Islam
Some countries in the Middle East have seen political Islam become a dominant political force. This is good news as it can help the region's growth. The Muslim Brotherhood was once the most influential non-state group in the region with hundreds of thousands of members and enormous mobilising capacity. Unfortunately, this trend has been reversible as many Middle Eastern nations have fallen into instability over the past few years.
Faksh contributes his analysis of the rise and fall of fundamentalist movements in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Algeria to the growing literature regarding Muslim fundamentalism. His view of Islamism is the most significant challenge facing the globe today.
Christianity
In the Middle East there are about 10-15 million native Christians. Most of these Christians are located in the Arab region. Religious radicalism is increasingly threatening these Christians. Some countries, like Lebanon, have seen a dramatic decline in Christian population, especially since the 1970s. These changes can also be attributed to low birth rates and increased immigration as well as 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. By 2050, they are projected to be only 3% of the total population. This will make Muslim populations the majority in the area.
Mandaeism
Mandaeism, a religion that people in Iran and Iraq practice, is called the Islamic Mandaeism. It is a Gnostic religion, with a dualistic outlook. Its followers are devoted to the prophets Adam (and Seth) and they reject Abraham. They believe Adam and his descendants are the sons of God. Mandaeans also believe there are two worlds, one for light and one for darkness.
The Mandaean have suffered persecution for thousands years. They are a minority in an Islamic society, and have long been treated like second class citizens. They are sometimes recognized for their talents, crafts, and knowledge of science, but are often treated as infidels. They are often a target of attacks, rape, looting, and robbery.
Maronite religion
Maronite faith in the Middle East has roots from 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 throughout this region. Many of his followers lived as hermits. These people became Maronite Christians when they built monasteries.
Maronite Church, for its part, has adopted the tradition of offering an offering prior to mass. This preparation table can be found to the right side of the main altar in most churches. It is the first stage of the preparation. The priest will then make a confession and ask for spiritual support.
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.
The consensus view is that the conflict is within Islam. Since the Islamic Prophet Muhammad died, there has been rivalry between the two groups. When explaining the conflict, it seems that ancient tribal hatreds are appropriate. However, such an approach does not account the diversity of Muslim communities throughout the Middle East.