Religious Effects in the Middle East

Politics, economic lives, and the social status of people in the Middle East have been greatly influenced by religion for centuries. The education system, laws, art, sports, and constitution are viewed using a religious lens. Every societal element should comply with religious symbolism and norms. The current conflicts in the Middle East have a deep root in history. The main religions in the Middle East are Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. They have many cultural and spiritual similarities, but there is always competition, resentment, and conflict. There is always a fight and violence between the religions.

There are two branches or groups of Islam in the region that are violent and intolerant. The conflicts between religions cause people to suffer, lose lives, live in harsh conditions, or be displaced (Duiker, 2020). The religious minorities suffer the most during the conflicts and hence are forced to leave, reducing their number in the area. For example, the conflict between the Arabs and Israelis caused a lot of suffering for the Palestinians. There are different interpretations of religion in public and politics. Political elites exploit religion to adhere to power and maximize wealth control and political influence.

The use of religious narratives, conspiracy theories, and texts is every day during the exploitation of other people and support of conflict and violence. The disputes have led to the collapse and destruction of property and organizations. Successive governments target religious and ethnic minorities; hence, they are viewed suspiciously and treated as a theocratic threat. There is a lot of discrimination against citizens based on their religions. Significant reforms to make religion compatible with human rights are needed in the Middle East. Radical reforms will reverse destabilization and deterioration in the region. Dictatorship and sectarianism have contributed to violence and conflict in the Middle East.