Alawites have historically kept their beliefs secret from outsiders and non-initiated Alawites. We are the church that shares a living, daring confidence in Gods grace. The International Secretariat headquarters is in New York City, with regional conferences in Europe, Asia, Middle East, Africa and the Americas. [118] Devji states there is "a new movement of atheists in countries such as Saudi Arabia which takes the form of secret societies", meeting "in internet chat rooms and unnamed physical locations, like the mystics of old". [118], In Egypt, Al Jazeera reported a clandestine atheist group of over 100 in Alexandria in 2013. ABERNETHY: In recent years the pope has said some things and done some things that have offended both Muslims and Jews, so theres some fence-mending to be done, too, isnt there? While they no longer live among a Muslim majority, they continue to follow many customs with strong Muslim and Middle Eastern influences making them distinct from European Jews. Mandaeans are a closed ethnoreligious group. Religions for Peace understands the importance of recognising and amplifying the work of women of faith and women-led initiatives, as they are often overlooked in the fields of peacebuilding and interfaith cooperation. [citation needed] Babism is a monotheistic religion which professes that there is one incorporeal, unknown, and incomprehensible God who manifests his will in an unending series of theophanies, called Manifestation of God. Articles, stories, photos and video about keeping faith in the Holy Land and creating a peaceful, just environment where all humans can flourish. We have more on the Popes visit coming up. ABERNETHY: Kim Lawton joins us now from Jerusalem. Ive voted for this program or that program. Suhail Khan is an American Muslim with the Institute for Global Engagement. . Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. Prayers for Peace in the Middle East - Xavier University Religion in the Middle East 2 languages Read Edit View history All three major Abrahamic religions ( Judaism, Christianity, and, Islam) originated from the Middle East and are present in the Middle East. Bishop MUNIB YOUNAN (Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land): We are working now on monitoring the textbooks both in Israel and Palestine, and to see, you see, what we teach about the other, because usually what we teach about the other is very shameful. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). The Bb movement signaled a break with Shia Islam, beginning a new religious system with its own unique laws, teachings, and practices. Tensions have been particularly high since the recent conflict between Israel and Gaza. Apart from being the largest religion in the Middle East, it is also one of the largest religions in the world. Currently, as the new government of Egypt is trying to establish itself, many are concerned that a member of the Muslim Brotherhood will again step in and claim leadership. Long an object of veneration and conflict, the holy city of Jerusalem has been governed, both as a provincial town and a national capital, by an extended series of dynasties and states. The sayings "religion is for God and the nation is for all," and "God created us to worship Him and cultivate the land" are ones we hear often in Egypt and other Middle Eastern countries. HALL (at press conference, from file footage): What you have before you is a council not of religious leaders, but of the religious leaders. [58] According to the scholar Andrea Rugh Copts tend to belong to the educated middle and upper-middle class,[59] and according to scholar Lois Farag "The Copts still played the major role in managing Egypt's state finances. Hes hoping that symbolism of going to those places will help counteract some of the negative publicity he got after he made a speech where he quoted a Byzantine emperor who had some not very nice things to say about the Prophet Mohammad. The decipherment of Mesopotamian and Egyptian literatures in the 19th century opened new vistas of ancient Middle Eastern history. Islam would be protected under this Islamic Republic and unelected positions like the Supreme Leader and the Guardian Council would have unlimited power over the nation. This is the foundation of uniqueness of Lebanon and the source of much of its conflicts; and while changes have been made to attempt to make parliamentary representation more even, many are still urging for reform and change. [57] Historically; many Copts