u/Illustrious-Safe5880

there are in MENA many regions like GCC,maghreb, turkey, Iran and its vassals.

But there is no such region in the heart of it, I hope in the future egypt ,levant( included isreal/palestine )iraq and Iran join some respectful well- established trade- alliance so we can integrate our economics and share our markets together to be a farther step closer towards achieving monetary cooperation and stuff.

I guess we must promote to such cooperation so we could protect our markets from foreign intervention and control from other economical blocks like EU ,America China and GCC.

currently the main problem is the Iranian regime but I hope once it falls we can share our markets and build our countries together.

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Minya , beni suef ,assiut

بتتكلموا مصري؟ وهل عندكوا حاجه مميزة ثقافة ، حكايات ، اساطير ، انا عمري ما زرتهم

بس اعرف ان المنطقة دي تعتبر قلب مصر الثقافي والحضاري عامة

وسمعت برضوا ان المنيا تعتبر قلب العالم القبطي معرفش ده صح او غلط

هل فيه قبائل وكده ف مصر الوسطي ولا اغلب الناس ف اسر فلاحية بسيطة او ناس متحضرة ، برضوا بتعملوا ايه ف الجو الحر ده

I'm curious about the diversity of viewpoints within Egyptian society. From my personal experience, I have noticed a really remarkable difference in the way both Copts and Muslims live and socialize in this society. The former tend to be more aware of their identity and distinct ethno-Christian culture, and the average Copt seems to have a more open-minded and progressive mindset than the latter, who often appears to be a little more ignorant of his own identity, scattered in the post -colonized world for the last thousand year or so ,and more closed-minded when it comes to life and religion.

Why do some Coptic Christians and Muslims appear to hold different attitudes on certain topics? Are these differences mainly shaped by religion (Christianity vs. Islam), history (such as the strong connection many Copts feel with ancient Egypt), social experiences (the minority vs. majority experience), or other economic and cultural factors?

What really makes me wonder is the difference in the general sentiments and atmosphere you can sometimes feel from both groups. The average Copt often comes across as more chill, relaxed, easygoing and carefree (which can be positive in many situations. However, at times this can cross into a lack of social presence or consideration for selves in the border society)in comparison to his Muslim counterpart. Even the public social behavior of both groups seems noticeably different on average. Do these differences stem from a strong sense of identity and cultural confidence, or are they the result of external social pressures, discrimination, historical experiences, or weariness from being treated differently by others?

I'm also curious about religious moderation between the two groups. Why does it sometimes appear that Copts are, on average, more moderate or less strict in their religious outlook, while Muslims tend to be more conservative or religiously observant?

I understand that both communities are diverse and that my observations may be influenced by my own experiences. Nevertheless, I am interested in understanding whether these perceived differences are real on average and, if they are, what historical, religious, social, cultural, and economic factors might explain them and what are your opinions on this matter?.

Hi, if this post feels off ,mods delete it, and have a nice day.

I am an ex-Muslim Egyptian who left Islam at a young age and have never seriously considered converting back. Since then, I have struggled with questions of identity and belonging. Figuring out a sense of who I am far of the religion part has been difficult, and over the years I have experienced constant doubt, mental exhaustion, and recurring questions that continue to occupy my mind.

The most persistent question is: Do I consider myself Egyptian? And if so, what kind of Egyptian am I?

I am certainly not Muslim, and I feel no attachment to Islam or to being identified through it. In fact, I have spent infinitesimal time trying to distance myself from the religion and free myself from the beliefs and doctrines that were deeply ingrained in me from childhood. It is not easy to remove such ideas from one's sense of self, but I continue to try. Every day, I find myself asking who I am and what gives meaning to my existence.

I struggle to answer the first question because, although I know myself well enough on an individual level, I find it difficult to place myself within the broader human landscape. Humans do not exist solely as individuals; they also belong to larger communities shaped by shared values, traditions, histories, and collective identities.

When I try to determine which group I belong to—whether based on my appearance, culture, values, worldview, or place of origin—I find myself disconnected from the groups that exist around me. Whether among Muslims or Copts, I do not feel a genuine sense of belonging. To me, these communities are clearly distinct from one another, and as an agnostic, identifying fully with either often feels dishonest, both to myself and to those who genuinely belong to them.

Sometimes I wish that Coptic identity had survived as a primarily ethnic or national identity independent of religion, and that there existed a secular ethnocultural form of it that could represent people like me. However, that seems more like an alternative historical path than a present reality.

I also do not feel connected to either contemporary Egyptian culture or the culture of Islamic Egypt. Modern Egyptian society often feels foreign to me. I struggle to relate to the prevailing attitudes, social norms, and cultural assumptions found in many Egyptian streets, villages, cities, and families. More often than not, I find them frustrating ,insufferable and backward.

