Copts, however, did not mimic their Muslim counterparts' reactions when "offended" (or just in general) --- including rioting, attacking Copts, churches, monks, and abducting young Coptic girls, forcing them to convert."Muslim scholar's novel angers Coptic Church," by Ramadan al Sherbini for Gulf News, August 10:
Cairo: Since published last month, Azazel, a novel by professor of Islamic philosophy Yousuf Zidan has been panned by Coptic clerics as unfair and offensive to Christianity."Zaidan's book seeks to persuade readers that the Azazel story is true and was found in ancient scrolls written in Syrianic and Aramiyan languages," Bishop Abdul Massih Bassiut, a theology scholar, told Gulf News.
Azazel refers to the chief of goat-demons to whom most primitive Semitic tribes offered sacrifices. The controversial novel is set in the Egyptian coastal city of Alexandria in the fourth century when the city experienced a turbulent era of shifting from polytheism to Christianity.
"The author tries to Islamise Christian beliefs and takes the side of heretics," added Bishop Bassiut.
He has disclosed that two Church lawyers are examining the book at the request of Pope Shenouda III, the top Coptic cleric, before deciding on the next move.
"We will not demand the book be banned or take the author to court. But there will be a rebuttal of the fallacies mentioned in the book," added Bassiut.
In other words, Copts will not riot and destroy, but simply, through logic, address the book's fallacies, showing where it errs. Would that only Muslims did the same thing! Whenever someone points out those "problematic" verses or hadiths, instead of retaliating with rage and violence --- not to mention accusations of "Islamophobia" --- if only Islam's ulema would simply respond and show how we infidels are "misunderstanding" what their texts plainly declare.
I seem to recall that Azazel was the main character in a movie with Denzel Washington called Fallen. Denzel nearly killed Azazel but I don't want to spoil it for anyone who hasn't seen it.
Quick, everyone run for your lives. The muslims are pissed. Wait, oh... the Copts are upset. Well then, please disregard the call for self-preservation. Than is unless they have "learned" that violence is the method to achieve "justice." After all Christians are no better than the muslims. They have no ideology against acting violently to every slight and slap in the face. My bad.
Is it possible for some enterprsing soul to purchase a few English translations of this book, make the hajj to the UK and launch a civil suit against the author?
When do the Christian riots start?
Quite the contrast with that of Moslems.
Are you saying that Copts can tell the difference between fiction and non-fiction?
Wonder why the rest of Egypt can't?
It is impressive that the Copts have the wherewithall to even pursue this much action... Why Copts Still Get Cross Tattoos on Their Children speaks to how oppressed they still remain.
Perhaps the fact that they are willing to speak out and are now far more emboldened shows that the tide is turning and for the better through the efforts of watch groups like Dhimmi Watch and Jihad Watch.
Kevin,
There is NO other religion in the world who tells it's people to slaughter those who won't submit to their religion. Mohammad/Allah did.
There is NO other religion in the world which tells its people to go and plunder caravans or neighbours and divide up what they steal from the people that they have slaughered, (or taken as slaves). Allah/Mohammad did.
There is NO other religion who says that they can take the non believers as slaves or wives, as long as they submitt to Islam, Allah/ Mohammad did.. and who is going to WILLINGLY submit when the enemy has just slaughtered their families and husbands.
There is NO other religion which will slaughter their own if they dont do the right thing, or fight when called.. Islam does...
There is NO other religion which tells it's members to not be friends with the unbelievers. Islam does.
There is NO other religion which tells it's members to slaughter one of it's own if they turn away from their religion. Isalam does.
There is NO other religion whose prophet ordered plundering, torturing and slaughering and also carried it out himself. Islam does.. and Mohammad did.
There is NO other religion whose prophet inspired violence and vertually braged about murdering non Muslims. Mohammad did..and Islam does.
There is NO other religion whose god and prophet is regengeful against those who wouldnt believe. Islam does.
There is NO other religion whose prophet distrubuted women and girls he had captured on raids to be sex slaves for his male followers and himself. Mohammad did..
There is NO other religion which promises heavenly brothels to loyal Muslim men when they die as a martyr, who would forever satisfy their sexual cravings, whether it be with males or beautiful females. (Koran 38.51, 44,54: 55:55,74; 56:22,34-36) etc... Islam does.
There is NO other religion which justifies its mass slaughters only because the pagan defied Islams god and his apostles,
(Koran 8:12,13.) and then still have the cheek to say that they are a religion of peace, and all this is done because their god through the Quran etc, told them to.... and I am sure that other people can add to this list. It is about time that our leaders and non Muslims read the Quran for themselves, in fact it is about time that Muslims read it for themselves to see what horrors are in their...