Islam is spreading over Europe.

[LiliT]

Hundreds of thousands of Muslim families, from North Africa and the Middle East – whose religion, aspiration and mores are radically different from ours – now live on our soil. The exact number of Muslims is difficult to establish, however the total number of Muslims in the Western Europe is about 15-20 million. Moreover, demographers predict that the Muslim population will nearly double by 2015, while the non-Muslim will shrink by 3.5%, due to the higher Muslim birth rate (ztruth.typepad. com/ztruth/muslim-demographics. html).
Their birth rate is really higher than that of European families. Within 10 years the population of Islamist culture could be in the majority among those 30 years old and younger. In other words, one in ten Europeans will likely be Muslim. Friendly speaking it really scares me! Don’t get me wrong! Not that these people are unworthy or their culture is, but I don’t want to see our culture and our values disappear from the face of the earth.

[Big_Becka]

Hundreds of thousands of Muslim families, from North Africa and the Middle East – whose religion, aspiration and mores are radically different from ours – now live on our soil.

How do you know my religion and aspirations? :quoi Please state what you believe my religion and aspirations are.

And are muslims so different? I know non-fundamentalist Muslims from north Africa and the Middle East who are as intelligent, rational and modern as I might aspire to be. Many Europeans, by contrast, are still pretty backward! :lol:

Their birth rate is really higher than that of European families.

Birth rates vary throughout Europe. Christian families - particularly Catholic and some Evangelist denominations - still have relatively high birth rates.

All this aside, I understand this fear of immigrant populations. It is very topical. I was always told "When in Rome, do as the Romans do." If you move to another country, you must respect and embrace the local traditions and culture: I think this is important even within Europe.

If a European travels to a Muslim country, we must dress appropriately, avoid alcohol, respect the religious festivals, etc. It is therefore appropriate to expect Muslims in Europe to return this courtesy. 8-)

[Peach]

If a European travels to a Muslim country, we must dress appropriately, avoid alcohol, respect the religious festivals, etc. It is therefore appropriate to expect Muslims in Europe to return this courtesy.

I do not think that we get such a miracle

I'm sure that Muslims and their children believe in their religion too strong, that they can not disregard it even when travelling to a foreign country ... Europeans are more flexible, the probability that Europeans change the religion, and not the Muslims!

[Big_Becka]

I agree with what you say in principle, Peach

more likely that their children in time can become Catholics or Orthodox!

This is why I asked LiliT what he/she thought my beliefs were ;-) In my country there are relatively few Catholics, and no native Orthodox :-) Furthermore, I do not think anyone wants Muslims to convert to Catholocism - surely we need everyone to start using contraception?! Far better that they become enlightened Secular Humanists, or at least modest Protestants or modern Pagans :-P

We should not make assumptions about the beliefs and aspirations of Europeans, because they vary so greatly.

[Andrei]

Most religions thrive on people's ignorance. When Europe develops a strong and free education system, that will value and cultivate deep understanding instead of superficial knowledge and will be available for EVERYONE - most religions will cease to exist in the form they exist now. This is inevitable in my opinion.