Impact of Religion on Conflicts in the Middle East - Essay Example

Impact of Religion on Conflicts in the Middle East Introduction The traditional and modern dispensation Middle East continues to experience a number of conflicts. Religion has ever been sighted a major reason for conflicts in the expansive territory of the Middle East. Ethnic conflicts in the Middle East have been traced to the religious differences that have been experienced among the three dominant religious outfits that include Islam, Judaism and Christianity. Religion has a major influence in shaping the relationship between different entities in the Middle East to the extent that it has become the baseline over which a number of issues can be understood. Politics, economic wellbeing, and the social fabric of the society are guided by the theme of religion. Although there are other factors that fuel conflicts in the Middle East, religion is one of the major reasons why Etna-religious conflicts are experienced in the region. Influence of religion in the Middle East Religion in the Middle East has a fundamental influence in almost every sphere. While Islam is a major religious outfit in the region, Judaism and Christianity follow as some of the most impeccable religions in the Middle East; though within the segment, there are diverse sectors that form the broader religion. In every sphere of life in the Middle East, be it in political or economic circles, religion is a major factor. The political agenda in the Middle East is shaped by the prevailing ideologies. Islam, being a dominant religious outfit in the Middle East has system of governance based on sharia laws (Fox 32). The use of sharia laws has been a major point of conflict in the sense that other groups do not subscribe to the ideological thinking. The Arab world in the Middle East has their political ideologies pegged on the Islamic faith. On the other hand, Israel, which is predominantly a Jewish community have the politics of the land pegged on Judaism. Religion and ethnic issues are components that play out to a greater extent in the conflict experienced in the Middle East. The Jews and the Muslims are the most conflicting religious outfits in the greater region of the Middle East. The interactions between the Jews and the Muslims remain a critical issue in the sense that they have a number of fronts over which disagreements arise. For instance, the Jews believe that the entire Middle East is their land and any other intruder should leave the place. The Arabs claim the very land sighting the place at the residence of the prophet Mohamed (Hertog 54). Such geopolitical differences are major sources of conflicts in the Middle East. The Arabs and Jews have an ethnic kinship relationship and even with that the conflicts have continued. Even though the Jews and the Arabs have some kinship relationship, religious and cultural is a major point of conflict. Case in point is that the Jews view the Arabs with contempt as they believe the latter are less belonging. The few Christians either fit into the system as minority groups, though they have a place in the manner in which the political system is set up. The differences in opinion and line of thoughts of the religious groups in the Middle East have sometimes degenerated into conflicts. War in the Middle East can largely be traced from the fact that there is a huge difference between the major communities of believers. Islam in the Middle East is segmented to the extent that there are the Sunni and the Shi’a Muslims. These segmented groups have their own conflict that they fight. The Shi’a Muslims are found in particular regions of the Middle East such as Lebanon, Iraq and Iran. Sunni that is the largest group of the Muslim community are stretched in the greater region of the Middle East and conflicts sometimes degenerate based religious differences between the two groups (Reynal-Querol 25). Judaism mainly found in Israel and pocket establishments in the Middle East have certain claims that trigger violence whenever mentioned. For instance, the Jews believe that the Middle East is a land given to them by God and the rest, who are not indigenous are supposed to vacate. Such sentiments are never taken lightly by the different groups; hence, constant and persistent conflicts (Hertog 112). Religion influences a number of issues in the Middle East, including politics, geography and cultural wellbeing. Islam, Judaism and Christianity hold certain fundamental facts that make them shape the occurrences and events, some of which are conflicting in nature. Religion and ethnic conflict in the Middle East Judaism according to the Jews is the first religion and is responsible for uniting everyone. Essentially, the Jews believe that any religion that has emerged after Judaism is heretical. Religion is, therefore, a major point of conflict among the Jews and the Muslims. The issues of conflict between the Jews and the Muslims are historical. Jews claim that during the times of Prophet Mohammed, the Jews were summoned out of the Madina region and some particular Jewish tribes were persecuted and massacred. Such historical issues have remained a source of tension between the Jews and the Arabs a factor that has continued to raise conflicts in the Middle East (Bunzl 58). Even though, there are other