PARIS - Al Fath Mosque is in a scruffy immigrant neighborhood not far from the neon-lit kitsch of Pigalle. On Friday afternoons the mosque is jammed, and the overflow of worshippers - all men - spills into the streets.Mark Alexander
Tourists who stumble on the scene reflexively reach for their cameras, struck by this unusual public manifestation of religiosity in a country where Christian belief has become passe.
In France and in almost every other European country, Christianity appears to be in a free fall. Although up to 88 percent of the French identify themselves as Roman Catholic, only about 5 percent go to church on most Sundays; 60 percent say they "never" or "practically never" go.
But Islam is a thriving force. The 12 million to 15 million Muslims who live in Europe make up less than 5 percent of the total population, but the vitality of their faith has led some experts to predict that Islam will become the continent's dominant faith.
Princeton University historian Bernard Lewis, the dean of American Middle East scholars, flatly predicts that Europe will be Islamic by the end of this century "at the very latest." In France, Islam and secularism spread as Christianity lapses by Tom Hundley
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
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4 comments:
Ironic phrase in the article: the vitality of their faith
The death cult has vitality. Isn't that amazing?
Is she still coming to the US? Rita has rescinded the revocation, she is still a citizen. Going to be interesting to have her on Fox, CNN etc.
Always:
The death cult has vitality. Isn't that amazing?
How clever! Yes, come to think of it it is rather amazing that a death cult has such vitality! (I shall have to rember that line!) :-)
Yes, John, I think she probably will. Afer all, she has a position to take up.
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