Job Discussion Forums

[Noelle]

Johnslat, and company


This Bible thing came up in my Saudi dominated class here in the U.S. just 3 weeks ago. Here is a near verbatim report of the conversation that took place during a break time in my classroom just before the class started:

Student: "Teacher, I hear you want to go to Middle East?"

Me: "Where did you hear that?"

S: "Other Saudi students talk..."

Me: "I do want to work in the Middle East. Hopefully next year..."

S: "Where will you go?"

Me: "Hopefully Oman."

S: "I do not recommend for you. There is nothing to do."

Me: "How about UAE?"

S: "This is better. But it is not in the Kingdom. Why don't you come to Saudi Arabia? You have experience with Saudi students."

Me: "I can't go to Saudi Arabia."

S: "Because you are woman?"

Me: "No, because I am a Christian. I read the Bible... Injil..."

S: hesitates for a moment then says- "Teacher, believe me. This is not a problem. Any religion is okay in my country."

Me: "How many Christians do you know in your country?"

S: No answer.

Another student: "Things are changing in Saudi Arabia, teacher. These days, women have more freedom."

Me: "That's wonderful. But I cannot leave my Bible at home or on the airplane. And I cannot give it to a security officer at customs. So I can't go to work in Saudi Arabia. Do you understand?"

S: "But I really think it's not problem."

That's as far as we got before class started. I've had other students swear to this as well. They seem to have no problem with an American female teacher avoiding their country due to the restrictions placed on women there, but they don't seem to want to accept the real reason I've chosen to stay away from the Kingdom.

Why do these students insist that it is "okay" or "no problem"?[/quote]

[It's Scary!]

They're not used to rejection. In fact, it is absurd to them that you would reject the Kingdom.

And, remember, with every utterance is a voiced or silent "Inshal'lah.

It's just their way!

[johnslat]

Dear Noelle,

After many such experiences, I always tell people that when a Saudi tells you "Ma fi mushkila" (no problem,) that's when you can be almost certain that there WILL be a problem.

I think it's similar to when you ask a Saudi directions. Even if he has NO idea how to get where you want to go, he will, nevertheless, give you directions

As It's Scary put it: "It's a cultural thing."

Regards,
John

[Middle East Beast]

[johnslat]

Dear MEB,

I can't resist - here's someone who says he's had exactly the opposite experience:

"Sand Gets in My Eyes, on January 27, 2011 at 9:39 am said:
Carol � I personally have had at least five bibles confiscated by customs coming into Saudi over the years, not to mention countless Christmas items, and other Christian books and symbols, so please don�t tell me or the readers of this blog that Christians are free to bring the bible or anything else Christian into Saudi Arabia.
I personally know of several people who had their bibles confiscated and thrown in the trash , not by Mo-on-the-street but by paid government employees who, one can assume, have been trained and taught what to look for and what to do when non-Muslims enter the Kingdom carrying religious items.
Do non-Muslim religious items make it in? Sure, but so does everything else that is officially banned in Kingdom including drugs, alcohol and pornography.
I don�t know about you, but I personally don�t think the bible belongs in that kind of company. Obviously the Kingdom of Interfaith Dialogue does."

http://americanbedu.com/2011/01/26/saudi-arabiaaustria-king-abdullah-funds-vienna-center/

Lucky, unlucky - who knows? Of course, if this guy's telling the truth, he's either the most persistent or the dumbest Christian around.

Regards,
John

[Middle East Beast]

[johnslat]

Dear MEB,

Why not - I don't think they'd throw the book at you

Regards,
John

[veiledsentiments]

But really... nowadays everything is online... or you can put it on your Kindle. So, why even bother to play the little game?

Noelle,

I had to laugh that they said Oman was boring and then recommended Saudi instead. It is only proper that they speak well of their own homeland, but I wonder if any of them have ever even been to Oman. I'd bet not... it is not on the Saudi holiday circuit. (which is Cairo, Beirut, London, Paris, Zurich, NYC...)

VS

[Noelle]

It's the principle of the thing. And I would never read a Bible from Kindle. Wonder if they would read their Qur'an that way...

I asked a student of mine here once how he would feel if he stepped off the plane at LAX and had his luggage sorted through and his Qur'an taken away. I'm not sure, but I hope he understood my point after that.

[veiledsentiments]

The thing is that this is a government policy... controlled by the Mutawa... over which the citizens have absolutely no say. So, this is a rather unfair question.

I'm not sure about Saudi students, but I found that my other students in the Gulf thought it was terrible that we had to work on "our" Holy days - like Christmas or Easter. They were quite vocal that we should get it off. But, needless to say, we never did unless they hit on the weekend. (and in the rest of the Gulf, having a Bible is not an issue, and there are churches allowed)

VS

[johnslat]

Dear veiledsentiments,


"They were quite vocal that we should get it off."

I'm sure the Saudi students would be equally vocal - after all, if you got those days off, so would they .

Regards,
John

[veiledsentiments]

[teacup05]

[Wordsmithy]

My experience and awareness of Saudi customs is that one bible or and other such material is just fine. Islam actually respects the bible because it is "the book" in "People of the book." The problem would be if someone wanted to bring in multiple copies because then it would appear to be for purposes of proselytizing -- a definite no no.

The things to avoid are items with lurid or sexy images along with strictly prohibited items like alcohol, drugs and pork.

I haven't heard of anyone having regular old DVDs or books confiscated (provided the aforementioned luridness is avoided).