Islam
Some countries in the Middle East have seen political Islam become a dominant political force. This is good news, as it could aid in the development of the region. The Muslim Brotherhood was once considered the most influential non-state organisation in the region. With its hundreds of thousand members and huge mobilising ability, it was once a powerful group. It is not easy to predict what the future holds for Middle Eastern countries, given their recent instability.
Faksh is a contributor to the expanding literature on Muslim fundamentalism. He analyzes the rise in fundamentalist groups such as those in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Algeria. He views Islamism today as the most pressing challenge.
Christianity
Around 10-15 million Christians live in the Middle East. The majority are from the Arab world. These Christians are now under increasing threat from religious extremism. There has been a decline in the number of Christians in some countries like Lebanon since the late 1970s. These changes can be attributed mainly to decreased birth rates, increased immigration and wars.
While Christians made up 12.7% of the region's population in 1900, their numbers are only about a fifth of that number today. They are projected to account for only 3% by 2050. This will make Muslims the majority population in the region.
Mandaeism
Mandaeism can be described as a religion that is practiced in Iran and Iraq. It is a Gnostic religion with dualistic worldview. Its followers are devoted to the prophets Adam (and Seth) and they reject Abraham. They believe Adam and his descendents were the sons or god. Mandaeans believe there are 2 worlds. 1 is light, and the other dark.
Since thousands of years, the Mandaean population has been under persecution. They are a minority in an Islamic society. For many years they have been treated like second-class citizens. They are sometimes recognized for their skills, crafts, knowledge of science, and medicine, but they are frequently treated like infidels. They are frequently targeted for attacks and rape as a result.
Maronite religion
The Maronite religion in the Middle East is a religion with roots in Syria and Lebanon. Its ideals are influenced a monastic tradition and the history of retreating in the mountains. Its early believers included hermits such as St. Maron who lived in the mountains close to Antioch. His fame spread all over the region. Many of his followers were also hermits. These people later built monasteries. They were also known as Maronite Christians.
Maronite churches also practice the traditional tradition that an offering must be made before the mass. The preparation table is usually located right next to the main altar. This is the first step in the preparation process. This is when the priest will confess to the altar and ask God for his spiritual help.
Sunni-Shiite Islam
Sunnis and Shiites differ in many aspects, including their beliefs regarding the Mahdi, or the end-times leader who will bring justice and peace to all of humanity. Sunni Muslims, on the other hand, see it in a wider perspective. Shiites will wait for this event while Sunni Muslims will view it as a whole. Many Sunni Muslims claim that they are the Mahdi. These include the Sudanese ruler Muhammad Mahdi (1844-1885), as well as Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, from India and Pakistan.
According to the dominant wisdom, the conflict is an Islam-based conflict. There has been rivalry since the time of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad's death. For explaining this conflict, the concept of ancient tribal hatreds seems to be appropriate. However, such a view does not account for the diversity of Muslim communities in the Middle East.