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Religion as a coincidence of where you are born

liamw · 2009-09-14 22:15:08

I actually started this thread in the Atheist forum, but now I'm geniunely curious as to what religious people have to say about it? (a picture says a thousand words, probably best to focus on the top image)

Comments

#152 25-09-2009 2:53pm

hivizman

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PDN wrote: »

The only figures I have seen relate to conversions to Islam from all other religions (not just Christianity). It is 865,558 a year.

For those who are interested, this remarkably precise number is an annualised estimate of conversions over the period 1990-2000. There are several on-line sources, including the World Christian Encyclopedia.

PDN wrote: »

Islam grows primarily through biological growth (Muslims having kids). Conversions are actually pretty rare.

We had a discussion on the Islam forum earlier this year where various people used the 2006 Census data, in comparison with the earlier Censuses, to estimate the growth in the number of Muslims in Ireland. According to the 2006 Census, the fastest-growing religions/denominations in Ireland were Pentecostal Christians and Orthodox Christians, with Islam showing considerable numerical growth but less growth in percentage terms. We also tried to estimate how many Muslims in Ireland were converts, without much success - out of around 32,000 Muslims, the estimates ranged from 300 to 1,900. Most of the growth in the number of Muslims came from people immigrating to Ireland or visiting for a period (such as students), though children of these Muslims were starting to be a significant factor in the growth rate. At least in Ireland, conversions to Islam are still very rare.

PDN wrote: »

Incidentally, I don't think a cultural Christian converting to Islam would be any worse off in doing so. I don't think either counts for anything in God's sight.

You are clearly not a Universalist! Incidentally, one of the interesting features of the Irish 2006 Census was how few people declared that they were "lapsed Catholics" or of "no religion" - most people are at least "cultural" Christians.

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