He has encountered different lifestyles and people and has accepted in his heart what matters most to him, culminating in his return to the land of his birth.
He continues his work in the Galilee region of Israel and if there was any way I could, I would truly love to meet him in person (but I’m sure he’s the rather busy man…).
As always, I have other books lined up which I hope to read and deliberate on very soon.
Among them:
Sociology of Early Palestinian Christianity by Gerd Theissen
Palestine at the time of Christ by Henri Daniel-Rops
But these will come as soon as I conclude Orhan Pamuk’s “Snow,” in which I am completely engulfed and finding very hard to put down…
Truly I’d be lost without books! +
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