factors that bring about conflicts in the Middle East some of which are external, religion is by far the greatest influence of ethical conflict. There are a number of religious outfits in the Middle East, but Islam, Judaism and Christianity are the dominant groups and shape the agenda for conflicts in the greater region. The religious intolerance witnessed in the Middle East arises from the fact that the three dominant religious groups have issues that when raised, end up in conflicts (Fox 46). The ethnic conflict in the Middle East is linked to religion to a greater extent. Ethnicity is the manner in which people identify themselves in terms of race, background and language. Islam has a faith, believe that it is the only true religion and nothing can change the prospect of their religion being the greatest of all. This notion fuels ethnic tension and conflict with extensive damage being caused to the other groups. The Muslims have persecuted Christians in the Middle East for the simple reason that they are not of the perfect faith (Fox 68). Over time, Christians have been forced out of the Middle East and found refuge in Israel or overseas. The extremism by the Islamic religion threatens other ethnic identities in the Middle East with great population seeking alternatives in other places. Islam has within its ideology that individuals have to be forcefully converted to the faith. Consequently, the Arab Muslims believe that Jihad is a holy war and must be fought to signify holy convocation. Judaism is far reaching conflicting ideologies than the Islamic religion; hence, the source of ethnic conflict. Essentially, the value system held by the Jews is based on the biblical teachings and summons. Judaism bases its value system from the Old Testament and contrast with the Islamic faith. Judaism does not believe in killing, as it is a prohibition of the Hebrew laws. On the other hand, the Arab-Muslim believes in suicide bombing a practice that has killed many innocent individuals. The rise of Israel in the Middle East has been seen as a threat to the Islamic nations. As such, there has been consistent and persistent persecution of the Jewish community (Jawad 88). The ethnic background in the Middle East fuels the conflicts that have been witnessed over the past few decades. Religion plays significant roles in shaping the relationship between various individuals based on religious standings. Islam has its ideologies lined up and directly conflicts with the other set of religions, a fact that sometimes degenerate into war (Donno 33). Most of the states in the Middle East view Wahabism as the guiding principle, and this ideology bring into focus the place of other religious entities in the entire region. The conflict in Lebanon and Jerusalem are ethnically motivated due inherent religious differences prevail against the peaceful appeal. While relations between the Christians and the Jews have remained friendly, the Muslim community in the Middle East has been hostile to a greater extent. The Christians believe that Christianity started in the Middle East and has sought to claim most of the regions. Demographic challenges have remained a challenge for the Christian community in the Middle East in thus making them prone to witch hunt from the Muslims. The Muslims do not recognize the Christians as authentic believers. In Lebabanon, the Christians were for decades being in the upper echelons of politics, yet the demographics remained a challenge. The power struggle in the greater Middle East region has been a major point of conflict. The Catholics, Nestorians and the Maronites not to mention the protestant lay claim to certain issues that are a potential source of conflict (Stephan 56). The Arab communities, majorly Muslims, always believe that the Islamic principles are the fabric that guide the society and without such the society is perceived functionless. Judaism is closely linked to Christianity and both believe in the Ten Commandments as the moral standards through which the society has to function. Such differences are the main reasons why ethnic conflicts are rampant in the Middle East and religious ideologies are the major causes for such misunderstandings. Factors for ethno-religious conflicts in the Middle East Religion is one of the single most discriminating factors in environments where there are majorities and minority groups. In the Middle East, Islamic is a major religion, and it is a factor that shapes the political landscape of the region. Conflict arises when the minorities feel discriminated by the majority, who by all standards run the affairs of most parts of the society. Judaism and Christianity are minority entities in the Middle East and are ever threatened by the dominant religious outfit that is Islam (Fox 38). Christians and Jews have been discriminated upon and sometimes persecuted due to their faith and their lack of conformity to the teachings of Islam (Bunzl 112). Arab Christians and Jews have always retaliated prompting conflicts sometimes ending up in major wars. For example, the Jews in Lebanon have always been persecuted because of the dominant extremist, who feels everyone should adhere to the doctrine of Islam. The Islamic religion also faces conflicts in the sense that the Sunni, who are the majority dominate and the