Islam, What we should know about this religion.

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Permalink Reply by Colby on August 11, 2012 at 5:05pm

Islam's Significance in Numbers

Muslims (adherents of Islam) number about 1.6 billion, comprising about 23% of the world's population, making Islam the world's second-largest religion after Christianity, according to the Pew Research Center.  Pew counts 49 (out of 232) Muslim-majority nations.  Muslims are concentrated in North Africa, the Middle East, parts of Central and South Asia, extending into the Pacific Rim of Southeast Asia, with significant numbers in Russia and China.  

With 204 million adherents, the large island nation of Indonesia, north of Australia, is the world's most populous Muslim nation followed by India and Pakistan tied for second place at about 177 million each.  Bangladesh is 4th with 148.6 million, and Egypt at 80 million, round out the top five.

Of 313.8 million Americans, 2.6 million are Muslims.  This is a larger number than the membership of several "mainline" Protestant denominations, including the Presbyterian Church USA, the Episcopal Church, and the United Church of Christ.  Muslim populations in other nations include: France, 4.7 million; U.K., 2.9 million; Israel, 1.3 million; and Canada, 940,000.  Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation with 170 million residents, is 50% Muslim and 40% Christian.

 

Sources:

*/ List of Countries by Muslim Population /*
[ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_Muslim_population ]

*/ The Muslim World /*
[ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Muslim-majority_countries ]

*/ The Global Muslim Population: Interactive Maps /*

[ http://features.pewforum.org/muslim-population-graphic/ ]

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Permalink Reply by Leonard T on August 11, 2012 at 5:09pm

As an additive to what Colby stated:

The 2.6 million Muslims in the US are not as unified as many presume. There are various branches (denominations) and there are also many nonminal Muslims on that list.

 

Lord Bless,

LT

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Permalink Reply by Colby on August 11, 2012 at 6:40pm

LT,

Your point about the diversity within Islam is important.  It helps keep things in perspective.  Islam does not exist as a monolithic organization.  They do not have an equivalent of the pope or a Vatican-like top-down ecclesiastical authority.  Centralized authority is not excercised over Muslims worldwide from Mecca or Teheran.  Although we may be most familiar with Islamic extremists/fundamentalists identified with acts of terrorism, many Muslims reject violence and seek peaceful coexistence with non-Muslims.  Many are modern or secular in outlook.

Where I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, there is an incredible diversity of religions represented, including a sizeable Muslim population.  I have visited several Bay Area mosques and Islamic Centers as well as Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist Temples.  Not far from where I live are Greek Orthodox and Ethiopian Orthodox cathedrals, a Jewish synagogue, a Mormon temple, which I have also visited, plus Catholic and Protestant churches of every denomination.

What unites Muslims is their belief that Mohammed, an Arab merchant in living in Arabia about 1400 years ago, was a prophet and messenger of God, and that he received a series of divine revelations, which comprise the sacred writings known as the Quran or Koran. 

Muslims that I know personally tell me they believe in the same God as Christians and Jews, but quickly add two shocking disclaimers.  First, they regard Jesus not as the Messiah or Son of God, but as one of a long line of prophets sent by God, including Abraham, Moses and others.  Second, while they revere parts of the Old Testament, they believe the Bible as a whole has been corrupted and is, therefore, unreliable, especially the New Testament gospels.  Accordingly, in their paradigm, Mohammed is elevated above Jesus and likewise the Quran above the Bible.  My Muslim friends, indeed Muslims worldwide, are now in the middle of a holy celebration of fasting known as Ramadan.

As with other religions, including Christianity, there are divisions and sects within Islam, starting with the split between the Sunni and Shiias, which to this day remain the largest groupings.  The Sufis, a relatively small Muslim sect, emphasize mysticism and spirituality. 

The Islamic people and nations are not united by any means.  In the Middle East and in parts of Africa, deep, long established divisions along ethnic and tribal lines that have led to persistent in-fighting.  Iran and Iraq fought a bloody 8-year war during the 1980s.  In Iraq, there is considerable internal instability because of serious divisions between the Kurds in the North, the Sunnis in the Center, and the Shiites in the south. 

Faith, hope and love in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,

Colby

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Permalink Reply by Leonard T on August 11, 2012 at 7:33pm

Colby,

Well said.

Lord Bless,

LT

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