As individuals, we can do very little to help nudge the Middle East toward a better future. Protests hardly make a dent, and other forms of nonviolent resistance are largely ineffective as well. For those living in the region, civil or uncivil disobedience doesn’t do much. Middle Eastern governments are known for their forceful suppression of any resistance, and it’s rare to see lasting change attained through bottom-up activism.
There’s one thing that hasn’t been attempted at any scale yet: reducing the intensity of religious belief in the region. Resisting the spread of religion is an uphill battle against the political and financial interests that use it as a tool for controlling the population. Despite that, what seems like a futile effort may work in the end. One of the best contributions one can make is to support organizations that promote a non-religious way of life and advocate for atheist causes. A good way to start would be to avoid sugarcoating or playing down the role of religion in sustaining the conflict.
I want to change gears and offer a few avenues that anyone who cares about the well-being of those living in the region can pursue:
Vote for the least religious parties.
Mixing religion and politics is a common practice in most countries, even those with a clear separation of church and state. And yet, some parties are less religious than others. Find them and vote for them.
Help organizations that work to obtain or maintain a separation of church and state.
Some non-governmental organizations, like the US-based FFRF and ACLU, have this as a stated goal; others do it incidentally. Organizations that defend people persecuted for their atheist views, protect civil liberties and human rights, and support non-religious education deserve even more appreciation.
Help sideline extremism.
Poverty, dearth of secular schools, and limited access to healthcare help give rise to religious extremism. Helping disadvantaged populations on both sides of the conflict move up the economic ladder and obtain non-religious education can gradually reduce the dependency on faith-based services and curtail the allure of extremism for young adults.
Be honest and transparent when describing the situation and the warring parties.
Language reflects thought, so it’s crucial to be mindful of words and phrases that hide the religious underpinning of the conflict. For instance, the terms “national aspirations,” “territorial rights,” and “motherland” are often used as euphemisms for religious claims.
Strive for freedom of thought.
Beware of people, organizations, and systems that limit your ability to think. Free thought is essential for developing healthy moral values, which, in turn, are critical for boosting the overall morality of the human race. We should strive to avoid those who limit our capacity to think freely. As members of an interdependent society, our personal freedom depends on the freedom of others. Freeing them from their shackles of thought can make us freer. Total freedom can only be achieved when everybody else is free as well.