Author: Bryan Waltzer, Plano High School
📍Plano, TX

Polytheism, the belief in worship of more than one god was prevalent throughout the West and Middle East, but coupled with people’s economic hardship and hope for a better life a significant shift in religious ideas was bound to happen. Monotheism, the belief in a single supreme deity, served as a foundational principle for many of the region’s major religions, including Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. This shared belief was rooted in the Abrahamic tradition, which traced its origins to the patriarch Abraham and his descendants. These religions shared similar elements, yet differences in interpretation and practice, combined with the diverse historical and political contexts of the West and Middle East, led to a rich tapestry of religious ideas and traditions during the period before 1200 C.E. Although there was a large geographical and cultural divide between the West and the Middle East before 1200 C.E., religious ideas and traditions in the West and Middle East shared similarities rooted in monotheism and a strong emphasis on scripture. However, some differences emerged in their interpretations of the text, its practices, and the societal roles that religion played. 

The religions in the West and Middle East shared significant similarities in their scripture and monotheism which promoted inclusion and a deeper connection between an individual and a god. “Christianity’s key feature was its exclusive monotheism and its antagonism to all other supernatural powers, particularly the cult of the emperors” (Strayer and Nelson, 32). Christians during the predominantly polytheistic era were persecuted for having only one god, but it was essential for their faith since forming that exclusive bond with their only god gave them hope for future divine retribution. Muslims believe in the unity of a singular God, rejecting any form of polytheism or idolization of gods. The strong emphasis on the singularity of God is shown in the Islamic creed, the Shahada, which states, “There is no god but God, and Muhammad is his messenger” (Anonymous, Quaran). These religions were also inclusive and actively encouraged conversion, which attracted people due to its concept of divine retribution in the afterlife.  A painting from the fifteenth century shows the close relationship between Christianity, Islam, and Judaism as Muhammed is in religious prayer with Abraham and other prophets (Anonymous, 31). This shows how all these religions are interconnected in a way that they build upon each other with similar beginning principles.  During this time many Jews, Christians, and Muslims lived together in Arabian countries while the Muslim leadership was often tolerant of the other religions’ ideas (Strayer and Nelson, 33).  This shows a difference between the West and the Middle East because Catholics were not tolerant of any other religion; even though they were inclusive to people who wanted to convert to their religion they did not share the belief like Muslims on how both their religions are similar and how they should all coexist peacefully.

Religious practices and rituals in the West and the Middle Eastern religions share similar moral foundations while also incorporating distinct cultural and historical influences. Both these religions along with sharing monotheistic beliefs share similar “rules.” For Christianity, it’s the Ten Commandments while for Muslims they have the 5 pillars of their culture. The Ten Commandments for Christians are a moral code for the righteous way to live similar to how the five pillars of the Sharia are moral conduct. These Commandments ban actions like murder, theft, adultery, and lying while prioritizing respect for parents, God, and the Sabbath. In Islam, the Five Pillars are the religious obligations that include: the declaration of faith (Shahada), daily prayer (Salat), charity (Zakat), etc (Strayer and Nelson, 43). Both these religions emphasize the importance of accountability and consequences for their actions while also making sure that the people are loyal to their religion and follow the moral principles related to it. For example, Tithings for Christians and the zakat for Muslims both are a form of monetary charity towards the religious institute, which is a requirement to show that you are a “moral” person according to each person’s religion. However, Christians enforced this tithing more seriously at 10% of a person’s income while Muslims had it at 2.5% and did not “mandate” it like how the Christians in the church had done. Muslim principles advocate for no abuse, preventing exploitation in business, and neglect of family like your wife and kids (Strayer and Nelson, 49). Christians comparatively had more vague moral principles which involved just being a good human being. Muslims had a more strict moral code because they were actively trying to attract regular people who were opposed to all these immoral things since it was happening during Mohammed’s time. Although women’s spiritual duties have always been valued in both Islam and Christianity, their social and legal standing has changed dramatically over history and in various cultural situations. In all religions, women have held positions of religious leadership, but generally speaking, they have been treated less favorably than men in both society and the law.  The Umma people in North Africa stated that women had an “honored” place in the spiritual realm (Strayer and Nelson, 37). For Christianity, women had the option of being a Nun which gave them more than one option on how to live their lives. This was a step to expanding the role of women from only being inside the house to also being a religious person without a husband. 

In the early period, religious laws and values play a significant role in politics and society because of how much influence religious leaders have on politicians and the religious principles of both the Middle Eastern religions and the Western religions. In 1095, the Pope made a speech calling all knights and warriors to go fight in the Crusades to reclaim the Holy Lands from the Muslims (Pope Urban).  The pope wanted to convince the people that the land was their god-given right since Jesus was born there to justify taking the land away from Muslims and converting more people to Christianity. This was influenced by both economic advantages and the further expansion of Christianity as it would increase the power of the Pope and the Western leaders. Despite having a significant impact on society, the Church was not always able to subjugate secular power. In contrast, there was often a closer bond between politics and religion in the Middle East, where religious leaders were crucial to the functioning of the state. “Family lay in these communities where ties to kin, manor, lord, and church constituted as loyalties” (Strayer and Nelson, 96). Feudalism in the West was justified by religion since the Church benefitted from the tithings and used people in power to gain more money and land. The Crusaders going on this journey felt like they were fulfilling their religious identity. “Crusaders and Muslims shared a common goal: to reach the Holy Land” (Strayer and Nelson, 124). This similarity between both religions shows how each of them wants to go to the Holy Land for separate reasons. The Christians want to go there because the knights want to gain land and convert other people to Christianity while the Muslims want to go to the Holy Land to learn more about their religion and for enlightenment. For example, Muslims went to thriving Islamic cities that had rich cultures and monuments to learn about their religion and history (Strayer and Nelson, 133).

In conclusion, despite their geographical and cultural differences, the religious beliefs and practices of the West and the Middle East before 1200 C.E. had a common theme based on monotheism and scripture. However, several historical, cultural, and political variables led to variations in their interpretations, practices, and social roles. Religious leaders influenced societal standards and political agendas with great impact. One of the best examples of this interaction between religion and politics is the Crusades, which show how religious passion could be used to raise support for military battles and win wars. While Muslims and Christians had differences in how they practiced their religion and how it functioned in their society, their core principles and values are very similar as they are derived from similar sources.