As a scholar of religions, I see the role that faith in God plays in shaping the positions religious communities bring to conflicts in the Middle East. On both the Palestinian and the Israeli side, faith very similarly informs rhetoric, convictions, and actions. The theological underpinnings of these beliefs, while deeply meaningful, have at times had devastating consequences.
My conclusion is that we need to talk much more about God. We need to critically examine how the concept of God is constructed in different cultures and explore the ways in which religious leaders use sacred texts to shape ideologies and influence communities. Understanding what this does to a society striving to discern and live according to what it believes God wants from it impacts not just individuals of faith but also the very fabric of interreligious and intercultural interactions.
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