Islam the "fastest growing religion"?
Written by admin on October 31, 2008 – 1:20 am -How about atheism? I know that's not a religion…but are there more people "becoming" atheists…and does this somehow have an impact on the relevance of the statement that "Islam is the fastest growing religion"? I saw an explanation somewhere that has something to do with Islam and Atheism but I forgot the details. I'm looking for serious answers thanks!
"robgentl…" yes I forgot the details u superhuman being.
anyways, I personally can't see the relevance of this statistics because like some of u here said, it depends how many kids are born and at what rate within the Muslim community.
Then again, I guess I'm talking abt conversions…?
"Pammy", just to point out, I never said Atheists were a "growing threat"… I guess I was bit confusing, sorry for that. What I wanted to know was the growth rate of Atheistic conversions (if there's such a term) in relation to Islam as the fastest growing religion. Are Atheistic conversions included in the picture here? Although presently a tiny number, new 'Atheist converts' could be growing at a fast rate too.
disclaimer: I'm not in any way "representing" a side here. Just looking for answers objectively.
I am Agnostic Atheist if that helps clarify anything.
Increase in the world religions from 1934 to 1984.
An article in Reader’s Digest ‘Almanac’, year book 1986, gave the statistics of the increase of percentage of the major religions of the world in half a century from 1934 to 1984. This article also appeared in ‘The Plain Truth’ magazine. At the top was Islam, which increased by 235%, and Christianity had increased only by 47%.
Islam is the fastest growing religion in America and Europe.
Today the fastest growing religion in America is Islam. The fastest growing religion in Europe in Islam.
FOR THOSE WHO SAY ISLAM IS A CULT:
The two meanings of the word ‘cult’ according to the Oxford dictionary are as follows:
1) “A way of life, an attitude, an idea etc. that has become very popular”.
2) “A small group of people who have extreme religious beliefs and who are not part of any established religion”.
By referring to Islam as a cult, if you intend to imply the first meaning, then yes Islam is a way of life – in fact it is ‘THE way of life’ prescribed for humankind by the Creator. I am aware that most widely, the second meaning of the word cult is implied. In that context, Islam is not a cult.
Many people have a misconception that Islam is a new religion and Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was the founder of Islam. However, let me clarify that Islam is not the name of some unique religion presented for the first time by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) who should, on that account be called the founder of Islam.
The Qur’an states that Islam – the complete submission of man before his one and only Unique Creator – is the one and only faith and way of life consistently revealed by God to humankind from the very beginning. Noah, Solomon, David, Abraham, Moses, Isaac and Jesus (pbut) – prophets who appeared at different times and places – all propagated the same faith and conveyed the same message of Tawheed (Oneness of God), Risaalat (Prophethood) and Aakhirah (the Hereafter). These prophets of God were not founders of different religions to be named after them. They were each reiterating the message and faith of their predecessors.
However, Muhammad (pbuh) was the last Prophet of God. God revived through him the same genuine faith which had been conveyed by all His Prophets. This original message was earlier corrupted and split into various religions by people of different ages, who indulged in interpolations and admixture. These alien elements were eliminated by God, and Islam – in its pure and original form – was transmitted to humankind through Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
Since there was to be no messenger after Muhammad (pbuh), the Book revealed to him (i.e. the Glorious Qur’an) was preserved word for word so that it should be a source of guidance for all times.
Thus the religion of all the prophets was ‘total submission to God’s will’ and one word for that in the Arabic language is ‘Islam’. Abraham and Jesus (peace be upon them) too were Muslims, as Allah testifies in Al-Qur'an 3:67 and 3:52 respectively.
Islam is embraced by so many humans in all centuries because it is the Truth and it provides practical and comprehensive solutions to problems of humankind. Islam not only teaches good things but also shows practical ways of achieving that state of goodness.
