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Religion and the Arab-Israeli Conflict IAFS/JWST 3650 Outline • Intro to religions (cont) • Muslim-Christian-Jewish relations Intro: Christianity • 2000 years old • Monotheistic, based on scripture Intro: Christianity • Based on teachings of Jesus Christ • Christ both divine and human • Christ’s death and resurrection provided salvation and eternal life Intro: Christianity • 1st three centuries: spread into W Asia, N Africa, and Europe • Bible = Old and New Testament Intro: Christianity • • • • Holy Land and esp. Jerusalem sacred Birth in Bethlehem Miracles at Galilee Death and resurrection at site of Church of Holy Sepulchre Countries with Largest Muslim Populations? 2009 Muslim Percentage of Country Population Muslims Indonesia 202,867,092 88.2% Pakistan 174,082,000 96.3% India 160,945,000 13.4% Bangladesh 145,312,000 89.6% Egypt 78,513,000 94.6% Nigeria 78,056,000 50.4% Iran 73,777,000 99.4% Turkey 73,619,000 ~98% Algeria 34,199,000 98.0% Morocco 31,993,000 ~99% Intro: Islam • God’s multiple revelations • Moses, Abraham, Jesus revered as prophets Intro: Islam • ~1300 years old • Monotheistic • Koran revealed to Prophet Muhammad in 7th c. CE Intro: Islam • Spread from 7th c. on through W Asia, N Africa, parts of Europe • Five central requirements: – Faith – Prayer – Zakat [alms] – Fasting – Hajj [pilgrimage] Islam • Jihad = “ = جهادstruggle, striving” British Perceptions of Islam • British concerns about Muslim violence • Fears of fanaticism and jihad • But Islam not monolithic Islam • Allah = هللا = “the God” http://www.al-islam.org/gallery/photos/d8.gif Jewish Rule and Roman Wars • 1000-925 BCE: United Kingdom of Israel in Canaan • 8th/6th c conquest of Israel and Judah – Origins of Jewish diaspora (scattering/dispersion from ancestral homeland) Similarities and Differences • Similar beliefs in one God, judgment day, and prophets • Differences re conversion • Similar emphasis on Jerusalem Jewish Rule and Roman Wars • 66-74 CE: First Jewish revolt vs Rome – Brutally suppressed – Mass sucide at Masada – Destruction of Jewish temple in Jerusalem (only Western Wall remained) Jewish Rule and Roman Wars • 132-135 CE: Second Jewish revolt vs Rome – Bloody supression – Jews banned from Jerusalem – Major contribution to Jewish diaspora Jewish Rule and Roman Wars • Harms: – “Israel and other Canaanites lived in relative peace” – “Both Jews and Palestinian have viable ancient claims to the land” Early Jewish-Muslim Relations • Muhammad and the Jewish clans of Medina – Harms: Muhammad’s initial deference – Recognition of Jerusalem as qiblah (direction of prayer) – Expulsion and murder, after bid for support failed, fit pattern of clan warfare The Caliphate • Muhammad’s successors known as caliphs • Spread of Islam through W Asia, then Arab Empire reaching from Spain to Asia • Construction of Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem The Caliphate • Sunni/Shia schism over rightful caliph – Sunnis: caliph should be elected – Shi‘atu ‘Ali (followers of Ali): caliphate should remain within Muhammad’s house – Today ~12% of Muslims are Shia Christian Relations with Muslims and Jews: The Crusades • 1095-1291: eight crusades, mostly failures • European military expeditions justified via appeals to Christian duty • Extremely bloody Christian Relations with Jews: European Expulsions • 1290 expulsion of Jews from England • Later expulsions elsewhere in Europe Christian Relations with Jews • Longstanding anti-Jewish feeling and action in Europe • Further scattering of European Jews • Context for Jewish-Muslim relations in Holy Land Relations in the Holy Land • Arab discrimination vs Jews • But not Eur-style mass violence • Morris on Jewish life: “harrassment . . . insecurity” Conclusions • Today’s Arab-Israeli conflict: – Mainly about secular issues – Modern roots, not ancient origins • Religious narratives about this conflict retain power