In these parts, when we name our children after you, it's more than just a vote of thanks, it is a chance at a new life albeit not in the best of circumstances but a new life nonetheless.
But it is also an invocation and a refusal to let those who need to sleep rest. What you will therefore find is that the prayer made by most spiritual people is ignored (rest in peace) when out of the blue someone calls on your name thus interrupting your voyage to the better world (the Greeks believe that death's journey take place on a boat captained by an ancient seaman called Charon-others believe that the journey takes about 100 days and that this trip can be interrupted).
It is also believed that a person's true name is a source to their power and life force. Once the name is found or known the foe is half defeated because the name Is a key to the person's destiny, call and life purpose.
It is no wonder that name changes were often used to confirm new identities especially for slaves or captives and were also used to link new citizens to local gods. Maybe this is why the Christ gives us or promises a new name engraved on stone?
These are some of the thoughts on my mind as I ponder the fate of our friends in Egypt and their Arab spring. I have a question for both Christians and Muslims. What would it be like if the champions of your respective faiths were given a chance to live again (especially the prophet of the former). Would you let him establish his rule as in the past and would you allow him to preach as he did? Or would you be too overcome by the sincerity of his words or the force of their delivery? Would you resort to your divisions or would his presence help clarify and eliminate your rifts.
Why do we name our children after these people and then castigate them for challenging us in our conformity?