Your surprise regarding many people embracing Islam is justified. Today, though Islam happens to be the fastest growing religion in the world, it also happens to be the religion about which people have maximum number of misconceptions. This is largely because of the virulent propaganda by the media about Islam.
A Christian surveyor, Professor Edward reported in the Time Magazine of April 16, 1979 that in a span of 150 years, from 1800 CE to 1950 CE “over 60,000 books have been written against Islam by the Christian West.” Now, it is questionable, who has initiated, nurtured and collected the hatred which you have referred to, the Muslims or the Christian West?
Many are surprised that despite such propaganda being made against Islam, it still happens to be the fastest growing religion in today’s times. It is so, on the merits of its superior and noble teachings. Says Allah swt in the Glorious Qur'an:
“They (the non-Muslim enemies and critics of Islam) plot and plan, and Allah too plans; but the best of planners is Allah”.
(Al-Qur'an 8:30)
You have advised the Muslims not to attack non-Muslims; I request you to direct your advice to those authorities, who only claim to be ‘peaceful, peace-loving people’ and ‘peace-keepers of the world’, but ironically have attacked thousands of innocent Muslims under the theme ‘War on terror’. The noted writer Arundhati Roy states: "So now we know. Pigs are horses. Girls are boys. War is Peace."
The terrorist acts attributed to Muslim suspects, should not be attributed to Islam or the Muslims in general but to individual human weaknesses. Such human failings occur among all religious and ethnic groups. Recorded history has not witnessed an incident similar to the ‘Holocaust’. However, one is not expected to and should not attribute the holocaust to Christianity or to Christians in general.
A number of skeptics have made comments about Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Skeptics allege that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was “a violent man, a man of war”. Some further state that "Jesus set the example for love, as did Moses … Muhammad set an opposite example” (remember Jerry Falwell?). These skeptics somehow fail to realize that far from being a man of war, “…he (Muhammad) must be called the saviour of humanity”, as described thus by George Bernard Shaw.
Though the portrayal of Moses and Jesus (pbut) of being peace-loving people is fully in accordance with the teachings of the Qur’an, the Biblical testimony is contrary to it. Many quotations from these Biblical testimonies can be given to substantiate this claim, but considering the length of the answer, I will simply furnish ONE incident that will prove my point, because in this ONE incident, no less than three thousand people were killed by the sword at the command of Biblical Moses. We read:
“(Moses said): ‘Each man strap a sword to his side. Go back and forth through the camp from one end to the other, each killing his brother and friend and neighbour’. The Levites did as Moses commanded, and that day about three thousand of the people died.” (Exodus 32:27-28, NIV)
It is also a well-known fact that the total number of deaths that took place in ALL the wars fought during the time of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was 1018. The biblical quotation given above and many such quotations appear to escape the grasp of those who allege against Muhammad (pbuh), further ignoring the words of Jesus:
“Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgement ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.”
(Matthew 7:1-2 KJV)
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Posted in Islam and Atheism | 21 Comments »
By Homie the Clown on May 9, 2008 | Reply
Actually, atheists are still in the minority. I'd say there are more apathetic people than anything.
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By jesayre on May 9, 2008 | Reply
before you start talking conversion
try birthrates
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By Slick She It on May 9, 2008 | Reply
They might be a fast growing religion but the end results of them is to drastic for me to even want to belong to
.. .. ..
And and atheist is only that in words not in heart for all know the truth in the end
.. . ..
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By neo on May 9, 2008 | Reply
islam is unfortunately ,i think its the worst that could happen to this world
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By Bill D on May 9, 2008 | Reply
islam a relegion? A cult yes
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By smokey virginia on May 9, 2008 | Reply
Athiests make up a very small, minute percentage of the world's population. Most people believe in something. There is no way that the number of people who disavow religion can surpass the number of people who already believe in some sort of higher power. Islam is probably the fastest growing religion because the birth rate is really high among Muslims throughout the world.
