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Take religious extremism and mix it with the global economy’s dangerous dependence on oil. Now stir it all up over the flames of Earthly Hell and voilà — you have the toxic stew of madness and mayhem that is currently roiling global markets.
The conflict that has been unleashed in the Middle East by the US and Israeli attacks on Iran is rooted in the fertile soil of religious extremism – a factor that few if any market commentators have dwelled on.
And for believers, the combined result heralds Armageddon, a concept that fund managers can’t plug into their spreadsheets and graphics.
I previously made the case in a column that US President Donald Trump’s return to the White House – with the enthusiastic support of white Christian nationalists whose stated goal is the elimination of America’s secular state – should place religious extremism firmly on their radars as a major geopolitical and investment risk.
Subsequent events have borne out my prophecy.
And America’s “Religious Right” is just one wave in this swelling tsunami of religious extremism that is sweeping the world.
Militant Islamists are committing atrocities from Mozambique to Nigeria and beyond, Hindu nationalism is on the march in India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stands accused of war crimes in Gaza.
A wider Middle Eastern war
We now have the US and Israeli attacks on Iran threatening to explode into a wider Middle Eastern war – a conflict rooted in the enmity of extremists from the three Abrahamic faiths.
The main motto of Iran’s repressive Shia theocracy has long been “Death to America”, which is hardly conducive to diplomacy and compromise. It signals a fight to the death.
Indeed, extremists on all sides effectively see this as a “Forever War” because it is literally a struggle for souls and eternity. And only one faith can be left standing, its believers on the path to heaven with unbelievers destined for the flames of hell.
Iran’s Shias await the return of the 12th Imam while evangelical Christians – who comprise a key plank in Trump’s political base – await the return of Jesus.
Indeed, millions of US evangelicals view the current events in the Middle East as unfolding biblical prophecy. There is now a torrent of YouTube videos on the Internet by US pastors explaining Iran’s – or Persia’s – role in the prophecies foretold in the Bible.
This is not some fringe movement. Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth is a true believer with links to an extremist Christian movement that holds that women should not be allowed to vote.
According to Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) – a watchdog founded by a former US military officer – American battle commanders have been telling their troops that the war with Iran is part of “God’s divine plan”. It said last week that it had received more than 200 complaints from US soldiers about such rhetoric from their commanding officers.
Trump ‘anointed by Jesus’
“President Trump has been anointed by Jesus to light the signal fire in Iran to cause Armageddon and mark His (Jesus’) return to Earth,” was a quote attributed to one US commander.
The three Abrahamic faiths all emerged in the Middle East, and this is the stage where many believe the grand finales will take place before the curtain falls.
I do not mean to cast aspersions on all religion. Much good work has been inspired by people of faith across the board. But extremist and intolerant versions, often blended with nationalism, are a clear and present danger.
And oil, which has been both a curse and a blessing to the global economy and civilisation as we know it, has been thrown into this combustible mix.
Even as our planet burns because of climate change linked to its use and that of other fossil fuels, the unfolding conflict underscores the global economy’s continued and dangerous dependence on oil – found in abundance in a region poised, in the eyes of believers, to be on the precipice of ushering in the End Times.
Elevated oil prices and the inflation they stoke are currently a major threat to the global economy – and only an “unbeliever” in cold, hard facts would not see the role that religious extremism has played on this front. DM
Facts Only
The U.S. and Israel have conducted attacks on Iran, escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Iran’s Shia theocracy has long used the slogan "Death to America."
U.S. evangelical Christians, a key political base for Donald Trump, view Middle Eastern conflicts as fulfillment of biblical prophecy.
Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth is associated with an extremist Christian movement that opposes women’s suffrage.
The Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) reported over 200 complaints from U.S. soldiers about commanders framing the Iran conflict as part of "God’s divine plan."
A U.S. military commander was quoted saying President Trump was "anointed by Jesus" to trigger Armageddon in Iran.
Hindu nationalism is rising in India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces accusations of war crimes in Gaza.
Militant Islamist groups are active in Mozambique, Nigeria, and other regions.
The global economy remains dependent on oil, a major source of inflation risk amid Middle Eastern instability.
The three Abrahamic faiths—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—originated in the Middle East, a region some believe will host end-times events.
