Muslims attack Egyptian Copts; Again

[WorthyNewsBot]

By Joseph DeCaro, Worthy News Correspondent

CAIRO, EGYPT (Worthy News)– Muslims attacked the Coptic Christians of Nazlet Faragallah village in Egypt's Minya province Sunday evening; the assault continued unabated into the following morning.

One Copt was killed as homes were looted and torched by their Muslim neighbors, who also enlisted the aid of fellow Muslims from four neighboring villages; the attack began at approximately 8 p.m. after the daylight Ramadan fast ended.

According to eyewitnesses, thousands of Muslims attacked the village from all sides while firing automatic weapons and throwing Molotov Cocktails.

The home of Father Youanes, pastor of St. George Church, was the first to be attacked; he was beaten and his home looted and torched.

Maher Nassif Tobias was murdered in his own home, which was looted, along with all his livestock.

Security forces arrived four hours after the attack began, but their presence proved ineffective.

"They only had batons in their hands, and were unable to control the situation," said a Copt resident. "Our village is surrounded by corn fields. The Muslims came into the village to loot and quickly disappeared in the fields, the police could not follow them. They were coming from all directions at the same time."

The day before the attack, Muslims reportedly stoned St. George's, breaking five of its windows. However, authorities in Minya claimed the attack on Nazlet was caused by Copts firing at Muslims as they emerged from a mosque that Sunday afternoon; Copts quickly denied the charge.

After the violence, three Muslims and three Copts were arrested, even though none of the Copts were involved in the incidents.

"Security is doing its balancing act again," said one of the villagers. "They will use these Copts, who were arrested at random, to bargain for their freedom in exchange for village Copts giving up their rights during the 'reconciliation meeting.'"

The "reconciliation meeting" was scheduled for Tuesday.

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[Shiloh62]

This is terrible. An it will get worse before it gets better. Are we ready to lay down our lives for Jesus Christ?

[Guest]

Praying~!

[OldShep]

Doesn't this picture of a young boy attacked in one of the churches just make you want to cry???

No it did not make me want to cry, it made me cry, for I have seen that look far too many times in my life.

[Oneaccords]

This is terrible how the Copts suffer.

Someone said to me that Copts are like the Catholics, is this true?

[OldShep]

This is terrible how the Copts suffer.

Someone said to me that Copts are like the Catholics, is this true?

This page seem to explain them very well. I have ......never mind.....

The word Copt is an English word taken from the Arabic word Gibt or Gypt. It literally means Egyptian. The Arabs, after their conquest of Egypt in 641 AD, called the population of Egypt Gypt, from the Greek word “Egyptos” or Egypt. The Greek word “Egyptos” came from the ancient Egyptian words (Hut-Ka-Ptah), one of the names for “Memphis”, the first capital of Ancient Egypt. In contemporary usage, the term "Coptic" refers to Egyptian Christians. Today, Copts form almost 13% to 15% of Egypt’s population though they are not ethnically distinct from other Egyptians as they are fully integrated into the body of the modern Egyptian nation.

My link

http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/copticchristians.htm

Edited August 17, 2011 by OldShep

[Oneaccords]

Thanks for the answer and links but what are the similarities between the Coptic Church and the Catholic Church?

[OldShep]

Thanks for the answer and links but what are the similarities between the Coptic Church and the Catholic Church?

I do not know, so I went to the web and found this. [Note} I could not find similarities between the Coptic Church and the Catholic Church, only differances.

It seems that most of the people in the world only focus on things they disagree on and not what they may have in common. Very, very, sad!

+ In order for one to partake of the Coptic Orthodox Sacarments, one must have the same believes as the Coptic Church believes and confess their faith.

+ Since there are many differences between the Coptic Orthodox Creed (Belief) and the Catholic Creed. A catholic person can not partake from the Coptic Orthodox Sacarmentsand the opposite is true. Unless, the Catholic person accepts the believes of the Coptic Orthodox Church and receives the sacrament of Baptism in the Coptic Orthodox Church.

+ Some of these differences are as follow:

1) Coptic Orthodox Church believes in the One Nature of Christ out of two Nature, The Nature of the Incarnate Word "Logos". Catholics do not.

