The risks associated with the Covid-19 pandemic in the Middle East are not confined to the immediate health effects; they will also have severe repercussions on already collapsing economies in several Mideast countries, and on the millions of displaced individuals who have fled regions affected by war. Continue Reading
The killing of Qassem Suleimani marks an important – and fraught – moment in the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran. The stage is set for an ugly tit-for-tat that risks escalation, with Iran acting through its proxies in the Middle East. Continue Reading
The unjust conditions that Muslims around the world face have induced a small group of them to resort to violence and interpret the religious text in a way that justifies their actions. But the problem is not solely intellectual and hermeneutical. It is more importantly social and political as well. Fixing these conditions is the unavoidable responsibility of peace seekers. Continue Reading
If the populist right openly invokes anti-Islamic sentiment while claiming to defend Christianity, the church should make clear that Christianity is incompatible with any calls for resentment of other faith groups. Continue Reading
The political movement of evangelical Christian support for the state of Israel is a prime example of politicized theology and right-wing ideological activism. But it is also a phenomenon of increasing cooperation, tolerance and interreligious engagement between Christians and Jews. Continue Reading
If we see the construction of religious identity as an important component in the promotion of mutual understanding among different faith traditions, policy endeavors may promote opportunities for people to explore and learn about faith traditions with which they are not familiar. Continue Reading
The case of Iranian religious minorities highlights the political nature of assimilation for stigmatized immigrant groups, even for immigrant groups that share the same religious faith as the host society or are religiously tolerated. Continue Reading