"There are religious institutions in the Middle East, which are very important to locals. These organizations also play an important role in running some states. However, data from several studies suggest that religious importance is declining more rapidly in some middle eastern countries than ever before."
tudy Finds People In the Middle East Are Rapidly Changing Their Minds About Religion
[fadewblogs.eu.org]
There was a strong reaction to secular thinking in much of the Middle East, in part because it was perceived as Westernization, and western imperialism. But all reactions bring with them in the end a counter reaction, after which realism sets in, and the gradual long term trends of the world as a whole start to take effect.