2) Coptic Orthodox Church believes that the Holy Spirit proceeds only from the Father. As the Bible teaches us, "But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Trurth who proceeds from The Father, he will testify of Me" (St. John 15:26). Also looke up (St. John 14:26).

The Catholic Church believes that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son, which is a heresy.

3) The Coptic Orthodox Church does not believe in Purgatory for the following reasons;

A) St. Luke 16:19-31 when the rich man died the angels carried him directly to hades, and Lazarus to the paradise of Joy.

B) Does not follow the teachings of our Lord and God Jesus Christ when He sadi to the Right theif, "Today you will be with Me in paradise" (St. Luke 23:42).

C) It is aganist the Redemption and Salvation of Christ (1st. John 1:7, Heb. 7:25, Rev. 5:9&10).

D) Against Repentance (St. Luke 13:3-5).

· The Catholic Church believes in Purgatory

4) The Coptic Orthodox Church does not believe in the Immaculate Conception of St. Mary, because:

A) St. Mary said " My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoiced in God my Savior" (St. Luke 1:46&47).

B) No one without sin except God alone (Galatians 3:22, 1st. Kings 8:46, Ecclesiastes 7:20)

C) Only Christ our Lord and God is without sin (2nd Cor 5:21, Heb 4:15, Heb 7:26)

D) This is against the Bible teachings (1st. John 3:5).

· The Catholic Church believes in The Immaculate Conception of St. Mary.

5) The Coptic Orthodox Church believes in Baptism by Immersion, because

A) Christ was Baptised by Complete immersion into the water of the Jordan river (St. Matt 3:16, St. Mark 1:10).

B) When St. Philip batized the Ethiopian Eunuch the Bible clearly states that the Eunuch came up out of the water (Acts 8:38 & 39).

C) Baptism is dying, being buired, and resurrected with Christ (Rom 6:4, Col 2:12), burying is by imeeriosn.

D) Baptism is washing away sins (acts 22:16, Titus 3:5).

· Catholic Baptism is by sprinkling.

6) The Coptic Orthodox Chruch permits divorce in the following conditions;

A) Change of religion (1st. Cor 7:15).

B) Adultery (St. Matt 5:32 & 19:9, St Mark 10:11, St. Luke 16:18).

+ There many more differences, such as, Facing the East, Fasting, & Primacy of St. Peter.

Catholics believe council

They believe that Virgin Mary is a co-redeemer with Jesus Christ

They believe in the baptism by sprinkling of water

They believe that their pope is infallible (Doesn't make mistakes, sin)

They believe in Purgatory (a place where good people that sinned will go to temporarily before going to heaven)

They believe that Saint Peter is higher ranking than the other disciples and that he holds the keys to heaven.

Dates for Christmas and Easter

On the other hand, here is what Coptic's believe in

We do NOT believe or condone the Chalcedonic council

We believe that Virgin Mary is higher than all the saint, but she is NOT a co-redeemer with Jesus. she is highly regarded in our church, but not as high as the Catholics put her (almost a goddess)

We believe that baptism should be by submerging in water like Jesus did

We believe that the pope CAN make sins and mistakes.

We do NOT believe in Purgatory. You are judged based on what you have done here.

We believe that St. Peter is equal to the rest of the disciples, he doesn't hold the keys to heaven or any other place for that matter.

Christmas and Easter dates we disagree with them. (Easter, we are right, Christmas, there is no Right or wrong, its just different ways of looking at the calendar)

I believe that sums up the major differences. One other thing, they are more relaxed than us in their beliefs, they let go of a lot of traditional things like Fasting, the importance of prayer, simple rituals and dogmatic beliefs. That pretty much sums it up.

Hope that helps you,...Dennis

Edited August 19, 2011 by OldShep

[Oneaccords]

Thanks for that info: it seems the Copts have it more right than the Catholics.

I could not find similarities between the Coptic Church and the Catholic Church, only differances.

It seems that most of the people in the world only focus on things they disagree on and not what they may have in common. Very, very, sad!

I think if the Copts joined with the Catholics they would have to compromise on there major beliefs so this is why there are differences.