Anonymous wrote:Shia vs. Sunni has its origin in religion, but it's not exactly religious. It now represents ethnic groups as much as a historical schism.

Maybe a good analogy is catholic vs. protestant in Northern Ireland. You could say that it is a division based on whether the Pope is the head of God's church on earth. But that's not really what the conflict is about.

It is about two ethnic groups that have differing political aspirations.

It has an ethnic aspect in that Iran is the largest Shia community, but Shia Arabs are the majority of Iraq's population and the Shia in Lebanon are also Arab. In Pakistan, Shia are found in at least a half dozen different ethnicities. Then you have Shia off-shoots like the Alawis in Syria and Houthis in Yemen who are also Arab.

Shia vs. Sunni has its origin in religion, but it's not exactly religious. It now represents ethnic groups as much as a historical schism.

Maybe a good analogy is catholic vs. protestant in Northern Ireland. You could say that it is a division based on whether the Pope is the head of God's church on earth. But that's not really what the conflict is about.

It is about two ethnic groups that have differing political aspirations.

Thanks, it is all so complicated. I do know that the Shias I know really look down on the Sunnis. I don't know any Sunnis well enough to know.

Anonymous wrote:

I know the many significant differences between Catholic and protestant. Please explain the differences between Sunni and Shiite. Same Quran?

Is it racial? The Persians consider themselves Aryan.

Iranians are not the only Shia. There are Arabs and Pakistanis and so on. It would take too long to explain all the differences but the division stems from disagreement over who should succeed Muhammad. The Shia thought it should be Muhammad's son-in-law Ali. The Sunnis chose one of Muhammad's closest companions, Abu Bakr. The Shia then recognized 11 more imams (for 12 in all). The 12 imam disappeared and is expected to return as part of the second coming. He is considered the current imam. In terms of organization, Shia have a much more hierarchal system. I joke that the Shia are Catholics while the Sunnis are Baptist.

I know the many significant differences between Catholic and protestant. Please explain the differences between Sunni and Shiite. Same Quran?

Is it racial? The Persians consider themselves Aryan.