Section Banner Images

The Middle East As Net Exporter of Religion

print icon Print Page

Essay

Back Button On 6 of 6 Next Button Off

The Middle East Religious Paradigm

The “Middle East religious paradigm”—combining a belief in monotheism, prophecy, revealed scripture, and a Last Judgment—proved very successful among world religions. Although Zoroastrianism is today represented by relatively few adherents (notably the Parsees of India), and Judaism (because of its non-proselytizing character) is also a small community concentrated mostly in the Middle East, Europe, and North America, the other two traditions—Christianity and Islam—have engaged intensely in proselytizing and are today the two largest religious communities in the world, with adherents numbering in the billions found in virtually every country on the globe.

Next Button On Framing the Issues

© 2010 The Oriental Institute, The University of Chicago  |  Page updated: 12/29/2010

Contact Information  |  Rights & Permissions