(1) One day I got into a religious discussion after someone commented that I should embrace Islam. I couldn’t do that! I love my religion too much! I replied. He began asking questions as to why I believe in Christianity. I clarified that I love Jesus and base my life upon following him. He asked again why I love Jesus, wanting to know if I have any reasons for loving him. (His tone was not curious but nonchalant and a bit challenging.) I went on to explain my need for a Savior, Jesus coming as God in the flesh – the Perfect Sacrifice, dying and rising for the sins of broken people like me, and my love in response to Him offering me new life. He just sat quietly and then said that he cannot criticize my religion. To criticize another religion is a sin in Islam . . .
(2) On another evening I had a conversation with a Muslim father in the neighborhood where I am staying which was a much lighter discussion and yet a bit shocking. This man turned to me and asked jokingly, “who’s the boss around here?!” I just laughed, but he said to his son, “son, you tell her who’s boss around here!” I continued to laugh and quickly questioned back: “have you seen the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding?” Neither father nor son had seen the movie, but I proceeded anyway: “well, there’s a line in the movie that says ‘the father is the head of the house, but the wife is the neck and she can turn the head any way she wants.’” The man turned to me and, without a smile, replied: “I can break the neck.” I continued in a joking manner: “but then the head would have no place to be!” His reply shocked a part of me: “I’ll get a new neck!” I simply laughed it off because I was too offended to take what he said serious or indicative of the patriarchal society many families here in Bo Kaap seem to be steeped in.
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