Shi’a, who are the minority group. Most of the Shi’a normally feels dominated and harassed; thus, ensuring conflicts in the Middle East (Cornell 50). The differences that arise among the Muslims bring about conflicts that spill into the greater region. The governance system in the Middle East is another factor that prompts ethno-religious conflicts. Most of the governments in the Middle East are not democratic, but autocratic. There are few choices that people can make in terms of having the right kind of leadership that is representative and inclusive. The leadership of the states in the Middle East is Muslim dominated, locking other religious groups from the affairs of the nation. The political discrimination in the region makes it possible for conflicts to erupt on several occasions (Bercovitch 23). The Jews and Christians never have a say in the political systems, even though, some attempts have been made before to have an all-inclusive leadership, realization of full representation is still illusive. To this extent, it is critical to note that most of the governments in the Middle East are autocratic nature driven by Islamic fundamentalism and is a factor that has fuelled ethno-religious conflicts to a greater extent. Cultural discrimination is another factor that fuel ethno-religious conflicts in the Middle East. The minority religious groups have distinct cultural backgrounds, and the idea of being forced to comply with the dominant culture raises tension. In Judaism, there are distinct ceremonies such that the feast of Passover that is celebrated by Christians. When barred from celebrating such an event, the tension raises because the people feel offended and their rights infringed. Economic discrimination is a rampant phenomenon in the Middle East. The Muslim community controls a significant sector of the economy effectively marginalizing the others, who are of Judaism or Christian faith. Such issues raise ethno-religious conflicts. Discrimination from different spheres of the society, especially when the majority Islamic religion dominates the minority Jews and Christians the resultant factor is ethno-religious conflicts. The fact that different groups raise issues that are diverse, makes it impossible for them to have a common stand on critical issues; hence, raising tension among different ethnic groups in the Middle East (Cornille 79). Religion remains a key area of conflict in the Middle East in the sense that most of the groups have different cultural, historical and religious beliefs. Among the religious groups there are tensions because of differences in opinion and ideologies concerning some issues. The level of satisfaction and dissatisfaction reigns in equal measures and different groups are in constant struggle to find what they believe is the most appropriate for the region. Conclusion Conflict in the Middle East has been in existence since the inception of the nations in that particular region. It is possible that religious conflict in the Middle East may not end in the near future. Critical and serious reforms are necessary to ensure there is peaceful coexistence. In the modern dispensation the conflict persists, and one of the major pointers to the struggle is religion. The three major religions that are Islam, Judaism and Christianity continue to be at the center of the conflict. Religion has a major influence on the manner in which the Middle East operates, and it is against that background that conflicts have been a persistent issue. Christians and Jews have been persecuted an issue that has consistently ensured conflicts, due to religious differences between the Islam and Christianity. Ethno-religious conflicts arise as a result of political, religious, economic and cultural discriminations. The dominant Islamic group has extreme ideologies that lock other religious entities from benefitting from the system, a factor that is a recipe for conflicts. Works Cited: Bercovitch, Jacob, and Karl R. DeRouen. Unraveling Internal Conflicts in East Asia and the Pacific: Incidence, Consequences, and Resolutions. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books, 2011. Print. Bunzl, John. Islam, Judaism, and the Political Role of Religions in the Middle East. Gainesville, FL: University Press of Florida, 2004. Internet resource. Cornille, C. The Wiley-Blackwell Companion to Inter-Religious Dialogue. , 2013. Internet resource. Donno, Daniela, and Bruce Russett. Islam, authoritarianism, and female empowerment: What are the linkages? Typescript, Department of political science. 2002. Yale University. Fox, Jonathan. ‘Are Middle East Conflicts More Religious?’ Middle East Quarterly. 2001. 8 (4): 31-40 Fox, Jonathan. Ethnoreligious Conflict in the Late Twentieth Century: A General Theory. Lanham, Md: Lexington Books, 2002. Print. Hertog, Katrien. The Complex Reality of Religious Peace building: Conceptual Contributions and Critical Analysis. Lanham, Md: Lexington Books, 2010. Print. Jawad, Rana. Social Welfare and Religion in the Middle East: A Lebanese Perspective. Bristol: Policy Press, 2009. Print. Reynal-Querol, Marta. ‘Ethnicity, Political Systems, and Civil Wars’, Journal of Conflict Resolution. 2002. 46 (1): 29-54. Stephan, Alfred. ‘Religion, Democracy, and the ‘Twin Tolerations’’, Journal of Democracy. 2000. 11 (4): 37-56. Read More