Islamic fundamentalism is an extreme perception of Islam that views "the 'Other' as the enemy demonized" against the "West", which also views the Muslim "enemy within". In contrast, pluralism perceives 'others' as different people, with different values from us. While the fundamentalist seeks to engage in war with the…

This essay is excerpted from the author's book "Divisions within Islam," part of a 10-volume series for middle and high school students on the World of Islam. It provides information on the religious practices and beliefs of Shiism, and its differences with Sunni Islam. It mentions that Shiism is the second-largest denomination of Islam,…

Zoroastrianism, an ancient religion dating back to the Iranian Stone Age, is still practiced in areas of Iran and India. Following centuries of oppression under Muslim rule in Iran, the adherents are located today in remote areas and only recently have welcomed unbelievers into their fire temples to view the sacred fire (Atash Bahram) and the…

Discusses whether the intersection of traditional and modern institutions in the Persian Gulf region influences student opportunities to learn. Provides preliminary and empirical indicators of how this might happen by estimating the degree of penetration of Gulf state culture and religious ideology into school organizational environments. (CAJ)

This anthology provides an introduction to a variety of theories about and historical types of church-state relations, past and present. It provides foreign models against which citizens can judge the strengths and weaknesses of U.S. constitutional arrangements. The analysis looks at Catholicism, Islam, Lutheranism, Calvinism, Judaism, and the…