Religion and Its Role in Culture and History

Religion plays a crucial role in the culture and history of nations. Christianity and Islam command the most followers with two billion and 1.3 billion, respectively. Both started in the Middle East. But each spread through a different path.

Some interpret ''jihad'' as moral strife against the self while others think of it as an obligation to defend the faith against its enemies. So the question is ''jihad'' moral or violent?

The book discusses how Islam views Christianity. Did technology alter the way clerics in Muslim-majority countries monopolize teaching the Islamic faith? How did the Internet, satellite television, and smartphones influence social life and extend to the spiritual realm?

Developments in the Middle East

The second half of the twentieth century had seen some eventful developments in the Middle East. Political changes proved far reaching, sometimes with detrimental outcomes. How did recent events affect Egypt—the most pivotal country in the Arab world? Did fanaticism survive in Egypt?