Religious Conflict
UNIT 3: CULTURAL GEOGRAPHY
Session
10
LEARNING TARGETS
• Define inter-faith and intra-faith
conflict
• Identify the major causes of
religious conflict
• Discuss the history behind the
Israeli/Palestinian conflict
• Identify other major religious
conflicts worldwide.
SESSION 10
Religious Conflict
• Due to the nature of religion these conflicts can exist for a long time and
have little chance for lasting compromise.
• Causes of Religious Conflict:
• Doctrinal Differences: When religions, branches, denominations and
disagree over what is the true religion and may deem the other side
heretical
• Territorial Dispute: When religions claim the same territory or expand into
a territory controlled by another religion
• Religion and Government: People who prefer a theocracy (religion and
government as one) or a secular government (religion and government are
separate)
• Religion and Ideology: During the Cold War and in Communist countries
today, religious activities were discouraged due to the perceived threat to
the state…
Causes of Religious Conflict
• Conflict can occur for any number of reasons both between
religions and within the same religion (Intra-faith or Interfaith)
• “Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world…It
is the opium of the people.” Karl Marx
• Religion and Social Change: The views of human equality that are
diffusing with Western popular culture through globalization can cause
friction with very conservative societies and even meet violent resistance.
Session
10
Article: Religious Conflict on the Rise
Religious Conflict
• As a class we will read an
article and then discuss
Session
10
• Jews and Muslim Palestinians claim historical and spiritual tie to land
through the patriarch Abraham
• Isaac and Ishmael
• The Romans removed the Jews and dispersed them throughout Europe,
during which point the population remaining largely converted to Islam
centuries later
• By the 20th century, growing anti-Semitism, the Balfour
Declaration and finally the events of the Holocaust opened the
door for Jewish return (Zionism)
• 1948 Israel recognized by UN, but no state of Palestine, creating
a refugee crisis after warfare breaks out between the two sides
• Three subsequent wars are fought by Arab nations against Israel
in ’56, ’67, ’73…each time Israel wins and expands into more
land (West Bank, Golan Heights, etc.)
• Various attempts at peace have been thwarted by radicals on
both sides including assassinations, bombings, rocket fire and
invasions
Israel-Palestine Conflict
• Jews, Christians, and Muslims have fought for over 2,000 yrs for
small piece of land and control over the city of Jerusalem
Session
10
• Find the link to the video to
watch at home on Vision
Video: Promised Land
Israel-Palestine Conflict
• Watch the video write
down 5 questions or
comments dealing with the
Arab and Israeli conflict
still going on
Session
10
What is the difference between and inter-faith and an
intra-faith conflict? Which are more common?
What are the main causes for religious conflict in the
world today?
What is the history behind the Israeli/Palestinian conflict?
What were the major events that have led to the
situation today?
Check for Understanding: Student Discussion
• Conflicts:
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Cyprus
East Timor
India (Kashmir)
Iraq
Kosovo
Myanmar
Nigeria
Northern Ireland
Pakistan
Philippines
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Syria
Thailand
Tibet (China)
Activity: Other Global Religious Conflict
Religious Conflicts
• In the computer lab, research other
major religious conflicts and fill out the
graphic organizer provided…
Session
10
NEXT CLASS
SESSION 11
Ethnicity and Nationality