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By goinupru on May 9, 2008 | Reply
Numbers do not make something RIGHT.
Islam and Atheism are not what God calls anyone to. He calls people to believe in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ as His ONLY means of reconciling us to Himself.
Have you trusted in the finished work of Christ on YOUR behalf?
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By robgently1 on May 9, 2008 | Reply
I can give you an astounding answer with plenty of references but I've forgotten the details.
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By Walking Saint on May 9, 2008 | Reply
yes islam is fasted growing becz it was started by a man who married 6 years girl.
so his folowers can practice d same
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By ~maryjane~ on May 9, 2008 | Reply
some people call themselves atheists but dont even know the actual meaning of the word. as for islam i dont know if its the fastest growing religion.
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By Darth Brooks on May 9, 2008 | Reply
More people are leaving mainstream religions than ever before because the competition between the two biggest ones have resulted in a more serious reflection of what they are taught to believe and how it relates to the REAL world. "The Bible is wrong!" backfires on people who are actually trying to get people to convert to their own religion, because it brings the errors of their own religion into the spotlight.
So many people are coming to the conclusion: "They're BOTH full of crap"
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agnostic, former Catholic
By stellar spiral on May 9, 2008 | Reply
All those people that keep saying Islam is a cult… Stop embarrassing yourselves already. You don't know anything about Islam, and let TV make up your mind about it… But at least don't go around admitting your ignorance and stupidity.
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An Atheist.
By Terezia V on May 9, 2008 | Reply
Islam treats women as breed animals. A man can have as many women as he wants — he can have only four wives at once, but he can have as many "wives" of convenience as he wants — and women are given minimal rights.
Women are killed in Islam for any infraction of social codes. Check out "Honor Killing."
Muslim women live in terror and must obey all males — not just their fathers, but their husbands, brothers and sons as well.
Muslim females are often forced to marry much older men. Islam recommends that girls be married to older men even before they menstruate. Mohammed married a six year old girl.
The only way a Muslim woman can gain any status is to give birth to sons.
So, without any rights, any hope for her future, any freedom, chained to an older man, Islamic females are forced to pump out as many babies as possible. The goal is for her to have sons, and for those sons to go on to become jihadis — soldiers for Islam.
That's why Islam is growing. Because Muslim females are treated like stock animals.
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By Tom on May 9, 2008 | Reply
According to "The Almanac Book of Facts", the population increased 137% within the past decade, Christianity increased 46%, while Islam increased 235%.
In a recent poll in the (US), 100,000 people per year in America alone, are converting to Islam.
For every 1 male convert to Islam, 4 females convert to Islam,
As most converts to Islam will explain, the reason for their conversion is not usually pinpointed to one set reason, but several, with each individuals journey being unique.
Islam has appealed to many because of its simple and intellectually satisfying creed.
In the Byzantine controlled lands, Islam offered freedom from imperialist and racist oppression and the cult of priesthoods.
In India, the fact of intrinsic human worth, nobility and equality attracted a society steeped in caste division.
In Indonesia and Africa, Islam displaced a complex mythology which often pictured the world as alien, frightful, and full of spirits which had to be appeased and a social order which tolerated infanticide and never saw the nakedness of the body and the need to clean it.
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By MuslimRose**AmirA** on May 9, 2008 | Reply
islam is the fastest growing religion in the world esp in USA ,many atheists even convert to islam later on.
searching for God is an innate he put in all of us.
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By Aamer on May 9, 2008 | Reply
Increase in the world religions from 1934 to 1984.
An article in Reader’s Digest ‘Almanac’, year book 1986, gave the statistics of the increase of percentage of the major religions of the world in half a century from 1934 to 1984. This article also appeared in ‘The Plain Truth’ magazine. At the top was Islam, which increased by 235%, and Christianity had increased only by 47%.
Islam is the fastest growing religion in America and Europe.
Today the fastest growing religion in America is Islam. The fastest growing religion in Europe in Islam.
