Episode 8: Growing Up as a Syrian Christian-Ethnic and Religious Makeup of the Country, and the Influence of the Civil War on Syrians
In this episode of the Diversity Podcast, Michael, who is Syrian Christian, shares with me what it was like to grow up as a religious minority in a predominantly Muslim country - Syria.
Join us to learn more about the Assyrian, Aramean, and Druze people, what unites and what differs Syrian Christians and Syrian Muslims. In this episode, we also discuss how war has changed the Syrian people.
Tune in and join me as we explore the fascinating country of Syria.
Song used in this episode is by band qaynar & radif kashapov called Сәхибҗамал, Газиз һәм Фатыйх.
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00:00 - Guest’s Introduction
01:39 - The Makeup of Syrian population
05:35 - Who are Assyrians?
07:18 - Growing up as Christian in Syria
09:51 - Obvious differences growing up in rural and urban areas
12:09 - Religions in Syria back in the days
12:55 - The area used to be called Levant
14:00 - Who Are Druze people?
14:35 - Who Are Aramean people?
17:34 - Obvious and non-obvious differences between Syrian Christians and Syrian Muslims
21:04 - Similarities of Syrian Christians and Syrian Muslims
22:34 - Main rules when it comes to family values and marriage
23:15 - Getting married with someone of another religion
24:49 - How Civil war has changed views on love and life and religious dissimilarities
27:00 - How has the war influenced Syrian people?
31:35 - How Syrian war influenced Michael personally
33:03 - Syrian Christian community bonds outside Syria
36:37 - Michael’s advice on how to embrace your culture and your identity?