were accountants, and in 1961 Coptic Christians owned 51% of the Egyptian banks. Another current religious tension in Egypt is the role of the Muslim Brotherhood, founded by Hassan al-Banna in Egypt. Many countries have now developed their branches. ", "Middle East:: Qatar The World Factbook", "Middle East:: United Arab Emirates The World Factbook", "Syria's Alawites, a secretive and persecuted sect", "Turbulent history colors Syria's ruling Alawite Muslims' fight to keep power", "Syrians flee their homes amid fears of ethnic cleansing", "It's Time to Engage Iran, Russia on Syria", "Turkey's Alevis, a Muslim Minority, Fear a Policy of Denying Their Existence", "Excerpts from Baba Rexheb's The Mysticism of Islam & Bektashism The Bektashi Order of Dervishes", "Alevitisme: De vijf zuilen? [39], Some of the differences that mark Alevis from mainstream Muslims are the use of cemevi halls rather than mosques; worship ceremonies that feature wine, music and dancing, and where both women and men participate; non-observance of the five daily salat prayers and prostrations (they only bow twice in the presence of their spiritual leader), Ramadan, and the Hajj (considering true pilgrimage to be internal one). Religion in the Middle East - Wikipedia Fig. These are not typical Holy Land pilgrims. Your support of this Fund can provide food, clothing and protection to the people ofTrkiye and Syria,and ease their suffering in the coming days. [114] Dar al-Ifta al-Misriyyah, the branch of the Egyptian government that issues fatawa (religious edicts), gives lower (if less reliable) numbers, stating that there are 866 atheists in Egypt "roughly 0.001% of the population"325 in Morocco, and 32 in Yemen (defined as not only unbelievers, but secularists and "Muslims who convert to other religions"). Corrections? Rabbi ROSEN: So Im hoping that this new administration, especially with the contacts we have thanks to our friends in the United States who have been so supportive of the work that we do, that we can be perceived as a stakeholder and a strategic asset on the part of this administration in its new initiatives. Which Religions Are Practiced In The Middle East? - WorldAtlas [94] The Bab's claims led to public unrest and ultimately the execution of the Bab by the Iranian government.[92]. [46][47][48], Christians now make up 5% of the population, down from 20% in the early 20th century. On this World Refugee Day, Religions for Peace highlights its flagship Multi-Religious Humanitarian Fund and select success stories from the interfaith initiatives supported. The eponymously named Alawites revere Ali (Ali ibn Abi Talib), considered the 1st Imam of the Twelver school. Religion and Peace in the Middle East | May 8, 2009 - PBS To reject the use of military and security measures by all parties after they proved inefficient and exacerbated the problem. The previous laws disallowing the Hijab, religious headscarf, in schools and public places has been a huge source of contention. Chaired by George Vassiliou. The ancient Middle East constituted an ecumene. [86], The core beliefs of Sikhism, articulated in the Guru Granth Sahib, include faith and meditation in the name of the one creator; divine unity and equality of all humankind; engaging in seva ('selfless service'); striving for justice for the benefit and prosperity of all; and honest conduct and livelihood while living a householder's life. [97]:4[98] There are between 60,000 and 70,000 Mandaeans worldwide[99] and in the Middle East, they are found in Iraq and Iran. KIM LAWTON: Just outside of Bethlehem, an American group is touring the Aida Palestinian refugee camp. The earliest and certainly the most fundamental ancient Middle Eastern civilizationthe Sumerianhad vanished without a reference in the literatures of the world. Cairo's Mugamma' al-Adyan Complex: A Message of Peace for Egyptians and While Bbism was violently opposed by both clerical and government establishments, it led to the founding of the Bah Faith, whose followers consider the religion founded by the Bb as a predecessor to their own. Judaism (Hebrew: Yah) is an Abrahamic, monotheistic, and ethnic religion comprising the collective religious, cultural, and legal tradition and civilization of the Jewish people. [121] It is illegal to practice any other religion than Islam in Saudi Arabia. SUHAIL KHAN (Senior Fellow for Christian-Muslim Understanding , Institute for Global Engagement): You definitely feel that there are different narratives. Its members