Religious Conflicts

Chapter 6

Key Issue 4

Religious Conflicts

• Religion vs. government policies– Religion vs. social change– Religion vs. Communism

• Religion vs. religion– Religious wars in the Middle East– Religious wars in Ireland

Introduction• Clash between globalization and local cultural

diversity• Religion is a major distinguishing

characteristic of local culture• Conflicts are fueled by Fundamentalism, a

strict and intense adherence to a religion. Fundamentalist view their fight a noble one to protect their very culture and way of life. They view their way superior to any other.

• Two types of conflicts can occur. Between two different religions, and between a religion and government

Religion Vs. Governmentor Social Change

• Globalization vs. local values and culture• Taliban Vs. Western Values• Taliban takes over Afghanistan in 1996 with the support of

USA. • Taliban means “religious students” and had been around

along time. When they take over they impose very strict Islamic laws.

• Ministries of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice enforced laws

• They were criticized by other Islamic scholars, however they believed they were correct. They banned western clothing and activities.

• They also destroyed 1800 year old Large Buddhist statues

Hindu Vs. Social Equality

• In the 1800s when the British controlled India, the Caste system was challenged

• Know what the CASTE SYSTEM is.

• See the Text and Hinduism PowerPoint for more info

Religion Vs. Communism

• Eastern Orthodox Christianity and Islam VS. Soviet Union

• 1721 Peter the Great makes Russian Orthodox Church a part of Government

• 1917 Bolshevik revolution overthrows the Czars and Vladimir Lenin outlaws religion.

• People loose ties with organized religion• 1990 Communism rule ends, brings revival

of religion

Religious Conflict in the Middle East

• Jews, Christians, and Muslims have fought for 2,000 years for the same spot of land

• Jews claim it as the Promised Land and trace roots back to biblical times. Their customs and rituals gained meaning there.

• Christianity gained control after the life of Jesus and it is important because of the life and death of Jesus. Romans control area and call it Palestine

• Islam considers Jerusalem the third holiest city after Makkah and Madinah. It is where Muhammad ascended to heaven. Muslims gained control of the area in the seventh century (late 600s) Many Christians converted to Islam and the Arabs (Muslims)

Crusades

• Muslims, also called Arabs, capture most of the Middle East, Including Jerusalem and Palestine and brought Arabic language and Islam

• Muslims made way into the Iberian peninsula and capture Spain and France but were stopped by Charles Martel in France. Muslims did control much of Spain Until 1492

• In the East the capture Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) and make way into Balkan Peninsula in the 1450s. The wars in Bosnia and Serbia in the 1990s stem from these Muslim advances.

Crusades continued

• In 1099 Christians launch a series of military campaigns in an attempt to conquer the Holy Land.

• They Capture holy land in 1099, lose it again in 1187 as part of the third crusade

• Regained it in 1229 as part of a treaty ending the sixth crusade

• Loose if the final time in 1244

Jews Vs. MuslimsOttoman Empire

• Ottoman Empire controls most of Middle East starting in 1516.

• They are weak when WWI breaks out and join sides with the German Side.

• During the war different treaties were negotiated as to what to do with the area after the war.

• After WWI the area was divided up with mandates from the league of Nations with Great Britain controlling Palestine.

One Land, Two People

• Between WWI and WWII G.B allowed some Jews to come back to the area, but restricted it in 1930 because of Pressure form Arabs.

• During this time the British told the Palestinians that they deserved to rule themselves, but also told the Jews they had a right to a homeland.

• Zionist movement (the return of Jews) picks up just before WWII.

• After WWII there is world wide sympathy for a homeland for the Jews

• British announce they don’t know how to solve the problem and are returning control to the United Nations.

Creation of Israel• The United Nations comes up with a plan to

partition the area into two parts. One for Jews the other for Muslims. Jerusalem was to be an international city.

• British withdraw in 1948 and Israel declares independence and accepts the UN partition.

• The next day Israel is attacked by all Arab neighbors.

• The War ends in 1949 with Israel gaining most of the land, and the other Arab countries controlling what was left. The Palestinians loose all territory.

Boundary Changes in Palestine/Israel

Fig. 6-15: The UN partition plan for Palestine in 1947 contrasted with the boundaries that were established after the 1948–49 War. Major changes later resulted from the 1967 War.

More Wars

• Three more wars take place. The wars of 1956, 1967, and 1973 further divide the land.

• War of 1967, or Six-Day War was critical because Israel gained land from all their neighbors– West Bank and Jerusalem from Jordan– Golan Heights from Syria– Gaza Strip from Egypt– Sinai Peninsula from Egypt (later returned)

WEST BANKGAZA STRIP

GOLAN HEIGHTS

Sinai Peninsula

Four Points of Conflict1. Refugees

• During the Wars millions of Palestinians fled the area for safety as Jews destroyed many Muslim towns.

• Many Muslims living in surrounding countries consider themselves Palestinians even though they have never lived there.

• Palestinians want these refugees to be able to return, the Jews feel this would cause an imbalance in population they could not overcome.

#2 Settlements in the West Bank and Gaza

• After the Jews gained control of the West Bank and Gaza they started to build settlements to solidify their claim to the land.

• Started slowly but increased in the 1980s and 90s. • Palestinians want most if not all settlements removed.

Jews say settlements provide security and are needed to keep claim on area.

The West Bank: Political and Physical Geography

Fig. 6-16: Political control of the West Bank has been split between Palestinians and Israelis (though under overall Israeli control). The West Bank includes many of the higher altitude areas of the region.

#3 Security

• Both sides see the other as a major threat to security. The Israel Army, supplied by America and G.B. is far superior to the Palestinian force.

• As a response, Palestine often uses terrorism to make points. When one side does something, the other is sure to retaliate.

• Palestine has struggled to form unified government, so when one group such as the PLO or Hamas make a treaty, the other often breaks it.

#4 Jerusalem

• The access and control of Jerusalem is a problem that has no easy solution

• Both sides want control to their Holy sites, which are spread through out the city, and sometimes right on top of each other.

• Neither side feels comfortable in any sort of compromise in regards to Jerusalem and neither will give up their claim to it.

• The Christian influence makes it difficult as well.

Jerusalem

Fig. 6-14: The Old City of Jerusalem contains holy sites for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Added problem:Physical Geography

• The lack of size and the topography make Israel and Palestine a difficult area to compromise on.

• Major Jewish cities are very close to Palestinian lands, and Muslim terrorists often use hilly west bank as shelter and bases for attacks

Other Info to Know• Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) is the major Muslim

political organization. It was headed by Yassir Arafat until he died last year.

• Many different groups of people call themselves Palestinians including refugees from the different wars, Muslim citizens of Israel, and citizens of other countries that had relatives at one time that were refugees.

• Both sides have moderates that want compromise. However the peace process is made more difficult by the smaller fundamentalist on both sides who will not be happy unless the other side is eliminated.

Israel’s Security Zone in Lebanon

Fig. 6-1-1: Israel established a security zone in southern Lebanon in 1982. When Israel withdrew in 2000, the UN helped draw the boundary between the countries.

Conflict in Ireland

• This is between Protestant and Roman Catholics and the conflict has decreased in recent years as treaties and agreements have been reached.

• Again some on both sides are not happy and there is always a possibility it will get worse again.

• Read the book about this conflict and know what the why there is a conflict and what the IRA is.

Protestants in Northern Ireland

Fig. 6-17: Percent Protestant population by district in Ireland, 1911. When Ireland became independent in 1937, 26 northern districts with large Protestant populations chose to remain part of the United Kingdom.