4 November 2012
Either today or yesterday or some other day if you are reading this in the future, the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria decided upon who would be their new Pope.
For the unfamiliar they are the biggest Christian church in Egypt and the Middle East.
So, how did they decide who their new leader would be?. Did their bishops sit in a room and discuss and debate the matter before burning a special type of coal that would emit a certain colour of smoke?. Er... no. The answer is quite bizarre and utterly baffling.
Basically, three names were put into a pot (a clear glass bowl) and then they blindfolded a child who then picked out the winner. Yes. Really. I shit you not.
Apparently this means, in some symbolic way, that the winner was chosen by God and not at all at random or chance.
It gets better, or worse depending on your view point. As you are probably aware, Egypt has went through some changes recently. The new government, The Muslim Brotherhood are well, Muslim (and are not a faction in the X-Men universe I have come to learn). The Copts are not Muslim, obviously.
There is a possibility that Islamic or Sharia law will be introduced in the new Egyptian constitution that is currently being negotiated. Some Copts believe that their leader should not play a role in this negotiation and some are eager to know what the views of the new Pope are in regards to the possible constitution.
Thing is, this is a LEADER who has been chosen at RANDOM due to tradition, if not random he was chosen by the will of God. Who do you complaint to if things go Pete Tong?. Will you accept his decision? Do you leave Egypt?. Do you choose a new religion?. How does it work exactly?.
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