religion - The Chronikler

What does being a Muslim actually mean?

In much of the world, ‘Muslim’ is often used as a marker of ethnic origin rather than of religion. This must change.

For drinkers, Ramadan brings a special kind of thirst

Ramadan is the time of year when hundreds of millions of Muslims around the world abstain from food or drink. But one group of fasters suffers a special variety of thirst this time of year: Muslims who drink alcohol.

Egyptian atheists: Caught between Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

Atheists in Egypt have been enjoying greater public acceptance, but their increased visibility has also resulted in controversy, shrill panic and a growing tide of prosecutions.

When Mariette met the Virgin Mary

The Virgin Mary appeared eight times to a child in Belgium and the rest is ‘alternative history’

Alt-jihad – Part II: Delusions of grandeur and persecution

In the second in a series of articles exploring the disturbing parallels between radical Islamic and White/Christian extremism, Khaled Diab examines the far-right’s dual sense of superiority and inferiority, as well as its persecution complex.

Alt-jihad – Part I: When white extremists are dying to kill

In the first of a series of articles exploring the disturbing parallels between radical Islamic and white/Christian extremism, Khaled Diab examines whether far-right suicide attackers could become a phenomenon.

The truth about Islamic reformations

Islam needs a reformation for Muslim societies to develop and prosper, is one of those rare convictions shared by both Islamophiles and Islamophobes. Tunisia has done just that: radically reformed its brand of Islam and established a vibrant democracy to boot, yet prosperity eludes it. Why?

Islam for Donald Trump and the politically incorrect

Mr Trump, if you really want to know “what the hell is going on” with Islam, I invite you and all the other bigots out there to join me on a mind-expanding journey through Islam(s), passing through the main thoroughfares and back alleys of history, society, culture, politics, theology and, above all, people.

Egypt’s Christians in the cross-hairs

The bombing of St Peter’s Church in Cairo exposes the growing vulnerability of Egypt’s Christian minority and the increasing mainstreaming of extremist Islamist discourse.