Religion and Politics

The Americanization of an Ancient Faith

For The Atlantic, Shira Telushkin writes that Coptic churches in the United States are attempting to balance reaching a wider audience by Americanizing with retaining the Egyptian culture and customs which have long underpinned Coptic identity. Assimilation risks alienating longtime members and Egyptian Coptic immigrants, but Coptic leaders fear that retaining Egyptian cultural norms and Arabic-language services will drive away potential American converts. Telushkin writes, “A new conversation has emerged among the faithful: Can an Americanized church truly count as Coptic?”

Read at The Atlantic

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