<p>Let's see, where to begin. I'm thinking of writing an essay that's mainly about religion, just read on.</p>
<p>My parents are Egyptians and very religious muslims, I was raised to be a muslim as well, but I never really believed in the teachings of Islam. I have always found science to be a better explanation for everything than religion (read my posts at the creation vs evolution thread - <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=110884&page=3%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=110884&page=3</a>) and I hope to become a physicist. When I lived in Kansas, this wasn't a big deal, but ever since I moved to the United Arab Emirates, I've been in a really bad place because I'm surrounded by people who would be disgusted with me if they found out about my beliefs (you may not know this, but according to islamic law, anyone who renounces his/her faith should have his/her head chopped off. Seriously)</p>
<p>So, I pretty much wanted to write about that and how I learned the importance of respecting other people's beliefs.</p>
<p>I'm kind of tentative about this approach for 2 reasons:</p>
<p>1- Is it too risky? What if the admissions officer is religious - will he be offended?</p>
<p>2- What if my parents find out?! They would KILL me. I mean, they would probably want to read all of my essays: should I just hide it?</p>
<p>Thanks for your opinions</p>
<ol>
<li>NO, no. admission officers are supposed to be neutral</li>
<li>hide it</li>
</ol>
<p>:)</p>
<p>hey,i live in the uae too! dubai though. andnoI don'ttihnk anytihng is too risky if it's well written and personal enough (hell I wrote about anarchafeminism vs a muslim society and throwing out tampons offstage at local gigs in mine).
set it out rationally though - dissing islam will get you nowhere, but I'm sure you know that already. religion is always a touchy subject but well handled it can be really effective. meh I'm probably repeating myself here. and yeah admissions officers should/will be neutral.</p>
<p>just a side note though - I think an essay about reconciling your religious upbringing/faith (or lack thereof) with your belief in the power of rational science (or something likethis) makes for a much more interesting essay than the rather generic <em>celebrate diversity repect differences</em>route. ESPECIALLY as you're looking towards becoming a physicist - imbue it with scientific/intellectual curiosity etc. also - isn't physics the building blocks of science, so to speak? I think linking this to the fastforward building of the country/sheikh zayed woudl be interesting (remember a different cultural perspective is a big part of what you bring colleges; use this to your advantage) or maybe it's just on my mind today :(</p>
<p>as for parents(/community?), eh yeah hide it, if you can - this should be relatively easy to do if you're applying online. you might have to write extra 'dud' essays if they insist on seeing them but online at least,and even with paper to a certain degree you have control over what is sent.
and as for sharia law, eh? I don't know it too well but I doubt very much it woudl be enforced in a case like this. unless you go and publically denounce islam from the rooftops or something. adn if so I think you'd at best get nothing, at worst a week - 2 months in jail and/or deportation if youre not local. and it woudl have to be realllly severe for this (bring on the haramadan!). offending/disgusting people - I wouldn't see ithappening in dubai exceptmaybe with the mostorthodox families, but this is really sometihng I know nothing about. I'dimagine dubai's a lot different from al ain as well meh.</p>
<p>good luck anyway, and eid mubarak!</p>
<p>Thanks a lot cutxpaste. Those are some great ideas, and I know that the law probably wouldn't be carried out - I was just trying to show my position. It probably would be in Saudi Arabia though. One question though, I didn't really get what physics has to do with sheikh zayed and the building of the country. Could you explain?</p>
<p>thanks</p>
<p>nah I think I just had sheikh zayed on the brain that day,it being the death anniversary and all.<br>
but with physics - meh im not sure how to rephrase it, but i've heard it being described as the basics/building blocks of science, ie what you use to construct the external/material world around you. and i thought that and the whole building of the uae would be an interesting analogy to make, ie relating yourlove of science/physics to your actual surroundings/ giving it a cultural perspective even.</p>
<p>I get it now, it sounds interesting. I'll ty it and see how it goes.</p>
<p>thanks again and enjoy your holiday</p>