Why the War in the Middle East Is Not Religious but a Battle for Hegemony
Dr. Salim Munayer – PRN MENA Regional Coordinator
Since the recent escalation in tensions between the Israel/US bloc and Iran, I have frequently heard in social gatherings that this conflict is a religious war. Any attempt to offer an alternative perspective is often met with anger or outright dismissal. However, I would like to present a different view—one shared by many scholars and analysts—who argue that what we are witnessing is not primarily a religious conflict, but a struggle for regional and global hegemony. I will also offer some biblical insights to help frame this understanding.
Contrary to widespread narratives, the wars and conflicts in the Middle East are not fundamentally religious in nature. While religious and sectarian rhetoric is often invoked by political actors, the core struggle is about power, resources, and strategic dominance. At heart, the region is entangled in a contest for hegemony—between global powers, regional actors, and ideological blocs—all vying to control its future.
Religion is often used more as a political instrument than a root cause. Take, for example, the Sunni-Shia divide. This theological difference is frequently manipulated by states like Saudi Arabia and Iran to justify their geopolitical ambitions. Yet, the rivalry is driven less by doctrine and more by power projection, strategic alliances, and competition for regional influence.
Similarly, the conflicts in Israel/Palestine, Syria, Yemen, and Iraq cannot be reduced to a religious binary of Islam, Judaism, or Christianity. These are complex struggles over land, sovereignty, national identity, and access to resources. While religion may be present in the discourse, it is rarely the true engine of conflict.
Global powers like the United States, Russia, and China are deeply involved in the region—not to protect religious beliefs, but to secure energy routes, arms markets, and geopolitical leverage. The U.S. has supported both authoritarian regimes and rebel factions, depending on its shifting interests. Russia intervenes to preserve its allies and maintain strategic access. China, meanwhile, invests for long-term economic gain. Regional powers—such as Turkey, Israel, Iran, and the Gulf states—maneuver constantly for dominance in this volatile landscape.
What we are witnessing, then, is not a clash of religions, but a competition of empires. The language of faith may serve to mobilize populations or legitimize violence, but the deeper reality is one of competing visions for power, order, and control. Recognizing this is crucial if we are to pursue a just and lasting peace in the Middle East.
Understanding this dynamic allows us to see through simplistic slogans that frame the West as "Christian" and the East as "Islamic." It helps us discern how religion and religious language are used—often cynically—by global powers to serve political and economic agendas.
From a biblical perspective, Jesus did not ignore the political realities of His time. He lived under Roman occupation and directly addressed the nature of political power. While He acknowledged the legitimacy of state authority—“Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s” (Mark 12:17) affirming a distinction between political and divine authority—He also proclaimed the Kingdom of God, which served as a radical counter-vision to imperial claims of ultimate authority (cf. Luke 4:18–19; Matthew 5–7).
The Apostle Paul, writing within the context of the Roman Empire, instructed believers to respect governing authorities (Romans 13:1–7), recognizing their role in maintaining order and justice. However, Paul’s repeated confession that “Jesus is Lord” (Philippians 2:11) was deeply subversive in a context where Caesar demanded that very title. This indicates a nuanced approach: civic engagement coupled with a prophetic challenge to unjust rule.
In light of this, Christians are called to resist simplistic narratives that fuel division and to seek a deeper understanding of the forces shaping our world. Peace and justice in the Middle East will not come through religious slogans, but through truth, discernment, and a commitment to confronting injustice in all its forms—political, economic, and spiritual.