include Israels chief rabbis, the Supreme Judge of the Palestinian Islamic Courts, and the heads of the major Christian denominations. experienced a revival with an estimated 900,000 people (perhaps more) who profess Buddhism as their religion. The world is never static. Framework for Peace in the Middle East/ "Camp David" - Text/Non-UN He has spoken very frequently about his concern about the conflict here. Maps produced within the territories represent Jerusalem differently. With this greater freedom of press, the Coptic issue has just begun to break into public awareness, but also due to a minority within both religious communities having extremist views, the media may also be exacerbating the sectarian tension by only publicizing examples of prejudice.[123]. BOB ABERNETHY, anchor: Pope Benedict XVI began his Middle East visit in Jordan, met by its king and queen. Therefore, it is difficult to determine whether Palestinian Territories or Israel will encompass this region. As we celebrate Holy Days across faiths and across continents, we commemorate the vital work that the global movement advanced and mobilised in 2022. [90], Sikhism, the fifth-largest organized religion in the world after Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism, having over 25 million Sikhs worldwide, has a small presence in the Middle East too[quantify], mainly in the U.A.E, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Iran. Middle Eastern countries have combat on various fronts: a midst its own nations, . LAWTON: Indeed, he really has some multifaith challenges before him. [101] They follow a monotheistic ethnic religion that has roots in a western branch of an Iranic pre-Zoroastrian religion. The Hebrew Bible contains many sources for religious peacebuilding. From delivering emergency assistance to those affected by acute health crises, to offering vital relief and mental health services to refugees and internally displaced peoples, our lasting impact on those affected by humanitarian emergencies is far-reaching. Produced by THIRTEEN 2015 WNET. Abu Bakr was appointed caliph by senior Muslims, while Ali ibn Abi Talib was the cousine and son-in-law of Muhammad. Smaller minority religions, such as the Bah Faith, Druze,[5] Alawites, Bbism, Yazidism, Mandaeism, Yarsanism, Samaritanism, LAWTON: This is Halls thirteenth trip to the region in the last 24 months. Check out our Global Interreligious Council Directory to learn more about how IRCs are advancing multifaith action for peace. At the heart of Bah teachings is the goal of a unified world order that ensures the prosperity of all nations, races, creeds, and classes. You know, when I spoke with Ambassador Tony Hall about his effort he said weve tried everything else and nothing else has worked, so why not do that, especially in this place which is so holy to the three major religions of the world. Kim Lawton is in Jerusalem. [23][24][25][26] PDF Religions for Peace The assumption is that religion is present at each level of IR analysis in the Middle East and, thanks to that, more and more at the international . We encourage efforts to promote interfaith and intercultural . He will be visiting some mosques in Jordan and here in Israel. Religions for Peace is a global interfaith peacebuilding coalition in over 90 countries. The Religious Implications of the Middle East Peace Process ", "Middle East:: Bahrain The World Factbook", "Middle East:: Kuwait The World Factbook", "Middle East:: Lebanon The World Factbook", "Middle East:: Oman The World Factbook", "IMEU: Links: 2.6 - Are all Palestinians Muslim? Our Interreligious Councils (IRCs) are the primary mechanism we use to bring religions together in 6 regions and 90 countries. For the current candidates for the presidency, more than one is likely to be affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood. [126] Some would like the confessionalist government to be abolished. The Geopolitics of Religious Soft Power explores the global impact of religious propagation activities sponsored by several countries in the Middle Eastincluding Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkey . [60], Arabic-speaking Lebanese Maronites number some 1.11.2 million across the Middle East. (met NL ondertiteling)", "The collapse of the Palestinian-Arab middle class in 1948: The case of Qatamon", "Pope to Arab Christians: Keep the Faith", "Rome 'crisis' talks on Middle East Christians", "Christians of the Holy Land US & Canada Al Jazeera", "Egypt's Sisi meets