Egypt religion
Muslims pose 93% Egypt's population. The second largest religion is Coptic Christianity, professed by the Copts, glittering the true descendants of the ancient Egyptians.
Ancient Egyptian Religion.
Egyptian religion, a complicated conglomerate of beliefs, myth and magic, it is difficult to understand for a man brought up in the traditions of Mediterranean classical mythology. Already the Greeks and Romans, considering the Egyptians to be the most religious people in the world, they wondered, how one can pray to deities who take animal forms. They also often interpreted Egyptian myths and images in their spirit. Today, based on the original texts, re-interpreted descriptions of Greek and Roman scholars and an analysis of monuments of material culture, you can try to reconstruct Egyptian beliefs. Unfortunately, however, many of the puzzle pieces no longer exist, and some of them were hypothetically arranged, hence so many question marks. The religion of the ancient Egyptians was polytheistic, although many researchers believe, that among priests for centuries there was a belief that the only creator of the universe had prevailed, and the existing pantheon was only a simplified way of presenting its multiple aspects. There were gods who acted as the main deities of the state, like Horus, Re, Ptah or Amon, as well as local house deities, beloved by the people and worshiped for a long time. The conservatism of the Egyptians, willing to be content with the practical achievements of past centuries, he explains the syncretism found in their religion. The deities were joined, to create one being, hence only the minor elements of beliefs have changed over the course of four millennia. A characteristic feature of the Egyptian religion was the depiction of deities in the form of animals. The Egyptians understood the world as a living being, from which no part could be excluded, hence the common existence included the gods, people, animals and all nature.
The rise of the world and the birth of humans were explained by various cosmogonies: heliopolitańska, hermopolitańska i memficka, arising in various cult centers and creating their deity to be the creator of the world. From the beginning, the beliefs focused on the person of the ruler, who mediated between the world of people and gods, also exercising the function of high priest. In the early days of the Old Kingdom, the pharaoh was the living embodiment of Horus. From the times of the Third Dynasty, the rulers also became the sons and successors of Osiris. During the 5th Dynasty, the rulers received the nickname "son of the solar god Re", which made them the only persons responsible to the supreme state deity. The ruler, however, did not stand above the law: he was the guarantor of its observance. Sacred activities predestined him to do so, to be responsible for the observance of the order and order of Maat, and with his attitude he protected the country from Chaos. It depended on his attitude and the sacrifices made, whether the permanent world order will be renewed the next morning.
Mahomet i islam
The origins of Islam are associated with the person of Muhammad (Muhammad ibn Abd Allah ibn Abd al-Muttalib; many Muslims believe, that the only form of a prophet's name is Muhammad), member of the Qurayshite tribe of the Banu Hashim family, who was the creator and only prophet of this religion. About 610 r. he was to experience a revelation in a cave near Mecca and receive assignments from the angel Gibril. The principles of the new religion did not like the aristocrats of Mecca: monotheism threatened their interests in polytheistic rites. W 622 r. the commune of Muhammad fled into the city, later called Medina. Hijra marks the beginning of a new era and the Muslim calendar.
Throughout the period of the apparitions, the Koran was being written, whose individual suras the prophet dictated to the scribes. After Muhammad's death, Abu Bakr took over the leadership, father of Muhammad's beloved wife – Aisha, jointly and severally elected caliph. Then three more caliphs were elected leaders. Two dynasties followed: Umaj[venoms (661-750) and the Abbasids (750-1258). When the Umayyad caliphs took power, a split within Islam began among the Sunnis, supporting caliphs, and Shi'ites. Muhammad was careful, that is the last, the complementary prophet of God, the message of which closes the communication between people and heaven forever. Before that, God spoke to many prophets about names: Adam, Abraham (Ibrahim), Moses (Musa) and Jesus (Isa); it was only the Koran that would bring the final revelation.
Islam
Islam is the second most adherent monotheistic religion, which she estimates to confess 20% world population (ok. 1,4 billion).
In Arabic, the word "Islam" means "submission to God". Initially, it was the religion of the Arab peoples. From Arabia, Islam traveled westward through North Africa with its troops, on the east, to Central Asia and Northern India, and to the Philippines and Indonesia. He also reached Europe, to the Iberian Peninsula (until the time of the Reconquista), to Albania and Bosnia and temporarily to Sicily and Greece. Initially, there was no pressure to convert to Islam in Egypt, only Caliph al-Hakim became famous for his intolerance and destruction of churches. most Egyptians began to profess Islam, and some areas only converted to the new religion during Turkish rule.
Islamic traditions and customs Sufism is a way of interpreting the Koran, not entirely accepted by orthodox imams. It emphasizes a greater degree of experiencing faith, than for its intellectual qualities. The Sufites want to get closer to God through mystical experiences (trans). Although the Koran forbids religious life, fraternities practice asceticism, (e.g.. the Rifai brotherhood, Ahmadiya i Shadhiliya).
Szajchowie (sheikh) in Sufism they are teachers, champions, who are to guide the disciple to God. They help in solving the student's everyday problems, me too – unlike imam or kadi (law experts) – they can interpret dreams and give spiritual advice. Szajch is someone close to the student; the title is usually awarded to a person living in an aura of holiness. Descendants of the Prophet, even very distantly related to him, they are highly venerated, and their names precede the titles sayid (pan) be sayida (you).
Copts
Copts, descendants of the indigenous people of Egypt, is a term for the faithful of the Coptic Church (Orthodox and Catholic), which are the most numerous in Egypt and Western Europe (diaspora). Their liturgical language is Dead Coptic, still used in the 17th century. Today the Copts speak Arabic, they are usually better educated and slightly richer than other Egyptians, because they are traders and freelancers (the judges, lawyers). Since the emergence of independent Egypt, Muslim fundamentalists have been persecuted.