ABSTRACT
Nonreligious men and women in Egypt face potent legal and emotional reactions. During a tumultuous episode of an Egyptian TV program, a “debate” occurred between a religious scholar, a lawyer, and two atheists hailing from Muslim and Christian backgrounds. The lawyer's agitation escalated to the point of him hurling his shoes at the atheists while denouncing them as a “national security threat.” Such an act, throwing shoes, carries deep connotations of contempt and insult. Parents’ responses also encompass a range of emotions: anger, sadness, concern, moral outrage, as well as shame. This is particularly evident among women who transition away from religion; they often face disciplinary measures, ostracism, or harassment. This chapter employs a practice theory of emotions to dissect these intense emotional reactions. Drawing on 50 interviews with nonreligious individuals from both Muslim and Coptic backgrounds, alongside analysis of atheist and religious media content related to atheism, this chapter seeks to illuminate several issues: the legal standing of atheists and the nonreligious, their portrayal in state media, and the responses from parents and relatives. Notably, it will emphasize the difference in emotional reactions toward nonreligious men and women. However, due to the sensitivity of the topic and the fact that most nonreligious people remain “in the closet,” direct conversations with significant others of the interlocutors were impossible. This chapter accordingly provides an indirect perspective: my male and female interlocutors’ experiences with the emotional responses of parents, relatives, friends, and colleagues.