FOR THOSE WHO SAY ISLAM IS A CULT:
The two meanings of the word ‘cult’ according to the Oxford dictionary are as follows:
1) “A way of life, an attitude, an idea etc. that has become very popular”.
2) “A small group of people who have extreme religious beliefs and who are not part of any established religion”.
By referring to Islam as a cult, if you intend to imply the first meaning, then yes Islam is a way of life – in fact it is ‘THE way of life’ prescribed for humankind by the Creator. I am aware that most widely, the second meaning of the word cult is implied. In that context, Islam is not a cult.
Many people have a misconception that Islam is a new religion and Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was the founder of Islam. However, let me clarify that Islam is not the name of some unique religion presented for the first time by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) who should, on that account be called the founder of Islam.
The Qur’an states that Islam – the complete submission of man before his one and only Unique Creator – is the one and only faith and way of life consistently revealed by God to humankind from the very beginning. Noah, Solomon, David, Abraham, Moses, Isaac and Jesus (pbut) – prophets who appeared at different times and places – all propagated the same faith and conveyed the same message of Tawheed (Oneness of God), Risaalat (Prophethood) and Aakhirah (the Hereafter). These prophets of God were not founders of different religions to be named after them. They were each reiterating the message and faith of their predecessors.
However, Muhammad (pbuh) was the last Prophet of God. God revived through him the same genuine faith which had been conveyed by all His Prophets. This original message was earlier corrupted and split into various religions by people of different ages, who indulged in interpolations and admixture. These alien elements were eliminated by God, and Islam – in its pure and original form – was transmitted to humankind through Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
Since there was to be no messenger after Muhammad (pbuh), the Book revealed to him (i.e. the Glorious Qur’an) was preserved word for word so that it should be a source of guidance for all times.
Thus the religion of all the prophets was ‘total submission to God’s will’ and one word for that in the Arabic language is ‘Islam’. Abraham and Jesus (peace be upon them) too were Muslims, as Allah testifies in Al-Qur'an 3:67 and 3:52 respectively.
Islam is embraced by so many humans in all centuries because it is the Truth and it provides practical and comprehensive solutions to problems of humankind. Islam not only teaches good things but also shows practical ways of achieving that state of goodness.
Your surprise regarding many people embracing Islam is justified. Today, though Islam happens to be the fastest growing religion in the world, it also happens to be the religion about which people have maximum number of misconceptions. This is largely because of the virulent propaganda by the media about Islam.
A Christian surveyor, Professor Edward reported in the Time Magazine of April 16, 1979 that in a span of 150 years, from 1800 CE to 1950 CE “over 60,000 books have been written against Islam by the Christian West.” Now, it is questionable, who has initiated, nurtured and collected the hatred which you have referred to, the Muslims or the Christian West?
Many are surprised that despite such propaganda being made against Islam, it still happens to be the fastest growing religion in today’s times. It is so, on the merits of its superior and noble teachings. Says Allah swt in the Glorious Qur'an:
“They (the non-Muslim enemies and critics of Islam) plot and plan, and Allah too plans; but the best of planners is Allah”.
(Al-Qur'an 8:30)
You have advised the Muslims not to attack non-Muslims; I request you to direct your advice to those authorities, who only claim to be ‘peaceful, peace-loving people’ and ‘peace-keepers of the world’, but ironically have attacked thousands of innocent Muslims under the theme ‘War on terror’. The noted writer Arundhati Roy states: "So now we know. Pigs are horses. Girls are boys. War is Peace."
The terrorist acts attributed to Muslim suspects, should not be attributed to Islam or the Muslims in general but to individual human weaknesses. Such human failings occur among all religious and ethnic groups. Recorded history has not witnessed an incident similar to the ‘Holocaust’. However, one is not expected to and should not attribute the holocaust to Christianity or to Christians in general.
