Christianity

To say that Ethiopia is a religious country is an understatement. The
first night I arrived I was awoken at 4am (I went to bed an hour
earlier after getting in at 2:30) by chanting. It sounded to me like
it was the proletariat ready for the revolution, but it actually was
just the average night chanting from the local Orthodox Church.

They say there is a big Muslim population as well, but I would
estimate it in Addis Ababa at about 10%, everyone else seems to be
some form of Christian. The Westerners too, the place is like
Christian Disney Land to American evangelicals. Probably the majority
of the tourists are organized Christian tour groups. There is
everything they want in a vacation, from the amazing rock hewn
churches to plenty of poor Christians to have mercy for.

AHOPE is supposedly not religious. However everyone who works there
is, and the kids are definitely indoctrinated. Groups frequently stop
by to sing religious songs with the kids and give them candy. I think
the kids are starting to associate sugar with God. I definitely cringe
a little, but there's not much I can do (other than set an example).
The AHOPE staff definitely have a skewed idea of what America is like,
due to their contact with mostly Americans who are seriously
religious. I was asked the other day about home-schooling being normal
in America… I worry a little about the kids who get adopted by
heathens and how they will react to their parents' views.

Every Ethiopian I know here is very religious, and they might be a
little appalled by me. I try to be non-judgmental (at least outwardly)
but stay true to what I believe without being too offensive. At first
the questions would stop when I told them I was Jewish, they at least
had heard of Judaism, so it made sense to them. But we have definitely
gotten into some sensitive territory, ie the frequency of my church
attendance, stances on gay marriage and abortion, etc. I'm sure, just
like in the US not everyone is quite as religious as they say. Half
the office is in their mid to late 20's and is supposedly waiting
until marriage, while prostitution and AIDS is unfortunately rampant.

I always was interested in religion, studied it in college, etc., and
I guess immersion is always the best way to learn. Hopefully my
presence as an apostate but also as a good person might open some
peoples eyes as well. Anyways I am thinking of starting to tell people
I am a 7th Day Adventist to explain the vegetarianism..