Islamisation of the World

[Mr Rayon]

I know that Islam is currently the fastest growing religion in the world however I think the video above is exaggerating some statistics and neglecting the fact that with time as Muslim immigrants move through the Western societal hierarchy from middle to upper class they will produce less children. Generally it's true that people from developing countries produce more children relative to developed nations however wouldn't the children of these immigrants produce less children than their parents and so on? What does everyone think about the legitimacy of this video? I think it's just another fear-mongering propaganda video in response to the growing fears of Islam by many politicians and influential people throughout Europe and the world (e.g. Geert Wilders, Christopher Caldwell, Mark Steyn etc). Europe without a doubt has steadily grown increasingly intolerant towards Islam as the Muslim population multiplies. I think the burqa ban in France and the increased support for Geert Wilders in the Netherlands are but a few recent examples and proof of this.

So, what does everyone else think about Islam and its increasing global influence? I think Islam will overtake the Christian population soon and maybe even become the major religion of the world in 500-600 years however not as soon as the video above claims. What does everyone else think? I think if everyone belonged to the same religion there would be less wars and establishing peace may actually be possible. Some may argue that peace is impossible to achieve and that humans are naturally brutal creatures, that it's part of who we are and that this is coded inside our DNA and that there is nothing we can do about it. Or some may argue that in the future making genetically modified humans who are non-violent may be the solution. But who knows...

[ajb]

I am worried that if Islam does become dominant then our civilisation will come to an end and the world will enter another dark age. Of course the Christian right could have the same effect.

 

Sorry to paint such a gloomy picture.

[CaptainPanic]

I am worried that the Western democracies are entering a dark age out of fear of Islam (or using it as an excuse to oppress people).

 

Liberties are being exchanged for a feeling of safety and security... But there is no actual substantial threat from Islamic countries:

 

• Muslim countries have little or no military power compared to Western countries, Russia or China. Only those Islamic countries which get help from the West (especially Saudi-Arabia) have modern armies and airforces - but only because the West sells them the technology in exchange for money that we all paid them for their oil.

• Muslim countries have no strong economies. In a generalized and simplified model, their only income is from oil. And they get all their income from the West. And in a hypocritical way, the political parties that oppose Islam the most (right wing) also oppose the sustainable energy the most - which would cut the income of Muslim countries a lot.

• Muslim countries are adopting Western movies, MTV, and other technology much faster than we're adopting to their culture.

• Islam is a religion in the same family of religions as Judaism and Christianity. Many characters from the Bible also feature in the Qu'ran. I see no fundamental difference. Barbarisms happen where the people are poor, and where conflicts rage uncontrollably. Also non-Muslim countries like Congo, Rwanda had horrible barbarisms... To call Islam a violent religion has been the greatest trick of the right wing media in the last decade.

• As for the actual adoptation of the Islam - the religion -, I don't see any valid argument why the Muslims would be successful in converting large numbers of people. History has shown many religion rise and fall. Religions always try to expand their "flock". But converting people was only possible if there's someting to gain. It's only possible of there are fundamental differences between religions. I think that the growth of atheism will turn out to be much larger than the growth of Islam.

 

We're exchanging our liberties in exchange for safety and security against a threat that is no actual threat.

 

I hope that people will actually open their eyes, and be rational about it for once.

[Mr Skeptic]

Actually, I think atheism will become the dominant religion in 500-500 years. By then we should have figured out how to prevent aging and be more or less immortal, and have very pleasant lives, which are pretty much all religion has to offer except real. As for Islam, it seems to me more like fearmongering.

[Sisyphus]

That melodramatically xenophobic video is ridiculous for a whole host of reasons, but let's start with:

 

1) Islam is not genetic, it's a belief system. All four of my grandparents were devout Christians. I am not. Perhaps there will be a larger proportion of people descended from Muslims. That does not mean there will be a larger proportion of Muslims.

 

2) Current trends are just that: current. It is illogical to assume that current birth rates will remain the same, since they have changed constantly in the past. My prediction is that as the Islamic world becomes wealthier and more stable, it will also become more liberal/secular and birth rates will decline, just like they did in "Christendom." Birth rates have a strong inverse correlation with prosperity and quality of life.

[Mr Rayon]

I am worried that the Western democracies are entering a dark age out of fear of Islam (or using it as an excuse to oppress people).

 

Liberties are being exchanged for a feeling of safety and security... But there is no actual substantial threat from Islamic countries:

 

• Muslim countries have little or no military power compared to Western countries, Russia or China. Only those Islamic countries which get help from the West (especially Saudi-Arabia) have modern armies and airforces - but only because the West sells them the technology in exchange for money that we all paid them for their oil.

• Muslim countries have no strong economies. In a generalized and simplified model, their only income is from oil. And they get all their income from the West. And in a hypocritical way, the political parties that oppose Islam the most (right wing) also oppose the sustainable energy the most - which would cut the income of Muslim countries a lot.

• Muslim countries are adopting Western movies, MTV, and other technology much faster than we're adopting to their culture.

• Islam is a religion in the same family of religions as Judaism and Christianity. Many characters from the Bible also feature in the Qu'ran. I see no fundamental difference. Barbarisms happen where the people are poor, and where conflicts rage uncontrollably. Also non-Muslim countries like Congo, Rwanda had horrible barbarisms... To call Islam a violent religion has been the greatest trick of the right wing media in the last decade.

• As for the actual adoptation of the Islam - the religion -, I don't see any valid argument why the Muslims would be successful in converting large numbers of people. History has shown many religion rise and fall. Religions always try to expand their "flock". But converting people was only possible if there's someting to gain. It's only possible of there are fundamental differences between religions. I think that the growth of atheism will turn out to be much larger than the growth of Islam.

 

We're exchanging our liberties in exchange for safety and security against a threat that is no actual threat.

 

I hope that people will actually open their eyes, and be rational about it for once.

 

Nice post CaptainPanic!

 

By then we should have figured out how to prevent aging and be more or less immortal, and have very pleasant lives, which are pretty much all religion has to offer except real. As for Islam, it seems to me more like fearmongering.

 

I'm curious Mr Skeptic, did you mean to say more or less immoral instead of immortal?

In any case, I see what you mean.

 

I am worried that if Islam does become dominant then our civilisation will come to an end and the world will enter another dark age. Of course the Christian right could have the same effect.

 

Sorry to paint such a gloomy picture.

 

LOL!

Edited December 17, 2010 by Voltman

[Incendia]

I think they're forgetting the influence of job stealing computers that can sustain a culture for us...also they make it seem that Islam is only the fastest growing because they are having the most children, which usually take on their parents religion, and not because people are willingly converting.

Edited December 18, 2010 by ProcuratorIncendia