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Islam : The LARGEST 'practiced' faith of the world?

teeta01

Member
Well hi ,

So which is the largest "practiced" faith of the world? Numerically , Christianity is number one...but does it hold most influence on the globe? I think not.

I think that Islam has now become the largest practiced faith of the globe. Whereever Islam exists , it plays a central role in the society. Even secular Turks are very practicing Muslims generally. On the other hand , Christianity in the Europe is almost a dead religion. No one really cares about it or its teachings. Westerners are 'least practicing' people , according to the Gallop Survey on religiosity.

Even Adherents.com says that they have no reason to reject the assertion that there are more practicing Muslims than practicing Christians..

religiosity1.gif


See the result of the comprehensive gallop survey on religiosity.

Almost enitre Islamic World is "most practicing" or "more practicing" , while almost entire West is "least practicing" or "less practicing" ..which means either agnostics or non-practicing cultural followers...

Also , even in the West , Muslims are way more practicing than Christians. There are way more 'practicing Muslims' by % than practicing Christians in most Western countries

For example , in countries like France , there are more practicing Muslims than Christians (Hudson institute)

http://www.realnewsreporter.com/?p=7901&fb_source=message


So in the light of all these facts , I think that today , Islam is the most influential religion of mankind ...

It has become the largest practiced global faith of the planet...

What is your say on this?
 
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Madhuri

RF Goddess
Staff member
Premium Member
I agree that it is the most practiced.

But in terms of influence I think Christianity still has the most cultural influence.
 

mycorrhiza

Well-Known Member
You would need to define 'practicing'. Where do we draw the line between practicing and non-practicing? Is a Muslim who celebrates Muslim holidays, but doesn't regularly do salah or keep halal diet practicing? Is a Christian who prays every night, but only goes to church on Christian holidays practicing?
 

HonestJoe

Well-Known Member
I suspect different people have different opinions on what constitutes practicing a religion. I'm not convinced going through the daily motions out of habit is a measure of true devotion.

The influence of a religion is not necessarily directly proportional to the number of people practicing it (by any definition). It's not necessarily the most devoted practitioners of a religion that have the wider influence anyway.
 

SLAMH

Active Member
I'm not sure if Muslims practice their religions more than Christians, but what I'm sure about is that Muslims are more sensitive when it comes to their religion. I have friends from different religious background and I don't see any reason to suggest that Muslims practice their religions more than any other groups.
 

Quintessence

Consults with Trees
Staff member
Premium Member
You would need to define 'practicing'. Where do we draw the line between practicing and non-practicing? Is a Muslim who celebrates Muslim holidays, but doesn't regularly do salah or keep halal diet practicing? Is a Christian who prays every night, but only goes to church on Christian holidays practicing?

Agreed.

Then again, I'm also not convinced that passing anyone's arbitrarily determined test of "practicing X" is necessarily meaningful or reflective of the territory.
 

Vinayaka

devotee
Premium Member
This is an impossible argument either way, and all around. Since most religions adhere to some notion that religion needs to be adhered to in every action, not just in the external rituals, or in 'service to humanity', there is no way to judge. Somebody can hum a hymn of a song, or a prayer, while they are working, totally missing out that their work itself is a religious duty, as others might depend on that for a living. So who is to say who is being the religious one, the guy humming a prayer, or the guy purposely forgetting to hum a prayer in the service to others.
 

tumbleweed41

Resident Liberal Hippie
So in the light of all these facts , I think that today , Islam is the most influential religion of mankind ...

It has become the largest practiced global faith of the planet...

What is your say on this?

Assuming you are correct, does the number of adherents to a religious belief affect it's credibility?
 

InvestigateTruth

Well-Known Member
I believe there is outwardly and inwardly practice.

Islam seems to be outwardly practiced (only the apparent), but not spiritually and inwardly.
If you look at the World of Islam, specially the East which are the Moslem Majority, and even some Governments which even use Islamic Shariah (Laws), we see that these countries are in a lot of problems. In terms of conflicts, we see different groups and sects of Islam being in conflict with each other. Sunni, Shias, Alawis, etc. We see, that even within the same country, there is a struggle between people and their own government, and also so much security problems.
Look at Pakistan, Suriah, Iran, Egypt, Iraq for instance. Their own people are seeing tyranny from their own Moslem government or other "Harsh" groups of Moslems.
If indeed these people are following the True Islam, which they believe is the Best and the Last revelation, why then so much issues? Why they are not in peace and unity? Why they have poverty issues? Why in terms of science and Technology they are lower than the Western Countries? Shouldn't practicing Islam, have the Best Fruits? Why we don't see the Good Fruits?

 
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beenie

Veteran Member
Staff member
Premium Member
I believe there is outwardly and inwardly practice.

