On the Roots of Religious Sectarianism and the Quest for an Authentic Dialogue in a New Cultural Space

This study examines the potential for cultivating authentic and creative dialogue between Muslims and Christians in Egypt amid entrenched sectarian divisions and polarized cultural spaces. Anchored in intercultural studies and informed by lived encounters, it employs an ethnographic participant-observer methodology, complemented by perspectives from history, psychology, philosophy, Arabic literature, socio-economics, cultural studies, and theology. The research aims to recover silenced voices, attend to the lingering wounds of history, and envision constructive pathways toward reconciliation. It introduces the concept of Authentic Creative Dialogue, defined as a person-centered engagement grounded in the shared richness of human experience. Within this framework, Arabic literature functions as a medium of empathy, facilitating mutual recognition and opening possibilities for a new cultural space that fosters hope and healing. Dr. Maher Samuel is a psychiatrist, Arab Christian theologian, and public intellectual serving Arabic-speaking communities worldwide. He is the founder of Credologos Ministry and directs the Arab Evangelical Cultural Center (AECC) in Cairo, where he mentors emerging leaders and promotes human-centered cultural engagement.