Climate change, linked to fossil fuel use, is exacerbating global instability alongside oil-driven conflicts.
Executive Summary
The current geopolitical instability in the Middle East is being driven by a complex interplay of religious extremism, oil dependence, and escalating military tensions. The conflict between the U.S., Israel, and Iran is framed as a clash rooted in the extremist factions of the three Abrahamic faiths—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—each with apocalyptic narratives that fuel a "Forever War" mentality. U.S. evangelical Christians, a key base for former President Donald Trump, interpret Middle Eastern events as biblical prophecy, with some military leaders allegedly framing the conflict with Iran as part of a "divine plan." Meanwhile, Iran’s Shia theocracy, with its "Death to America" rhetoric, and Israel’s actions in Gaza, accused of war crimes, further intensify the crisis. The global economy remains vulnerable due to its reliance on oil, a resource abundant in this volatile region, exacerbating inflation risks. The article highlights how religious extremism, blended with nationalism, poses a significant geopolitical and economic threat, while acknowledging that not all religious adherence is harmful.
The narrative also points to broader trends of rising religious extremism worldwide, including Hindu nationalism in India and militant Islamist violence in Africa. The piece underscores the dangerous fusion of faith-based ideology with political power, particularly in the U.S., where figures like Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth are linked to extremist Christian movements. The economic implications are stark: oil price spikes and inflation loom as the conflict threatens to disrupt global markets. While the article does not dismiss the positive contributions of faith, it warns that intolerant, nationalist interpretations of religion are destabilizing forces with far-reaching consequences.
Full Take
The strongest version of this narrative is its framing of religious extremism as a systemic geopolitical risk, intertwined with oil dependence and apocalyptic belief systems. The piece effectively highlights how faith-based ideologies—when weaponized by political actors—can destabilize regions and economies. It credits the role of extremist factions across multiple religions, from U.S. evangelicals to Iran’s theocracy, in shaping policy and public perception. The inclusion of firsthand reports from the MRFF and quotes from military commanders lends credibility to the claim that religious rhetoric is influencing U.S. military actions.
However, the narrative leans into emotional exploitation (ARC-0042) by invoking "Earthly Hell" and "toxic stew of madness," which risks oversimplifying complex geopolitical dynamics into a moral panic. The framing of the conflict as a "Forever War" for souls also borders on exaggeration to absurdity (ARC-0019), reducing multifaceted political and economic struggles to a binary religious clash. The piece occasionally slips into false equivalence (ARC-0028) by grouping diverse extremist movements—Hindu nationalism, militant Islamism, and Christian evangelicalism—without sufficient nuance about their distinct historical and political contexts.
The root cause here is the intersection of religious absolutism with resource-driven geopolitics. The unstated assumption is that apocalyptic beliefs are inherently destabilizing, yet the article does not explore how these beliefs are instrumentalized by elites for power. Historically, this echoes Cold War-era "clash of civilizations" rhetoric, where ideological conflicts are framed as existential rather than strategic.
The implications for human agency are profound: if policymakers and markets ignore the role of religious extremism, they risk misjudging risks like oil shocks or military escalation. The beneficiaries of this narrative are those who profit from chaos—arms dealers, oil speculators, and authoritarian leaders who thrive on division. The costs are borne by civilians in conflict zones and global consumers facing inflation.
Bridge questions: How might secular policymakers engage with religious communities to mitigate extremism without alienating moderate believers? What economic models could reduce oil dependence and thus the leverage of extremist regimes? Would the absence of apocalyptic rhetoric in politics significantly alter conflict dynamics?
Counterstrike scan: A coordinated influence campaign would amplify the "clash of civilizations" frame, portraying the conflict as an inevitable religious war to justify militarization and suppress dissent. The article does not fully match this pattern, as it acknowledges nuance (e.g., not all religion is harmful) and avoids outright demonization. However, its reliance on dramatic language and selective framing could be exploited by bad actors to stoke fear. The content is more cautionary than manipulative, but its emotional tone warrants scrutiny.
Sentinel — Human
The article exhibits strong human stylistic markers, including erratic sentence structure, personal voice, and specific attributions, making synthetic origin unlikely.