How are Coptic Christians different from regular Christians?

Question

I'm doing a research project on Coptic Christianity for an A.P. class and I want to know what makes the Copts unique to the Christian community

Answer 1

how do you define "regular Christians"? there is great diversity. try this link. it provides an introduction to coptic christianity (egyptian). the copts are eager to have a voice in the face of islam which is how egypt is stereotypically defined..
http://www.coptic.net/
the copic church is very old. traditionally, it was founded by st. mark. because it is in egypt, it has prior connections to christianity. the hebrews were there many, many years, and, christ and his family escaped herod by going to egypt.
the copic church is orthodox, and believes and established many of the standard orthodox positions on the two natures of christ and on the trinity. coptic christians which were important in formulating orthodox views include cyril of alexander and athenasious.
the copts have their own pope, pope shanouda, and he has a web site. you can check out his many writings on coptic belief and practice. other web sites allow you to watch actuals rituals being conducted.
but check out all the links. they'll give you much info.

Answer 2

What do you mean by regular Christian? Catholic? Protestant? Western?
Coptic Christianity is the ancient Christianity of Egypt. The Coptic Orthodox Church is separated from the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches after rejecting the Council of Chalcedon in AD 451 and is in communion with the other Oriental Orthodox Churches like the Armenian.
There is a Coptic Rite branch of the Catholic that uses the same Alexandrian liturgical tradition of St Mark. There are Egyptian Protestant Churches that use the title"Coptic".
The services are long by Western Cath or most Protestant standards are very different externally. The Coptic language which has been extinct as a living language for about 3oo+ years is descended from the ancient Egyptian language but used a Greek-based alphabet. Many ancient texts like the so-called Gospel of Thomas were preserved in Coptic. The chants and musical instruments (like the systrum) used may go back to Pharonic times. Monasticism is very important in Coptic tradition.
The Ethiopian Orthodox Church , the largest of the Oriental Orthodox Churches,is in many ways a "daughter" of the Egyptian Coptic Church. Copts make up about 10% of Egypts population and suffer much discrimmination and sometimes persecution from some Muslim groups. Copts are now established in many places in the West.

Answer 3

I think there is a very subtle misunderstanding evidenced within your question. The councils did not "determine" the Biblical canon; the councils AFFIRMED the canonicity of these manuscripts. There's a HUGE difference between the two concepts. Regarding the creeds themselves: you are correct that *some* (but not all) are older than the affirmed list (canon). As to the reason some denominations do not accept all of the creeds, it appears there are doctrinal differences related to interpretation and application of these beliefs.

Answer 4

The Coptic Church is a branch of Catholicism.