by Heeni Collins

Selling Bibles in Egypt not only serves Christians but also helps build understanding between Muslims and Christians, says Mr Ramez Atallah, general secretary of the Bible Society of Egypt.

Mr Atallah and his wife Rebecca were in New Zealand in March at the invitation of the Bible Society in New Zealand. Their trip, aimed at informing New Zealand churches and Christians about their ministry in Egypt, was made as the United States-led army began its attack in Iraq.

The couple were very concerned about the polarisation of Muslims and Christians which was occurring as a result of the war. "Muslims misperceive this war as the Western Christian world attacking the Muslim way of life," he said. "It is making it more difficult and more uncomfortable for Christians and Westerners in all Arab countries."

Mr Atallah described Egypt as a moderate Arab country, in which Christians, though only about 10 percent of the population, were protected and treated fairly by the government. Christian children were obliged by the government to study the Christian religion, and he felt that the moral society there was generally good for Christians.

"Strict censorship and morality laws meant that Christianity was more protected than in a Western, liberal, pluralistic society such as Canada," he said. Mr Atallah was born in Egypt but his family moved to Canada as a result of the Nasser government's socialisation policies in the 1960s. Mr Atallah returned to Egypt with his wife and two young children in 1980.

The Bible Society of Egypt is permitted to sell and advertise their products, as long as it doesn't proselytise or specifically target Muslims. Hence the society has developed very successful methods of raising awareness of the bible as the 'source text' for Christians.

It has sold from shops, stalls at markets, book fairs, and festivals. It has placed advertisements in newspapers and on large billboards by busy highways. It has produced and marketed a range of products including audio-cassettes, CDs and videos. These products include translations of Biblical text into local colloquial languages, making them accessible to a wider range of people, including the illiterate.

"The bible has taken a role not only in serving the Christians but also in symbolising Christianity. It has helped Christians have a higher profile." Mr Atallah says that the prominent positioning of the bible in this way has meant that many Muslims have chosen to buy bibles, to better understand Christianity.

"Muslims can come and buy (locally produced bible products) and this helps correct distorted views of Christianity (eg from the media) and helps to build bridges between Muslims and Christians," says Mr Atallah. "They come to us out of curiosity, and ask, 'is it as bad as we hear?'"

Many Muslims associate Western Christianity with what they see as promiscuity and immorality portrayed on television sitcoms, and fear that the American-led invasion of Iraq will undermine the morality of the Islamic way of life, not only in Iraq but elsewhere too.

Since their arrival in Egypt, the Atallahs have themselves been shining examples of Christian principles. While Ramez has worked selling bibles, a role which also helps unite the different Christian denominations in Egypt, Rebecca has become very involved with helping the people who live and work amongst garbage in the city.

She has become a key worker at the St Simon Coptic Orthodox (Christian) Church in the Mokattam Garbage Village, teaching Christianity in school, organising camps and outings for the children, and supporting disadvantaged adults. "As we've learned to love each other, these people have become like my second family, we all need each other!" says Rebecca.

For this reason and others, the couple say they will remain steadfast in their sense of mission in Egypt, no matter what effect the war has there.