Muslims outnumber Catholics, Vatican says
By Megan Levy and agencies
Last Updated: 8:10am BST 31/03/2008
Islam has overtaken Roman Catholicism as the world's largest religion, the Vatican has announced.
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Muslims now make up 19.2 per cent of the world's population, outnumbering Catholics at 17.2 per cent, according to the Vatican's 2008 yearbook of statistics.
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"For the first time in history, we are no longer at the top: Muslims have overtaken us," Monsignor Vittorio Formenti said in an interview with the Vatican newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano.
"It is true that while Muslim families, as is well known, continue to make a lot of children, Christian ones on the contrary tend to have fewer and fewer."
Monsignor Formenti, who compiled the yearbook based on 2006 data, said that if all Christian groups were considered - including Orthodox churches, Anglicans and Protestants - then Christians made up 33 percent of the world's population, or about 2 billion people.
The Vatican recently put the number of Catholics in the world at 1.13 billion people.
It did not provide a figure for Muslims, generally estimated at around 1.3 billion.
advertisementMonsignor Formenti said that while the number of Catholics as a proportion of the world's population was fairly stable, the percentage of Muslims was growing because of higher birth rates
Data on Muslim populations had been compiled by individual countries and then released by the United Nations, he said, adding the Vatican could only vouch for its own statistics.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/03/31/wvatican131.xml
Assalamu alaikum,
Allah (SWT) has tell us in the Glorious Qur'an that before the end of the Wolrd the True Religion of Allah (SWT)- [Al- Islam] will out-number and over-power all other religions.
the outnumbering doesnt matter here, what matters
is what have we been able to achieve with our numbers?
Quote from: Dan-Borno on March 31, 2008, 02:52:19 PM
the outnumbering doesnt matter here, what matters
is what have we been able to achieve with our numbers?
That's very right, Dan Borno the Arabian league or whatever they call themselves just concluded their yearly convention, the top issue was Iraq and Palestine/Israel crisis, they couldn't reach any tentative stand! As malam Bahaushe put it; " da haihuwar yuyuyu, gwanda da daya kwawkwara!"
may ALLLAH make our increasing population more meaningful.
I was just jubilating by hearing this news at fisrt instant. But what DB and mblash have above said had me rethinking the issue and in some ways made my flesh creep and at the same time baffled me. Wallahi you talked true and hoped great. Being much in number is not, at all if I may say, what matters since we are still who are being victimized, jeapadized, brutalized and tortured at the hand of Jews (Palastine, for example), US (Afghanistan and Irag) and other places like Somalia and so on. Allah ya kawo gyara. That international institutions like OIC, Arab Leage, etc, know nothing but sitting at spacious and comfortable places like Sham al Sheik and drink tea under the so-called facade of discussing on Muslims and Islamic countries issues.
Quote from: Muhsin on April 03, 2008, 11:08:50 AM
.....we are still who are being victimized, jeapadized, brutalized and tortured at the hand of Jews (Palastine, for example), US (Afghanistan and Irag) and other places like Somalia and so on.
my brother muhsin, until and when we stop thinking that
the jews are brutalising, jeopadizing or whatever then we
can progress to the next ladder.
this world is full of competition and only the wisest and
hardworking will excell. we have over a thousand different
religions in this world, and all the religions are being mixed
up with international politics. it is either you stand up
and work hard or else you become a slave to another
religion.
do you still know that Guru Maharaj is still gaining prominence
in his call to obey maharaj? there are so many other
religion working hard and Islam cant be an exception.
so if the jews, hindus, siks or christians brutalize or jeopardises
any religion, i think they are doing the right thing, its a struggle
that only the strong ones can survive it.
wake up bro.
Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
"....In tansurullaha, yansurkum wa yusabbit akdamakum"
if not, then we will continue being brutalized.
Firstly, since when was Catholicism a separate religion from the rest of Christianity? Na dem sabi...
Secondly, Muhsin, why are the people of Darfur (for one) missing from your list of suffering Muslims (which really has no bearing on the subject if one reads carefully the article you posted)? Or do you think they are enjoying themselves? Dey dia.
I tried writing a reply twice to this thread, wallahi, but my system is giving me a very disheaten problem. InshaAllah when I get back. Thanks.
I totally agree with Dan Borno. Sit down there and keep crying victim and see how far you'll get. I think most Muslims that embrace this 'victim' mentality do themselves and others a disservice. Many of the powers that exploit other societies could care less about religion. They exploitation is usually economic exploitation. When the west sees an opportunity somewhere, they jump right in and create wealth for themselves. This is true of most of Africa. If we fail to leverage our resources to our advantage, others will do it to our detriment. When that happens, some of us here begin to use religion as a rallying point, not to empower ourselves economically as we should, but to feel 'victimized' and to pursue other unrewarding recourse.
China has turned its economic machine on Africa and their investments are bankrupting local African small businesses that have for years have failed to be competitive, failed to grow, and failed to expand. The situation is made worse by lameduck African governments that fail to assist in growth and expansion for many small businesses. If anything, they put so much huddles in the way for private businesses to succeed or even function effectively. They forget that this is where economies get their boost from the stimulus generated by small business economic activities. Rather than support and provide incentives for business ownership, the government is busy siphoning and sharing oil money amongst its circle of crooks while always ignoring potential future problems.
