ABSTRACT
The tendency among Western observers to view religious conservatism as an impediment to religious pluralism fails to translate to the Middle East. Religion and politics are intertwined in such a way in the region that to attempt to divorce them is both unrealistic and counterproductive. The presence of violent conflict in the region stems not from Islam itself but from the inability to resolve foundational divides over Islam. Secular frameworks have often treated Islam as a problem to be managed or “solved” by a powerful state that regulates religious production. In theory and in practice, this invites coercion and starts from a series of mistaken premises. Addressing the complexities of inter-religious and intra-religious diversity in the Middle East requires a different approach that situates the role of religion in public life as something to be accommodated rather than negated or wished away. This chapter lays out the conceptual framework for such an approach, including a theology of the other that foregrounds religious literacy as a means to covenantal pluralism.
