A Snapshot of Middle Eastern Monotheistic Religions

Jamal Daniel serves as chairman of the Crest Investment Company, managing investments in technology, manufacturing, oil and gas. In his free time, Jamal Daniel also founded the Levant Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the knowledge of Middle Eastern culture. The group promotes understanding of three monotheistic religions, Judaism, Islam, and Christianity, originating from the Middle East.

Judaism is known as the first monotheistic religion, coming about in the eastern Mediterranean when, as the story goes, Abraham made an agreement with God. Islam and Christianity soon followed, agreeing that Abraham was the world’s first prophet. 

As a branch of Judaism, Christianity didn’t really take off until Roman emperor Constantine converted to the religion in 324 C.E. Much like Judaism, many Middle Eastern Christians practice asceticism. Several groups including the Greek Orthodox, Armenian Catholics, and Protestants follow similar customs and rituals.

Islam gained traction in the Middle East in the seventh century C.E. when a group of people who practiced Judeo-Christian traditions and integrated the values of Arabia’s Bedouin tribes settled in Mecca (now called Saudi Arabia). Islam spread into the Byzantine Empire, Europe, South Africa, and Asia, where it continued to grow. 

Although these three religions originated from the same place, in the following years, various conflicts have arisen over the interpretation of certain beliefs.