So here it is, is China oppressing any African market because of religion. Do they give a crap about any of that? Some of us are so programmed to be anti White, anti-Jew, and anti-Christian, etc. What is the benefit of any of this? At the end of the day, these people are forging ahead, and our situation is not getting any better. What does Jihad mean sef? Don't people say Jihad mean struggle for ones betterment?
If so, where is that attitude here? I don't think struggle means to adopt a never ending policy of conflict with others. That is just ridiculous. If Christians wanted to annex Islam as some have pointed out, why then would traditional christian nations open its doors to millions of Muslims and give them total liberty and rights as their own citizens?
I have not seen (and correct me if I am wrong) other religions justling and competing with Islam over anything. There are many faiths in this World, and people believe in many things. When did it become a contest? UAE, Quatar, etc learned a while back to rethink its economic future. They put religion aside when they need to looked outward for sustainable growth and national development. Today Dubai is a world capital that is even far more superior structurally and economically than most affluent European nations. Its people live lives of luxury and wanton affluence, all because someone had a vision. A vision not rooted in anti-Israel, or anti West philosophy.
DB, let me follow the suit in saying you're really on a good track. Muslims particularly Palastine won't ever, though I don't hope, develop economically, socially, politically and everything. Demoralising! Why...because of their thoughtlessness and seem-like unending faction between (always) Hamas and Fatah. Unless this is wipen out then they can show actuall resitence to the brutish action of Is'rael. And develop!
Quote from: King on April 05, 2008, 01:07:20 AM
I have not seen (and correct me if I am wrong) other religions justling and competing with Islam over anything.
And I have never known any religion that Islam is competing with.
QuoteThey put religion aside when they need to looked outward for sustainable growth and national development.
Thats not wise as I reckon.
@ Lionger,
Your words read.
Muhsin, look at the Dubai and tell me what is so unwise about that. Those people (with only one resource-oil) are on a different playing field compared to us, and other conflict ridden societies in the middle east. They live a life that Nigerians in this and in many uture generations will never experience.
I have to say that Dan Borno and King are both speaking a lot of sense. There are many religions in this world, most of them built round the concept of love and respect for all peoples. It does not matter which is the biggest or the smallest religion. Unless the religion is part of a framework that continuously strives to improve the lives of the peoples it is worthless.
It is easy to be honest if you are well provided for and difficult to be good if you live in poverty.
Too many people are concentrating on all the wrong aspects of religion and ignoring the really important part of using it to make a framework of a just, charitable and honest society.
Are those rogues who have been stealing all of Nigeria's wealth for fifty years in the mosque on a Friday and in the Church on a Sunday?
What does it matter in this case if they are Moslems or Catholics.
After long perusal of my words (my above reply) and long time of wild and deep thoughts of what led me to write it, I come up with a conclusion like this; the way I percieved putting religion aside and the way you (King) does is entirely different. Let me put it this way; there is world of difference between the two of us. Unclear, eh?
Well...the topic isn't for religious discussion if not I would have elaborated my aforesaid point. But for the mean time and situation, I will say rather confess that Dudai develops and is presently developing. Let alone comparing them with Nigeria. If you do so, I warn you ( ;D) you may end up with heart break. And all they have is OIL! Just like us.
Quote from: EMTL on March 31, 2008, 02:28:07 PM
Assalamu alaikum,
Allah (SWT) has tell us in the Glorious Qur'an that before the end of the Wolrd the True Religion of Allah (SWT)- [Al- Islam] will out-number and over-power all other religions.
I believe but still islam has not yet over power or out-number all other religions. there are innumerable religions on this planet. I think only christianity is said to have outnumber ko? what of other religions.
I am reminded of the great words of Martin Luther King. To paraphrase should we not judge a person by the content of his character rather than by what religion he subscribes to.
I will say it again - the rogues who have been stealing Nigeria's money for fifty years will be in Church on Sunday or Mosque on Friday. In that case what does it matter what religion they purport to follow?
Maigemu, your philosophical thinking is something to take
home, we dont need Kant & Co.
This is the actual truth of the whole matter, it doesnt matter
who you outnumbered or which religion are you affiliated to.
Especially, in the case of my dear country - Nigeria, the same
two powerful religious members stole and vandalise the
economy of my country.
The same money is being used in building Mosques and Churches
all over the places. The same ill-goten money is being used
in performing pilgrimages to Saudi and Jerusalem - Dont know
if God will ever accept this ---------------------------------------------
I dont know of any religion which says you should steal from the
public purse.
Shegu Allah ya tsine musu duniya da lahira.
Quote from: Dave_McEwan_Hill on April 16, 2008, 11:19:36 AM
I am reminded of the great words of Martin Luther King. To paraphrase should we not judge a person by the content of his character rather than by what religion he subscribes to.
I will say it again - the rogues who have been stealing Nigeria's money for fifty years will be in Church on Sunday or Mosque on Friday. In that case what does it matter what religion they purport to follow?
So much the better, Dave.
Well said
kaima DB.