This article provides a brief history and highlights differences among the Arab religions. It also examines differences in the communities of Christians or Jews. It concludes with an assessment of the importance anthropological sensibility to interpret Arabic texts. It also discusses historical and anthropological methods of research. It seeks to increase appreciation for the variety of Arab religious traditions.
Islam
Islam is the largest religion in the Arab World. Islam is a religion that dates back to the 7thcentury. It was first established in Syria, and Arabia. The religion is very similar to Jewish and Christian predecessors. It has its roots in pre-Islamic Arab poetry. Prophet Muhammad promoted the Arab Past by glorifying it through his writings. He also revived the language of Arabs. A verse of the Koran describes Allah as the eternal tongue, lisan-al-arab.
Assyrian religions
The Assyrian religion, which is based upon Christianity, is closely linked to Easter, one the most important Christian festivals. While the Gregorian calendar has been adopted by the Assyrian Church of the East as well as other churches based in the Near East, many Assyrians continue to follow the Julian calendar. Assyrians practice fasting during Lent and refrain from eating meat and animal products.
Christian communities in Lebanon
Lebanon's Christian community comprises four denominations: the Orthodox Church, Maronite Catholic Church, Armenian Apostolic Church, and Greek Orthodox Church. The largest denomination is the Maronite Church, which is fully in communion with the Catholic Church. The Orthodox Church is second in size. In terms of number of members, it is approximately one-third of the population. Christians hold 64 seats in Lebanon's parliament. Maronites control 34 seats and the Eastern Orthodox Church, Armenian Apostolic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church each hold around five seats. Additionally, one seat is reserved for the Protestant Church.
Jews
Pew Research Center recently conducted an Israeli survey on religious affiliation. It included 5,601 Jewish-Arab respondents, who were all residents of Israel, the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The survey also included religiously unaffiliated respondents.
Dualists
The dualists of the Arab religions do not necessarily endorse one God but do support the existence a higher power. Dualists argue that the soul doesn't have an indestructible nature, but is rather a metaphysical substance who interacts with the physical. In medieval heresy, Devil was thought to be a fallen angel that created the human body. Bogomils dualism and qualified dualism are examples of this approach.
Sabians
The Sabians, an ancient, historic Arab religion are known as the Sabians. They lived before the Prophet Muhammad, and they read the Zabur. They were subjugated to Islam in 639 AD. They are classified under a protected faith, but were converted to Islam by the Umar Pact.