A number of skeptics have made comments about Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Skeptics allege that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was “a violent man, a man of war”. Some further state that "Jesus set the example for love, as did Moses … Muhammad set an opposite example” (remember Jerry Falwell?). These skeptics somehow fail to realize that far from being a man of war, “…he (Muhammad) must be called the saviour of humanity”, as described thus by George Bernard Shaw.
Though the portrayal of Moses and Jesus (pbut) of being peace-loving people is fully in accordance with the teachings of the Qur’an, the Biblical testimony is contrary to it. Many quotations from these Biblical testimonies can be given to substantiate this claim, but considering the length of the answer, I will simply furnish ONE incident that will prove my point, because in this ONE incident, no less than three thousand people were killed by the sword at the command of Biblical Moses. We read:
“(Moses said): ‘Each man strap a sword to his side. Go back and forth through the camp from one end to the other, each killing his brother and friend and neighbour’. The Levites did as Moses commanded, and that day about three thousand of the people died.” (Exodus 32:27-28, NIV)
It is also a well-known fact that the total number of deaths that took place in ALL the wars fought during the time of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was 1018. The biblical quotation given above and many such quotations appear to escape the grasp of those who allege against Muhammad (pbuh), further ignoring the words of Jesus:
“Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgement ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.”
(Matthew 7:1-2 KJV)
References :
http://www.irf.net/irf/faqonislam/index.htm
By JOSH on May 9, 2008 | Reply
not at all but Christianity is fastest growing religion
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By Jana on May 9, 2008 | Reply
yep…and no one can stop it..what is true always prevails..
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By habbo retro master on May 9, 2008 | Reply
LET ME ANSWER YOUR QUESTION POLITLEY.
FIRST THE FASTEST GROWING RELIGION IS ISLAM I AGREE. IN THE QURAN IT HAS SO MANY SIGNS IN IT ONE OF THE BIGGEST SIGNS IN THE QURAN IS THE LENGTH OF TIME ITS BEEN AROUND THIS QORLD. SINCE MOHAMMED (PBUH) peace be upon him, was 40yrs old. THE QURAN WAS SENT DOWN NOW THAT WAS LONG TIME AGO. HOW DID THE QURAN NEVER CHANGE IN THIS LONG TIME, AND THE BIBLE BEEN CHANGED SO MANY TIMES. LET ME TELL YOU WHY BECAUS GOD SAID I WILL PROTECT THE WHOLY BOOK SO IT CAN REACH TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE CONVERTING TO ISLAM TODAY IN THE PRESENT.
NICE QUESTION. =)
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By Sheb on May 9, 2008 | Reply
Respected Sister,…
I dont know what u r looking for…. If ALL PEOPLE AROUND U are DOING THEFT THen THEFT WILL NOT BECOME A GOOD DEED… IT IS ALWAYS SIN<… EVen MOre OR Less People ARE doing ….
More Or lESS Is Not a factor in Belief and practices,,, ..
IF More PeopLe Are becominG Atheiests that is ALLAH`s Curse On theM,,. If more Are Becoming Muslims IS ALLAH`s RAhmaTH (pity)… ThaTS NOt A MAtter With US ….
*** What We Are Studying ANd what we Are UnderstandinG is and what WE are doing Is the MAtter…
Thats WHY ALLAH (SWT) has GivenUS Thinking power.. .To think about His kudraths (Greatness) In the nature..
Now the ISlam is Open Inshah ALLAH u can study it From aUthentic Sources…
JazaakumuLLAHU KHAIR..
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By pammy on May 9, 2008 | Reply
I believe in the power of the Lord, and I dont think that we are in any danger of the atheist community growing too fast. There are many Christians out there that are true to the word, and if it seemed to be coming to that, then we should take a stand. IF the atheist grew over Christianity, the world would surely fail. I dont think there are many that would allow that to happen. We have better power than that through Jesus Christ!
God Bless-
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