Islam seems to be outwardly practiced (only the apparent), but not spiritually and inwardly.
If you look at the World of Islam, specially the East which are the Moslem Majority, and even some Governments which even use Islamic Shariah (Laws), we see that these countries are in a lot of problems. In terms of conflicts, we see different groups and sects of Islam being in conflict with each other. Sunni, Shias, Alawis, etc. We see, that even within the same country, there is a struggle between people and their own government, and also so much security problems.
Look at Pakistan, Suriah, Iran, Egypt, Iraq for instance. Their own people are seeing tyranny from their own Moslem government or other "Harsh" groups of Moslems.
If indeed these people are following the True Islam, which they believe is the Best and the Last revelation, why then so much issues? Why they are not in peace and unity? Why they have poverty issues? Why in terms of science and Technology they are lower than the Western Countries? Shouldn't practicing Islam, have the Best Fruits? Why we don't see the Good Fruits?


Most of the division within Islam is politically driven. That, in turn, has made the struggle more of a religious one, meaning that the political outcome of the next leader divided the people and their sects divided from there.

They are not in peace and unity for several reasons, some of which are their fault, and some which are a result of others.
 

FearGod

Freedom Of Mind
I believe there is outwardly and inwardly practice.

Islam seems to be outwardly practiced (only the apparent), but not spiritually and inwardly.
If you look at the World of Islam, specially the East which are the Moslem Majority, and even some Governments which even use Islamic Shariah (Laws), we see that these countries are in a lot of problems. In terms of conflicts, we see different groups and sects of Islam being in conflict with each other. Sunni, Shias, Alawis, etc. We see, that even within the same country, there is a struggle between people and their own government, and also so much security problems.
Look at Pakistan, Suriah, Iran, Egypt, Iraq for instance. Their own people are seeing tyranny from their own Moslem government or other "Harsh" groups of Moslems.
If indeed these people are following the True Islam, which they believe is the Best and the Last revelation, why then so much issues? Why they are not in peace and unity? Why they have poverty issues? Why in terms of science and Technology they are lower than the Western Countries? Shouldn't practicing Islam, have the Best Fruits? Why we don't see the Good Fruits?

There is no relation between religion and that silly reasons for troubles caused for political problems such as an oppressor leaders in some muslim countries and prophet Mohammed had already prophesied that the muslim nation will become weak after their strength and that is the reason that only they will be back to their strength when the second coming of Jesus pbuh whom will come back to support muslims knowing that they'll be weak at such times as we can see today.

Your examples is irrational.

Did Bahaullah change Iran to a superpower because he is a true messenger of god.
did Jesus pbuh change palestine to a superpower to be stronger than the Romans at that time and i guess one of the reasons that Jews rejected him because he didn't have the power to beat the romans.

Please think for a while before writing . :)
 

InvestigateTruth

Well-Known Member
There is no relation between religion and that silly reasons for troubles caused for political problems such as an oppressor leaders in some muslim countries and prophet Mohammed had already prophesied that the muslim nation will become weak after their strength and that is the reason that only they will be back to their strength when the second coming of Jesus pbuh whom will come back to support muslims knowing that they'll be weak at such times as we can see today.

Your examples is irrational.

Did Bahaullah change Iran to a superpower because he is a true messenger of god.
did Jesus pbuh change palestine to a superpower to be stronger than the Romans at that time and i guess one of the reasons that Jews rejected him because he didn't have the power to beat the romans.

Please think for a while before writing . :)

I am sorry if you felt offended. But, I am not totally in disagreement with you.
Although, it seems to me, you misunderstood me in regards to being "superpower".
I didn't even mention that word "superpower", if you read my previous post. I don't even believe being a superpower is a good thing.

In my view, If the people of Iran and the world actually followed the teachings of Baha'u'llah, the world would be an excellent place in terms of peace and happiness.
In fact, I believe if the people of the World at the time of each messenger, actually followed Him, the world would have been a much better place.

What, I was saying basically, if Muslims truly practice Islam, in my opinion, they would become a lot more happier fundamentally. Although, please note that, I am not generalizing this to every Moslem. But I see a lot of suffering in the Muslim Countries.
This is not to say, that for example, Baha'i people necessarily follow perfectly the Baha'i Faith teachings, or are any better than other people. But the Baha'i faith, due to its administrative teachings, does not allow such divisions or conflicts, and Baha'i Scriptures even teaches separation of religion and politics/Government.
Although in the past there has been attempts to make divisions in Baha'i Faith, but it failed basically and was not successful, because Baha'u'llah in His writings defined who is His successors and there was no way left for others to claim leadership.

