Muslims
to outnumber traditional churchgoers (UK)
Telegraph.co.uk ^ |
March 26, 2008 | Jonathan Petre, Religion
Correspondent
Posted on 03/26/2008 3:34:57 PM PDT by
PROCON
The increasing influence of Islam on British culture is disclosed in
research today that shows the number of Muslims worshipping at mosques in
Projections to be published next month estimate that, if trends continue,
the number of Catholic
worshippers at Sunday Mass will fall to 679,000 by 2020.
By that time,
statisticians predict, the number of Muslims praying in mosques on Fridays will
have increased to 683,000.
The Christian
Research figures also suggest that, over the same period, the number of Muslims
at mosques will overtake Church of England members at Sunday services.
Church spokesmen point out, however, that a growing number of Anglicans worship
at other times of the week.
The projections show that, if the
Churches do not reverse their historical decline, there will be more active
Muslims than Christians in Sunday services across
The figures, based on Government and academic sources and the latest edition
of Christian Research's Religious Trends, come amid growing tensions over the
place of Muslims in British society.
They follow fierce rows over the extent to which Islamic law should be recognised and over claims that "no-go" areas for
non-Muslims are emerging in parts of the country.
Dr Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, provoked criticism by
saying the introduction of some aspects of sharia
into British society was "unavoidable".
The Bishop of
Rochester, the Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali,
faced death threats after writing in The Sunday Telegraph that Islamic
extremism was turning some communities into "no-go" areas "where
adherence to this ideology has become a mark of acceptability".
Peter Brierley, a former Government statistician
who edited the latest Religious Trends, said that the continuing growth of the
Muslim population since the 2001 census would have significant implications for
society.