world Evangelical churches delegation in Cairo Politics Egypt Ahram Online", "Egypt's Coptic Bishop Morcos: We need to build 4,000 churches in next 10 years", "New Egyptian Constitution Holds Promise for Copts", http://dx.doi.org/10.5339/connect.2013.22, "Accursed, Superior Men: Ethno-Religious Minorities and Politics in the Medieval Mediterranean", "With Arab revolts, region's Christians mull fate", "International Religious Freedom Report for 2012", "Assyrians community thrives again in southeastern Turkey", http://www.huffingtonpost.com/don-belt/pope-to-arab-christians-k_b_203943.html, https://video.alexanderstreet.com/watch/Samaritan, "The Specter of Ideological Genocide: The Bah's of Iran", "Worldwide Adherents of All Religions by Six Continental Areas, Mid-2010", "Religion Statistics Top 10 Organized Religions", "The Evolving Claims and Titles of Sayyid 'Ali Muhammad Shirazi, the Bab (1819-1850 CE). [citation needed] Sharia rulings are derived from these basic sources, in conjunction with analogical reasoning, consideration of public welfare and juristic discretion, using the principles of jurisprudence developed by the traditional legal schools. And yet, not withstanding all those pressures, we still manage to weather the storms. Its powerful. Former U.S. From 27-30 November 2022,Religions for Peace, the City Council of Manresa, andReligions for Peace-Spain-GTER, organised an intergenerational, interreligious, multisectoral, and gender-sensitive forum entitledAt a Crossroads: An Intergenerational and Multireligious Response to the Social and Environmental Crises. Asia-Pacific Women of Faith Network (APWFN), Asia and the Pacific Interfaith Youth Network (APIYN), European Council of Religious Leaders (ECRL-RfP). 10 Religions In The Middle East You Have Never Heard Of This hub features the Manresa 2022 Pact, the future of the Pact, and future projects and initiatives featuring the Pact. The leaders of IRCs are representatives of religious communities that mobilise believers of all faith traditions to work together. Funding for RELIGION & ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY is provided by Lilly Endowment. Arabic is the most widely spoken language and Islam is the most widely practiced religion in the Middle East. Omissions? [20] Originally a militarily secularized government, under the president Erdogan, religious freedom for Muslims has become much more accessible in Turkey[according to whom?]. Middle East's Muslim population accounts for roughly 20% of the world's Muslim population. He cares very much about Middle East peace. "the Mugamma' al-Adyan" is an ancient archaeological complex that has been able to unite structures for all three religions in peace and . Dr. William F. Vendley Dr. William F. Vendley is the Secretary General Emeritus of Religions for Peace International. Bahs regard the major religions as fundamentally unified in purpose, though varied in social practices and interpretations. 4.To refuse all forms of foreign interference given that the Syrian crisis is an internal issue which should be solved only by Syrians with the support of others. The material effects of the commercial and cultural interconnections that permeated the component regions of the ancient Middle Eastern ecumene are richly supplied by archaeological excavations, which provide evidence of the spread of architectural, ceramic, metallurgical, and other products of ancient Middle Eastern mans industry. The majority of displaced and Palestinians are Muslim and the majority of current Israeli citizens are Jewish so establishing the state borders is highly influenced by religion. Amb. [119], It is estimated that in the Middle East around 900,000 people, perhaps more, profess Buddhism as their religion. Each religion used . Hindu temples have been built in Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen, and Oman. Another name, Ansari (Arabic: Anriyyah), is believed to be a mistransliteration of Nusayri. This event concluded with the signing of The Manresa 2022 Pact: Multireligious and Multisectoral Global Pact for the Development of Resilient, Sustainable, Safe, and Inclusive Cities (The Manresa 2022 Pact). Religion in Israel is represented by the following religious make-up: Judaism 77%, Islam 16%, Christian 2%, Druze 2% (2003). Middle Eastern worldviews and basic religious thought Guided by over 100 leaders. [107][108] Published estimates of the Yazidi population vary greatly; from 300,000 worldwide to 700,000 in Northern Iraq