Skip to main content
Log in

The impact of the Gulf War on the churches in the Middle East: A socio-cultural and spiritual analysis

  • Articles
  • Published:
Pastoral Psychology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Much has been written about the Persian Gulf War, mostly from an American perspective. Little has been published from a non-Western, especially Christian perspective, to a North American audience. This paper is an attempt to highlight the effect of the Gulf War on the people of the Middle East generally and the Christian communities in particular. The author analyzes the social and political factors, summarizes the reports received from various public and private sources, such as national pastors and mission organizations, and presents his own impressions and evaluation of the current events as a Lebanese Christian national.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Barret, M. E. (1991, February 1). Home front: A look at reactions to events of the war.USA Today, pp. 6A.

  • Chomsky, N. (1991, March 16). On Middle East and Vietnam. Lecture presented in Berkeley, California.

  • Creswell, M. (1991, January 24). Christian workers worried about future ministry.California Southern Baptist, p. 1, 3.

  • Cryderman, L. (1990, November 5). The church in Lebanon: Dance of faith and death.Christianity Today, p. 47.

  • DeAngelis, T. (1991, December). Think peace, psychologists advise.APA Monitor, p. 26.

  • Editorial. (1991, May 2). Other voices: Generally speaking.Marin Independent Journal, p. 5.

  • Editorial. (1991, May 3). Quest for peace.Marin Independent Journal, p. 5.

  • Fischer, D. (1991, June 17). Saudi Arabia: Skirmishes under the veil.Time, p. 39.

  • Flick, R. (1991, January). How we appeased a tyrant.Reader's Digest, pp. 39–44.

  • Goldman, J. J. (1991). Cuomo sees Bush faults in foreign policy.Los Angeles Times, p. 27.

  • Green, B. L., Lindy, J. D., & Grace, M. C. (1988). Long term coping with combat stress.Journal of Traumatic Stress, 1, 399–412.

    Google Scholar 

  • Green, B. L., Grace, M. C., Lindy, J. D., Gleser, G. C., & Leonard, A. (1990). Risk factors for PTSD and other diagnoses in a general sample of Vietnam veterans.American Journal of Psychiatry, 147, 729–733.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hobfoll, S. E., & London, P. (1986). The relationship of self concept and social support to emotional distress among women during war.Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 12, 87–100.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hobfoll, S. E., Spielberger, C. D., Breznitz, S., Figley, C., Folkman, S., Lepper-Green, B., Meichenbaum, D., Milgram, N. A., Sandler, I., Sarason, I., & van der Kolk, B. (1991). War-related stress: Addressing the stress of war and other traumatic events.American Psychologist, 46, 848–855.

    Google Scholar 

  • Houssney, G. (1991, Spring-Summer). Understanding the Gulf War.Reach Out to the Muslim World [A publication of Horizons Multicultural Communications],5(1&2), p. 5.

    Google Scholar 

  • How many Iraqi soldiers died? (1991, June 17).Time, p. 26.

  • Ibrahim, Y. M. (1991, February 3). In the Mideast, a fear that war is only the beginning.New York Times: Week in Review, pp. 1–2.

  • Key points of loan program for Israel outlined. (1991, September 18).Orange County Register, p. 15.

  • Khouri, R. (1991, January–March). The post-war Middle East.The Link [Americans for Middle East Understanding],24, pp. 1, 3, 7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, B. (1990, September). The roots of Muslim rage: Why so many Muslims deeply resent the West, and why their bitterness will not be easily mollified,Atlantic Monthly, p. 59.

  • The Middle East: Do we have the answers? (1991, February).Trans World Radio, 12(2), p. 6.

    Google Scholar 

  • Milgram, N. A., & Hobfoll, S. E. (1986). Generalizations from theory and practice in war-related stress. In N. A. Milgram (ed.),Stress and coping in time of war (pp. 316–352). New York: Brunner & Mazel.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller, J. (1991, July 21). Nowhere to go: The Palestinians after the war.New York Times Magazine, pp. 13, 32.

  • Nydell, M. K. (1991).Understanding Arabs: A guide for Westerners. Yarmouth, ME: Intercultural.

    Google Scholar 

  • Otis, G., Jr. (1991).The last of the giants: Lifting of the veil on Islam and the end times. Tarrytown, NY: Chosen-Fleming H. Revell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Silver, R., & Wortman, C. B. (1980). Coping with undesirable life events. In J. Garber & M. E. P. Seligman (eds.),Human helplessness (pp. 279–375). San Diego, CA: Academic.

    Google Scholar 

  • Staff. (1991, May–June). The Arab world with Bill Moyers.PBS Video News, p. 5.

  • Staff. (1991, May–June). God's presence was seen in the Gulf War.Bible League Report, 3, pp. 1–2.

    Google Scholar 

  • van der Kolk, B. A. (1987).Psychological trauma. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric.

    Google Scholar 

  • A war of words in the Middle East. (1991, May–June).Bible League Report, 3(3), p. 2.

  • Williams, N. B. (1991, October 5). New analysis: Growing Western ties set off Gulf jitters.Los Angeles Times, p. 10.

  • World news briefs: Christians neglected. (1991, November).News Briefs [Information and Events Affecting the Suffering Church Worldwide],6(11), p. 7.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Abi-Hashem, N. The impact of the Gulf War on the churches in the Middle East: A socio-cultural and spiritual analysis. Pastoral Psychol 41, 3–21 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01054773

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01054773

Keywords

Navigation