The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is made up of the countries that constitute the Arabian Peninsula except for the Republic of Yemen. These countries are Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and the Sultan of Oman. The aim of the GCC, which is largely political, is to uphold and ensure coordination among member states for the attainment of unity. The peninsula is located in the southwestern area of the continent of Asia, spanning three million square kilometers in area, with the southeastern section of the peninsula being the Rub’al-Khali also known as the Empty Quarter, the world’s largest vastness of sand (Sheikhmohammed, 2009).
Indeed, none of the Arabian Gulf countries have indigenous Christian groups but estimates indicate that residing Christians are over a million with the St. Mary’s parish in Dubai made up of around 70, 000 Christians. A good number of Christians secure top jobs in the public and private sectors. The St. Andrew’s Church Center in Abu Dhabi has been allowed to revamp, increasing to double the size of both the Chapels of Greek and Coptic Orthodox (Wrmea, 2009).
Westernization and modernization are aspects that have characterized the setup of churches in the Gulf. While Christianity is rightly viewed as western, the churches are built for the foreign population that comes to work in the Arabian world mainly from the west and other countries as well. In Bahrain for example, a Muslim region rich in oil is ruled by pro-western governments, there are approximately a thousand citizens of Christian orientation plus an appointed woman member of the consultative council. The users of these churches are experts from the West and Asia (Middle-east-online, 2008). Interaction of this nature has a high probability of influencing some aspects of the western traits which amounts to westernization. Modernization comes out as well from the basic understanding that it has the element of full integration of cultures and religious affiliations that befit all the people present in any given country at a given time. Considering that expatriates come from all over the world, the presence of churches in this area pronounces some fundamental elements of modernization. Furthermore, the fact that these churches are simply made for the experts and not the locals, then it cements the element of westernization.
Human rights have been a major concern about churches in the Gulf. Muslim intolerance to Christianity made it difficult for Christians to set up churches in this region. But in recent days, there have been steps of progress as several countries have started to listen to the concerns of the Christian population. A good example is Saudi Arabia where the right of non-Muslims to worship privately has been accepted by government officials at senior levels. This was confirmed in 2001 when the ministry of foreign affairs informed the UN Human Rights Committee that non-Muslims can take part in their religious affairs privately at full freedom (Bailey, 2003).
Economically, the gains from the establishment of churches in the Arabian Gulf started growing gradually at the moment when religious coexistence became achievable. By giving the Christian workers a chance to worship in their respective churches, the environment then attracted more experts, adding immensely to the economic growth of the countries concerned. The benefits are also rewarding to the birth countries of the expatriates with good portions of money earned normally finding way home. The economic expansion was instrumental in combating strains encountered by the minority groups composed equally of immigrant workers. The commitment of the governments in providing for the growing population’s needs did easily create a high demand for services and skills that could satisfactorily be provided by the Christian population. Some of the demanded areas of occupation include engineers, technicians, and mechanics among many, oil production, in particular, has stood out as a major attraction (Joseph, 1983). The contribution of these workers is such a strong resource for the advancement of the countries in the Arabian Gulf, given the magnitude of development and investments currently underway. While the expatriates and their mother countries will benefit through the Christian-Muslim enhanced relationship, the greatest beneficiary in economic terms has been the Gulf countries themselves. This can be demonstrated in the huge economic might of some countries in this area like the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
In conclusion, churches in the Arabian Gulf have gradually advanced the tenets of westernization as well as modernization. Given the fact that the churches are fundamentally established for the working expatriates from different countries that practice Christianity, then the logic of having relevant places for them to worship is well brought out. This is supported by the growing numbers of these expatriates needed to meet goals of economic advancement. Human rights have been deeply considered to have been violated in the past when Christian workers in the Arabian Gulf countries were restricted but this has substantially transformed in the recent past. Economic advancements have already been realized as a result of this transformation. Overall, the gains of setting up churches in the Arabian Gulf are greater, alongside the advancement of westernization and modernization. Essentially, more attention is crucial for the benefit and satisfaction of all parties.
References
Bailey, J. (2003). Who are the Christians in the Middle East? Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing.
Joseph, J. (1983).Muslim-Christian Relations and Inter-Christian Rivalries in the Middle East: The Case of the Jacobites in an Age of Transition. New York: SUNY Press.
Middle East Online (2009).Muslim Gulf makes room for churches. Web.
Sheikh Mohammed (2009). The GCC countries. Web.
WRMEA (2009). Christianity in the Gulf. Web.