Can anyone explain the growth of Islam in the UK?

[chirpychirpy]

After 9/11, 7/7 and seemingly nothing but endless bad publicity, with its harsh attitude towards women and homosexuals and so forth, you'd have thought that Islam would be immensely unpopular in the UK. Yet, unless I'm very much mistaken, it s popularity appears to have increased hugely in all that time. Unless it attracts disaffected types who convert almost to stick two fingers up to family and friends they want to shock, I cannot fathom why Brits who do not have origins in Muslim countries have been drawn to Islam. Can anyone explain the appeal? I'd be particularly interested to read posts from those who have become converts.

[chirpychirpy]

I should have added that I realise the general increase will have been down to immigration and breeding within the Muslim people. What I'm interested in knowing about is why so many people with previously no connection to Islam have converted. Maybe it's a case of any publicity is good publicity. Or maybe they think that, if there is to be a War or Islam does eventually succeed in taking over this country, these people want to be on what they foresee as the winning side.

[sp1814]

You're kidding with this question right???

Why do you think there's been a massive number Muslim converts?

It's not something I've read about or seen on telly.

[Double-Diamond]

Take no notice of the babyape it is a well known troll on here called noway

[naomi24]

I agree with SP. I know one Muslim who likes to think people are converting to Islam in their droves, but I've yet to see the evidence. Do you have any?

[keyplus90]

Although I am Muslim myself so perhaps my view will not make any impression but I must say that this conversion is more in USA than in the UK. However wherever it is, the reason I can think of that due to the bad publicity or propaganda spread on media, more people started studying Islam themselves instead of believing what others told them. And they found out that all what they ever believed about Islam were misconceptions and nothing more. I could be wrong as well.

[jno]

people don't take up a religion because it's popular. They do so either because they believe in it; or occasionally at the point of a gun. They make up less than 3% of the poulation, so Britain isn't going to be a Muslim country in my lifetime, or that of my great-grandchildren.

[naomi24]

Keyplus, you say the media is responsible for bad publicity and propaganda, but frankly you, yourself, have done Islam no favours with your posts on here.

[andy-hughes]

I would agree that there is a larger influx of conversions to Islam among native UK people than usual.

There will always be a section of disaffected youth who will adopt a controversial standpoint in order to establish a position of non-conformity, and a religious faith - or at least the superficial trappings of it - are always a good place to start.

As with any faith or creed, it is not the faith that attracts news interest - it is the extremist version, and the deeds carried out by people who adhere to extreme views - and this is true of any faith.

The majority of Muslims adhere to the peaceful aspects of their faith, and carry on with blameless lives - but that's not news - or worth attatching to as a radical statement.

I would be interested in seeing any evidence you have to supporrt your hpothesis chirpy.

[andy-hughes]

ooops - my first line should have said I do NOT agree - it was a bit early when I posted it ...!

[kinell]

stupid impressionable people have always been drawn to religion

it makes no difference to me if this lot have been converted or not....from whatever fairy tale they may blindly follow

its only when religion affects me and normal citizens that it should be tackled head on by society

if they wish to eliminate people who arent in their club for no other reason than we dont give a monkeys about their habits then i take exception

religious extremists of any following have no place in civilised society

[rov1200]

You may ask yourself why Catholicism is so widespread in the UK. Because one of the partners hold this religion they stipulate the other converts to a Catholic before marriage. Therefore the children are also brought up as Catholics.

Islam worshippers also take this view.

[youngmafbog]

More interesting would be the figures compared to converts of other religions.

I strongly suspect they would be quite low. Converting to islam is not the issue for this country, it is letting in swathes of unchecked fundamentalists that pose the threat.

I have said it before and I'll say it again. There will be war over this. Religion is the point of all evil. Without religion the world would be a far better place.

[tamborine]

'cause muslims have a powerful vote and infect our disaffected and simpletons

[jake-the-peg]

Wikipedia has a page devoted to the various claims that a particular religion is the fastest growing

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claims_to_be_the_fastest_growing_religion

Rather amusingly there are claims from various Christian denominations, Islam, Falun Gong, Budhism, Hinduism and even Wicca to this dubious honour and several more besides.

Why do people convert? Well I'm fairly impressed with some of the seperated twins studies which seem to show that people have a genetic tendency to be religious or not religious. If therefore someone with a tendency to be religious becomes disenchanted with their faith (or lack of it ) and someone gets to them at that time with a message they prefer they're likely to convert.

So why would they be disenchanted? A lot of Christian churches are rather caught in a liberal/conservative divide and will be making both conservatives and liberals unhappy. Islam is likely to appeal to conservatives especially those uncomfortable with the slightly more paganistic and polytheistic themes in parts of Christianity. (The trinity, Saints and statues,crucifixes and religious art , transmutation of the host all the hocus pocus)

Don't fall into the trap of thinking that all moslems are screaming jihadi-crazed sword wielding maniacs. Some Christians will think that way and when they find out that's not the case they'll be intrigued and be drawn in.

But I think JNO's absolutely wrong - I think there are a lot of people who join religions (and even more stay in them) for a sense of community - of being with like-minded people

[jno]

yes, I think that's a fair point, jake - the Anglican Church in particular fulfils a function that is as much social as religious; in theory everyone in the country ought to be able to go to a service without hearing anything too upsetting. I'm not sure signing up to this counts as 'conversion', though.

[Sqad]

jno....most authorities agree on 10% as a more accurate figure of Muslims in the UK.

You figure of 3% id correct on a Government Census, but that was in 2001

[jno]

Sqad, you seriously think the number of Muslims has trebled in eight years? You'll have to provide a cast-iron link to some unimpeachable sources before I'll believe that.