The Azazel Book Discussion: In The Beginning There Was Man

As I admitted previously, when I first read Azazel, I was not really sure how to feel. Growing up I was constantly injected with ideas totally the opposite of what Azael suggested.
- The Coptic population was under oppression all the time. Anything to the opposite was not even remotely discussed.
- Arius and Nestorius were two heretics that nearly destroyed the entire Christian faith if it wasn't for the bold resistance that the church made and so forth....

In our history school books, the period of Christian Coptic Egypt is totally ignored. Furthermore, the history told by the Church itself, under the best circumstances, is biased and ambiguous.

However, this is not what it is all about or what matters most.
Azael is not just about history and finding the truth.
The book (and then the discussion) is a rare invitation to think and question. Unfortunately a feat perceived by many as a heresy/crime in itself these days.

Three Major points really arose my interest during the discussion:
1) Everything Changes and Humanity Remains:
The same people who built the Pyramids are the same people who embraced Christianity are the same people who built El Azhar to enlighten the entire Moslem world. Civilization, religions, perceptions of religions and world orders. Everything changes but humanity remained.
2) We are still dwelling in past and ancient ideas when the future is ahead of us: We as Middle Easterns have the rare gift of dwelling ruthlessly over the past. We are very good in remembering selectively and fighting futile battles over issues that perhaps mattered 1400 to 2000 years ago. The world has moved on. It is really simple: No one should kill in the name of religion, no one should judge and condemn in the name of religion and No one should rule and own in the name of religion. All throughout history this model failed. Today is no different.
3) Discussions, Ideas and Taboos is our country: Why are we (Egyptians) always so on the edge? We cannot, in the most part, stand discussion and debate? Especially when it comes to religion. Actually, as Youssef Zeidan said during the discussion. We cannot tolerate anything even ourselves!!!
As said in the old play Bel 3araby El Faseeh: We cannot discuss politics, religion, race, sex or football. What has happened to us?

Anyway, the discussion was fabulous in every respect. IT IS the time for change. This could be very well the start...