- Peace
 

FearGod

Freedom Of Mind
I am sorry if you felt offended. But, I am not totally in disagreement with you.
Although, it seems to me, you misunderstood me in regards to being "superpower".
I didn't even mention that word "superpower", if you read my previous post. I don't even believe being a superpower is a good thing.

In my view, If the people of Iran and the world actually followed the teachings of Baha'u'llah, the world would be an excellent place in terms of peace and happiness.
In fact, I believe if the people of the World at the time of each messenger, actually followed Him, the world would have been a much better place.

What, I was saying basically, if Muslims truly practice Islam, in my opinion, they would become a lot more happier fundamentally. Although, please note that, I am not generalizing this to every Moslem. But I see a lot of suffering in the Muslim Countries.
This is not to say, that for example, Baha'i people necessarily follow perfectly the Baha'i Faith teachings, or are any better than other people. But the Baha'i faith, due to its administrative teachings, does not allow such divisions or conflicts, and Baha'i Scriptures even teaches separation of religion and politics/Government.
Although in the past there has been attempts to make divisions in Baha'i Faith, but it failed basically and was not successful, because Baha'u'llah in His writings defined who is His successors and there was no way left for others to claim leadership.

- Peace

My friend you have talked about science and development,if Islam is the real religion then why they are far from science..etc,not much different than saying superpower.

So according to your analyzing we can say that Japan's religion is the right one or christianity and so on,and even your purpose wasn't for bahai faith at all as we can't say a bahai nation to compare it to others for science and development.
 

InvestigateTruth

Well-Known Member
My friend you have talked about science and development,if Islam is the real religion then why they are far from science..etc,not much different than saying superpower.

But science can be used in for example Medicine, building good facilities, technology for bringing comfort to humanity. If there is science with no spiritual teachings, then science is used to build weapons of destruction. So, science does not necessarily mean superpower in terms of Weapons or Army to conquer.
Having said that, it is indeed one of the fruits of EVERY revelation of God, that causes advancement in science and technology.
For example, when Muhammad appeared, He caused all those Arab countries to advance in science while Europe was in dept of darkness and ignorance at that Time.

So according to your analyzing we can say that Japan's religion is the right one or christianity and so on,and even your purpose wasn't for Baha’i faith at all as we can't say a Baha’i nation to compare it to others for science and development.

In Baha'i View with the revelation of Baha'i Faith in the middle of 19th Century, also, by the appearance of Holy Spirit, He caused advancement in Science and Technology as we are witness, when we compare the level of science at the time before 19th century and after. However as it was prophesized, the Sun Rises in the West. As Sun gives light, and light is an anolgy for "Knowledge", We interpret that, the "signs" and "fruits" of revelation of Baha'u'llah would appear in the west first, which would result in advancement of the western society.
 
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Caladan

Agnostic Pantheist
Is Islam practiced more than Hinduism? I'm not sure. Also 'Christian' is a very generic term. There are Christian societies who are very traditional, while some nations specifically in western Europe have become much more loose in religious tradition. Also, there is no monolithic Islamic influence over the world at the moment, as the 'Muslim Ummah' is highly divided and ripe with civil wars and strife between different Muslim nations. I think that the top priority of Muslim nations is to start fixing the minimum of problems in their regions, before even trying to boast about their standing on the world's stage.
If you look at Islamic global influence, the record is not flattering either, as many of the strongest Islamic nations are dependent on the US, others have been invaded by western coalitions. Etc. the situation is far from how you present it.
In addition, what does 'most practiced' accomplish for you? perhaps another perspective is that other religions adapt?
 

Quintessence

Consults with Trees
Staff member
Premium Member
Assuming you are correct, does the number of adherents to a religious belief affect it's credibility?

In terms of socially agreed upon norms, yes. The more people do it, the more acceptable it is, the more credible it is perceived to be.

In the grand scheme of things, no. Objectively speaking, the number of people believing in something is irrelevant with respect to its credibility. Hence the concept is part of a formal logical fallacy, yes? Argument from popularity?

For better or worse, the social norms are typically all that matter when operating within human society.
 

paarsurrey

Veteran Member
I suspect different people have different opinions on what constitutes practicing a religion. I'm not convinced going through the daily motions out of habit is a measure of true devotion.

The influence of a religion is not necessarily directly proportional to the number of people practicing it (by any definition). It's not necessarily the most devoted practitioners of a religion that have the wider influence anyway.

It is very essential that one understand the religion correctly and then practices suited with time and situation; otherwise it will be counter-productive.

Quran highlights this point:

[2:278] Surely, those who believe and do good* deeds, and observe Prayer and pay the Zakat, shall have their reward from their Lord, and no fear shall come on them, nor shall they grieve.

*suited for time and the situation

The Holy Quran Arabic text with Translation in English text and Search Engine - Al Islam Online
 
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