num_pages: 298
description: A comprehensive examination of this deeply traditional Christian religion as it confronts modernityThough the Coptic Orthodox Church of Egypt is among the oldest Christian communities in the world it remained relatively unknown outside of Egypt for most of its existence. In the wake of the Arab Spring however this community was caught up in regional violence and its predicament became a cause for concern around the world. Copts in Context examines the situation of the Copts as a minority faith in a volatile region and as a community confronting modernity while steeped in tradition.Nelly van Doorn-Harder opens Coptic identity and tradition to a broad range of historical political sociological anthropological and ethnomusicological. Starting with contemporary issues such as recent conflicts in Egypt the volume works back to topicsamong them the Coptic language the ideals and tradition of monasticism and church historiographythat while rooted in the ancient past nevertheless remain vital in Coptic memory and understanding of culture and tradition. Contributors examine developments in the Coptic diaspora in religious education and the role of children and in Coptic media as well as considering the varied nature of Coptic participation in Egyptian society and politics over millennia.With many Copts leaving the homeland preservation of Coptic history memory and culture has become a vital concern to the Coptic Church. These essays by both Coptic and non-Coptic scholars offer insights into present-day issues confronting the community and their connections to relevant themes from the past demonstrating reexamination of that past helps strengthen modern-day Coptic life and culture.
language: English
title: Copts in Context: Negotiating Identity, Tradition, and Modernity
publisher: University of South Carolina Press