talk.religion.christian.coptic

Pages

  • Faith Against Collectivism and Elitism — Two Failures of Egyptian ReligionA theological essay by Phillip Williams (2006) arguing that both the Coptic Church's elitism and Islam's collectivism are group formations that spiritually harm their members, leaving neither as a model of faith in God.
  • Faith by the Veil — An Egyptian PerspectiveA theological essay by Phillip Williams (2006) arguing that both the Islamic veil and Coptic sacramental rituals are 'veils' — instruments of group-formation fear rather than expressions of genuine faith — and that the remedy is to grant them freely until the illusion dissolves.
  • Introduction to talk.religion.christian.copticA scholarly introduction to the Usenet newsgroup talk.religion.christian.coptic, the ancient Coptic Orthodox Church of Egypt, and the theological essay series of Phillip Williams archived from 2006.
  • On This Rock I Will Build My Church — Against Institutional ClaimsA theological essay by Phillip Williams (2006) arguing from Matthew 16 that Christ's promise to build his church upon 'this rock' was addressed not to any institution, but to Peter's individual expression of faith — and that this distinction sets the individual free from every institutional claim to holiness.
  • Worship in Spirit and Truth — Against Ritualism in Coptic and Islamic PracticeA theological essay by Phillip Williams (2006) drawing on John 4:23-25 to argue that authentic worship requires neither Coptic sacramental ritual nor Islamic ancestral practice, but the childlike, unmediated encounter with God.