alone, according to a recent estimate by U.S State Department, 500,000-700,000 Yazidis reside in Iraq today. [citation needed] They are colloquially known as Mizrahi Jews. Middle East and North African (MENA) Council is comprised of diverse religious leaders from across the region. The Roman historian Livy wrote many descriptions of religious rites of the ancient Middle East. LAWTON: Still, politics all too often interferes. Global Connections . Culture | PBS Christian communities have played a vital role in the Middle East. [109] Yazidis of Iraq live in Sinjar Mountains, districts of Shekhan, Zakho and Simele in Duhok, and Tel Kaif district and Bashiqa in Nineveh governorate. Updates? [6] Muslims believe that Muhammad is the final prophet of God in a long chain of prophets, from Adam on down to John the Baptist, Jesus, and finally Muhammad. The Religions for Peace Middle East and North African (MENA) Council is comprised of diverse religious leaders from across the region. 2. [127] Sunni Islamists, though, present a larger threat to the government because of their large Saudi Arabian population. Also, the Army General has to be Christian and the Bank Governor has to be always Christian as well. Religions for Peace Middle East/ North Africa (MENA) Council, an international and independent NGO committed to peace, convened a meeting of Muslim Ulemas and Christian Clergy, in addition to a number of researchers and concerned persons from Syria and other countries, in Larnaca, Cyprus, on 22-23 February 2012. HALL: Its tough. They include descendants of Babylonian Jews and Mountain Jews from modern Iraq, Morocco, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Syria, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iran, Uzbekistan, the Caucasus, Kurdistan, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, and Yemen. The ethnic Greeks, who had once inhabited large parts of the western Middle East and Asia Minor, have declined since the Arab conquests and recently severely reduced in Turkey, as a result of the Greco-Turkish War, which followed World War I. The Egyptian penal code punishes "contempt of heavenly religions", and as of 2013 Egyptians had been arrested and/or imprisoned for activities such as setting up a Facebook page calling for atheism, writing a book entitled Where is God?, and "defamation of religion". The same thing with the Jewish community: there have been some concerns after the pope lifted the excommunication of a bishop who denied the Holocaust and some other issues. Now, the council is launching a project to monitor school textbooks. The indigenous Eastern Aramaic speaking Assyrians of Iraq, south eastern Turkey, north western Iran and north eastern Syria have suffered both ethnic and religious persecution over the last few centuries such as the Assyrian genocide, leading to many fleeing to the west or congregating in areas in the north of Iraq and Syria. [citation needed]Throughout the years, other differences have arisen between practices, beliefs and culture. The Greek poet Homer, in the Odyssey, noted the mobility of guildsmen, mentioning religious personnel as well as architects, physicians, and minstrels. Advance Gender Equality 3. summary Our Interreligious Councils (IRCs) are the primary mechanism we use to bring religions together in 6 regions and 90 countries. The Middle East Peace Process: An Analysis From Former U.S. Negotiators PDF The Role of Religious Leaders in Peacebuilding in the Middle East Its international headquarters are located on the northern slope of Mount Carmel at Haifa, Israel. [123] There is a degree of tension between the Muslims and Copts of Egypt as Copts argue for more representation in government and less legal and administrative discrimination. Explorations and excavations in the Middle East yielded not only texts but also an abundance of ancient art objects, artifacts of daily life, and architecture and thus have revolutionized scholarly knowledge of the ancient Middle East, including its religions. Iraqi Christians pray at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, damaged by Islamic State fighters during their occupation of Qaraqosh, east of Mosul, Iraq, on Nov. 12, 2016. [125], Religion in Jordan is represented by 92% Muslim (Sunni), 6% Christian (mostly Greek Orthodox), and 2% other. The International Youth Committee (IYC) leads our Global Interfaith Youth Network. Followers of the Zaydi Islamic jurisprudence are called Zaydi Shi'a and make up about 35% of Muslims in Yemen.