At the same time, I have a deep appreciation for Egyptian history. It is one of the richest and most fascinating histories in the world. Yet I feel that much of that heritage is poorly reflected in modern Egyptian culture, which is heavily shaped by religious thinking and social attitudes that, in my view, have not aged well. Contemporary Egyptian culture often appears to me as a mixture of competing visions, religious prejudices, inherited traits, and a lack of a coherent cultural identity/lack of a prograssive authenticity .Because of this, I sometimes feel uncomfortable being labeled simply as "Egyptian," even though Egypt is the country of my birth and ancestry.

I still speak Egyptian Arabic ('ammiyya), but my relationship with it has gradually changed since leaving Islam. I mostly use it in direct conversations or when communicating with other Egyptians. I sometimes feel that the absence of a living native Egyptian language in everyday life contributes to my sense of cultural disconnection and makes it harder to reconnect with a deeper historical identity.

When I am in Western countries, I often feel uneasy identifying myself as Egyptian not because I dislike the people, the land, or Egypt's history, but because I struggle to identify with what modern Egyptian identity has become. I feel disconnected from the contemporary culture, yet I also cannot find a clearly defined alternative community among people of my own ethnic background.

So I would like to ask any christian Copts or any other Egyptian who developed awareness of his identity here:

Have any of you experienced similar feelings of alienation or uncertainty regarding your identity?

How do you identify yourselves ethnically, culturally, or nationally?

And if you were in another country and someone asked you who you are or what your identity is, how would you answer and how you feel about?

Hi, please don't downvote I need answers from others ppl, if this feels like it is not for uou u could neglect it and have a nice day.

I am an ex-Muslim Egyptian who left Islam at a young age and have never seriously considered converting back. Since then, I have struggled with questions of identity and belonging. Figuring out a sense of who I am far of the religion part has been difficult, and over the years I have experienced constant doubt, mental exhaustion, and recurring questions that continue to occupy my mind.

The most persistent question is: Do I consider myself Egyptian? And if so, what kind of Egyptian am I?

I am certainly not Muslim, and I feel no attachment to Islam or to being identified through it. In fact, I have spent infinitesimal time trying to distance myself from the religion and free myself from the beliefs and doctrines that were deeply ingrained in me from childhood. It is not easy to remove such ideas from one's sense of self, but I continue to try. Every day, I find myself asking who I am and what gives meaning to my existence.

I struggle to answer the first question because, although I know myself well enough on an individual level, I find it difficult to place myself within the broader human landscape. Humans do not exist solely as individuals; they also belong to larger communities shaped by shared values, traditions, histories, and collective identities.

When I try to determine which group I belong to—whether based on my appearance, culture, values, worldview, or place of origin—I find myself disconnected from the groups that exist around me. Whether among Muslims or Copts, I do not feel a genuine sense of belonging. To me, these communities are clearly distinct from one another, and as an agnostic, identifying fully with either often feels dishonest, both to myself and to those who genuinely belong to them.

Sometimes I wish that Coptic identity had survived as a primarily ethnic or national identity independent of religion, and that there existed a secular ethnocultural form of it that could represent people like me. However, that seems more like an alternative historical path than a present reality.

I also do not feel connected to either contemporary Egyptian culture or the culture of Islamic Egypt. Modern Egyptian society often feels foreign to me. I struggle to relate to the prevailing attitudes, social norms, and cultural assumptions found in many Egyptian streets, villages, cities, and families. More often than not, I find them frustrating ,insufferable and backward.

At the same time, I have a deep appreciation for Egyptian history. It is one of the richest and most fascinating histories in the world. Yet I feel that much of that heritage is poorly reflected in modern Egyptian culture, which is heavily shaped by religious thinking and social attitudes that, in my view, have not aged well. Contemporary Egyptian culture often appears to me as a mixture of competing visions, religious prejudices, inherited traits, and a lack of a coherent cultural identity/lack of a prograssive authenticity .Because of this, I sometimes feel uncomfortable being labeled simply as "Egyptian," even though Egypt is the country of my birth and ancestry.

I still speak Egyptian Arabic ('ammiyya), but my relationship with it has gradually changed since leaving Islam. I mostly use it in direct conversations or when communicating with other Egyptians. I sometimes feel that the absence of a living native Egyptian language in everyday life contributes to my sense of cultural disconnection and makes it harder to reconnect with a deeper historical identity.

When I am in Western countries, I often feel uneasy identifying myself as Egyptian not because I dislike the people, the land, or Egypt's history, but because I struggle to identify with what modern Egyptian identity has become. I feel disconnected from the contemporary culture, yet I also cannot find a clearly defined alternative community among people of my own ethnic background.

So I would like to ask any christian Copts or any other Egyptian who developed awareness of his identity here:

Have any of you experienced similar feelings of alienation or uncertainty regarding your identity?

How do you identify yourselves—ethnically, culturally, or nationally?

And if you were in another country and someone asked you who you are or what your identity is, how would you answer and how you feel about?