Muslims outpace Anglicans in UK

The Sunday Times (UK) ^ | 1/25/04 | Nicholas Hellen

[saquin]

ATTENDANCE at Britain’s mosques has outstripped the number of regular worshippers in the Church of England for the first time.

Figures compiled from government and academic sources show that 930,000 Muslims attend a place of worship at least once a week, compared with 916,000 Anglicans.

Muslim leaders said it was a landmark in the rise of Islam in Britain and that Muslims must receive a share of the Church of England’s privileged status.

This weekend David Hope, the Archbishop of York, second in the church hierarchy, conceded defeat. His spokesman said: “The archbishop acknowledges the overtaking of Church of England numbers by the Muslim community. But he believes that many more people have an affinity to the church than the number recorded as having attended once on a Sunday.” According to the 2001 census, three-quarters of the British population regards itself as Christian.

The Muslim community does not keep registers of attendance in mosques. However, the 2001 census included a question about religious adherence.

Those results, released last year, have been supplemented by surveys to give the first reliable assessment of worshipping Muslims.

The census recorded 1.59m Muslims but academics believe the true figure is at least 1.8m. Ceri Peach, professor of social geography at Oxford University, said the census failed to record the balance because the question was voluntary.

Research by Tariq Modood, a professor of sociology at Bristol University, found that 62% of Muslims pray in places of worship. The total is about 930,000 if young children, most of whom do not worship in the mosque, are excluded. The figure underestimates the number of practising Muslims. Mohammed Anwar, professor of ethnic relations at the University of Warwick, said: “In addition to those who go to the mosque, many Muslims also pray at home.”

Immigration from Eastern Europe and conversions are adding to the number of Muslims. Inayat Bunglawala, of the Muslim Council of Great Britain, said that British converts to Islam totalled 20,000 in the past 10 years.

Muslim leaders now want to translate their numerical advantage into tangible gains. The Church of England commands 26 seats in the House of Lords but Lord Ahmed, a Labour peer, said 10 extra seats should be allocated to other religions.

Peter Brierley, executive director of the Christian Research Association, pointed out that the total number of Christian worshippers still far outstrips the number of Muslims. The Catholic church has about 1.5m British worshippers.

[saquin]

...and so it begins.

[Viking2002]

Here's to hoping that the quintessential British 'stiff upper lip' prevails. Britain is the firewall between 'us' and 'them'.

[Blood of Tyrants]

I hate to say it, but the Anglicans have gone so wishy-washy that they have lost many believers. The Muslim faith at least declares absolute truths.

[Land_of_Lincoln_John]

John Rhys-Davies, aka Gimli, to the rescue!

[KantianBurke]

sad and scary. Wonder what Winston would say if he were still around. :<

[Oztrich Boy]

Muslim leaders said it was a landmark in the rise of Islam in Britain and that Muslims must receive a share of the Church of England’s privileged status.

Wheee! Mooselimbs discover democracy!

[nwrep]

Anglicans have gone so wishy-washy

Anglicans doubt the existence of god, but have no problem believing in gay bishops, gay marriages and gay parenting. I have more respect for the Muslims than I do for the Anglicans who have turned their backs on their faith.

[freekitty]

That's right; give in. Let the jerks make sure there is no freedom of religion for anyone.

[Gritty]

Muslim leaders said it was a landmark in the rise of Islam in Britain and that Muslims must receive a share of the Church of England’s privileged status.

Well, it's starting. First, a piece of the pie and then the entire thing.

Muslim leaders now want to translate their numerical advantage into tangible gains... Lord Ahmed, a Labour peer, said 10 extra seats should be allocated to other religions.

And, what should that "other religion" be, my dear Lord Ahmed? Baptist? Pentacostal? Catholic? Jewish?

If the Brits have any confusion where this is all headed, they need only just gaze southward toward the future Suzerainty of Muslim France.

What they see will make them shudder - or should, if they have a single lick of sense left!

[Loyalist]

PING

[Loyalist]

PING

[Lessismore]

Was Churchill particularly Christian? I couldn't find much on the web about his religious views.

[old-ager]

> The Muslim faith at least declares absolute truths.

Absolutes, yes. Truths, no.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

Europe will wake up too late.

[Malesherbes]

The firewall has already been breached in countries like Nigeria where the Christian population (in large part conservative Anglican) is persecuted and often murdered by their Moslem neighbors.

[bereanway]

"...and so it begins" is exactly what I was thinking as I finished up the article. Man, the Euros have some serious, serious problems and they don't have any comprehension of what they're sliding into. Islam is moving north and unless something dramatic happens the Euros are going to lose their control and identity. They're begining to reap what they've sown over the past 30+ years.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

read it and weep.

[Viking2002]

The firewall has already been breached in countries like Nigeria where the Christian population (in large part conservative Anglican) is persecuted and often murdered by their Moslem neighbors.

And nary a sound is made by the Left. But let there be a word - indeed, a word - of ill will or perceived 'bigotry' against practicing members of that 'peace-loving' religion in Western society, and the Thought Police swoop down to pick your bones clean.

[wylenetheconservative]

Every nation in the world that has a "white" majority is under assault demographically. The U.S. has a latin invasion underway, while Europe is under a Middle Eastern assault. I fear that any Western European culture that remains will soon be gone. Our liberal, guilt-ridden foreign and immigration policies have made us an endangered species. Unless something happens, no white persons will remain on this earth within 250 years. While we abort our children, the invaders produce 10 per capita. This situation will only worsen as time goes on. I truly fear for our heritage and our Western Civilization.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Well, what THEY call "truths".