Like many, I have been riveted by the protests taking place in Egypt over the past week.  I have been glued to TV, radio, and internet coverage of the demonstrations taking place in Cairo, Alexandria, and elsewhere in Egypt, cheering on the courageous individuals willing to stand up to their autocratic regime and demand democracy.  I have felt such joy in watching so many different segments of Egyptian society band together in common cause, engaging in non-violent protest against Pres. Hosni Mubarak.

And yet, as a person of faith, I admit to being troubled.  There is, of course, a particular concern I have, as a Jew, regarding whether a new regime, especially one in which the Muslim Brotherhood play a predominant role, will prove disastrous for Israel’s security.  But more broadly, as I have tried to contextualize the events in Egypt within my religious perspective, I have felt a sense of awkwardness because I am not sure whether democratic self-expression is actually a value that religious individuals should embrace.  Now at first glance I know this sounds like an odd statement.  But think about it–religion traditionally has always been about restraining one’s individual wants and desires in favor of a greater sense of obligation.  Judaism, for example, is premised on the idea of being metzuveh–commanded–to perform (or refrain from engaging in) a myriad of obligations.  Likewise, one of the central tenets of Islam is submission (of one’s prerogatives/desires/etc.) to Allah.  Even in Eastern religions such as Hinduism, one acts out of a sense of one’s dharma (duty), not out of  individual desire.  If this is so, then the idea of challenging existing rules/obligations/governing structures in favor of some different ones that we like better isn’t necessarily represented in our faith traditions ( I haven’t commented about Christianity because I simply don’t know enough about the relationship between autonomy and obligation–if anyone has thoughts on this, please do respond).  What’s more, religious institutions are, if anything, even more inherently conservative.  They frequently prioritize continuity over innovation, tradition over change.

So how can I reconcile what my gut tells me is right–supporting the protesters in Egypt (not to mention Tunisia, Yemen, Syria, and elsewhere) with a sense of authenticity to my faith tradition?

The more I have thought about it, the more I have come to realize that my initial sense of religion’s relationship with democracy was unnecessarily narrow.  Perhaps nowhere is this more clear than in the foundational act of the Jewish people–the exodus from slavery in Egypt.  In fact, the parallels between the Exodus narrative  and current events in Cairo are uncanny: in both cases, an oppressed people in Egypt sought to liberate themselves from a tyrannical despot, fleeing into an uncertain new paradigm of freedom and self-determination.  And the Exodus story is not the only narrative to look to in seeking examples of political reform and revolution.  From prophetic rebukes of royal misdeeds to Abraham’s willingness to challenge God regarding Sodom and Gomorrah, there are a multitude of powerful examples I can fall back on in support of the Egyptian’s right to seek democracy.

In the end, I am grateful that this struggle for authenticity has brought me back in touch with aspects of my faith that I had under-appreciated of late.  One need not choose between morality/instincts and faith; all too often, as in the case of supporting the Egyptian demonstrators, the two can, and should, go hand in hand.  May our brothers and sisters in Cairo, Alexandria, and throughout Egypt be able to realize through non-violent means their desire for democratic self-governance, and may the new government they construct be one that supports the ideals of this revolution–freedom, opportunity, and peace towards all.  I welcome your thoughts…