Religion and Theology in the Middle East - Essay Example

Some of the similarities shared between the three religions are the fact that they all worship the same God. This is based on evidence that the three religions are all monotheistic as they believe in one supreme God (Reed, 2013).

Despite the similarity, religion is believed to be among the major cause of conflict in the Middle East. This is because the three religions are believed to have emerged from this region. These religions also have their holy centers located in this region. The overlap in the bounders of the different religious groups fuels the conflict. This is because each group claims different territories in which the bounders are seen to overlap in many cases hence the groups resulting in war (Ozdag, 2003). This is the case in the fight over the Gaza strip.
The other religious factor that is a contributor to the current state of warfare in the Middle East is the relationship between the Muslims and the Jewish.

These two groups have many differences that are seen as geopolitical, religious, and ethnic. The Jews believe that they are the initial inhabitants of the lands in the Middle East. They believe that the lands they currently live in and those that other groups live in were given to them by Jehovah hence the need to recover them. The Arabs, on the other hand, are always unwilling to share the lands they currently hold with the Jews (Ozdag, 2003). In addition to this, the perception held by the Jews that pits the Arabs as second class and hence below them leads to strained relations. Historical events like the expulsion of the Jews from Medina by Prophet Mohammed further strain the relationship. This is as the expulsion saw the massacre and deportation of the Jews from Saudi Arabia. Anti-Semitic statements contained in the Koran are also a major source of conflict and war in the Middle East.

Relations between Christians and Muslims in the Middle East are a contributor to the current state of the Middle East. The Christians believe that the lands in the Middle East belong to them. This is strengthened by the fact that Jesus and His disciples lived and worked in Jerusalem. They, therefore, believed that the region had to be rescued from the nonbelievers who are mostly Muslims. Conflicts and power fights between Christians are other causes of war in the Middle East. The different Christian groups are always in a constant fight for superiority and priorities in the region. The differences between the Muslims are another religious factor that causes the state of warfare in the region (Ozdag, 2003).

In conclusion, the different beliefs and relations among the three Abrahamic religions are seen to be the factor behind the current state of Middle East. This state is marred with constant conflicts and warfare. This is despite the similarities that they all share which include belief in the same God and sharing the same geographic region. The relationships between the Muslims and the Jews, the Christians and the Muslims, differences among the Muslims, and lastly the power conflict among the Christians are all religious differences that attribute to the current state in the Middle East. Read More