World Religion Statistics

[Brother Simon]

Christians 32.71% (of which Roman Catholics 17.28%, Protestants 5.61%, Orthodox 3.49%, Anglicans 1.31%), Muslims 19.67%, Hindus 13.28%, Buddhists 5.84%, Sikhs 0.38%, Jews 0.23%, other religions 13.05%, non-religious 12.43%, atheists 2.41% (2002 est.)

Wow! First of all, I thought Islam outnumbered Christianity. Secondly, I didn't realize the great difference of numbers between Catholicism/Protestantism.

I also would not have guessed that the Hindus would have such a high percentage and would have guessed Judaism to be a larger number.

With Love,
Simon

 

[Maximus]

Wow! First of all, I thought Islam outnumbered Christianity. Secondly, I didn't realize the great difference of numbers between Catholicism/Protestantism.

I also would not have guessed that the Hindus would have such a high percentage and would have guessed Judaism to be a larger number.

With Love,
Simon

Well, I think it is still pretty scary that nearly one out of every five persons in the world is a Muslim.

When one considers that many of those who profess to be Christians - including many so-called Catholics - are contraceiving and aborting themselves into oblivion, it may not be long before Muslims pass us by.

They are already in good position to inherit the earth left to them by the meek of Europe.

 

[Jasta]

^^ agreed

though I wonder how accurate any poll like this could be. If you live in an Islamic Theocracy, or even a predominantly Muslim nation, and don't want to be ostracised (at best) or murdered (at worst), you're going to say 'Muslim' when asked.

Also, I know a great many Christians of every flavor who identify as Christian but don't practice it, don't display it, and are uncomfortable discussing it.

 

[Maynard Keenan]

"They are already in good position to inherit the earth left to them by the meek of Europe."

Jesus said the meek will inherit the earth. Meek is bad then?




Why is it scary that 1/5 of the world is muslim? It is estimated that only 1/10 of those are in radical sects, meaning 1/50 of the world. THAT is a startling number, but not the fact that islam is a large religion.





Who are we to judge so much the others in this world and how they practice their religion? It seems this is not quite a christian thing to do.

 

[Maynard Keenan]

Christians are having the number of kids they want to have, contraception and abortion arent destroying us. (I'm not supporting either though I question the banning of contraception). Tell me how our society could support, say, 5-6 kids per family on average instead of 2 kids average? We can't have unrestrained growth when the world's population is as large as it is. Medicine, technology, and other advancements have made us live much longer than we once did. This means if we have kids at an extremely fast rate the population baloons. We can't afford that.

 

[Anthony]

Christians 32.71% (of which Roman Catholics 17.28%, Protestants 5.61%, Orthodox 3.49%, Anglicans 1.31%) , I didn't realize the great difference of numbers between Catholicism/Protestantism.

Of the Christians, Catholic, Protestants, Orthodox and Anglicans = 28%

I wonder what the other 5% is, considering that they are not considered Roman Catholic or Protestant?

 

[PioMagnus]

We can't have unrestrained growth when the world's population is as large as it is. Medicine, technology, and other advancements have made us live much longer than we once did. This means if we have kids at an extremely fast rate the population baloons. We can't afford that.

The worlds population isn't all that big. Every single family in the world could live in the state of Texas, in a 1 floor ranch style house with a backyard. That would leave the entire rest of the world for farming, industry, nature etc.

Population is not a problem.

Merry Christmas,
Pio Magnus

 

[BjBarnett]

Of the Christians, Catholic, Protestants, Orthodox and Anglicans = 28%

I wonder what the other 5% is, considering that they are not considered Roman Catholic or Protestant?

probably mormons, JW's, and things like that. the United States government counts them as protestant christians.

but then again that would put them in the protestant catagory anyhow id say thats what the extra 5% is.

 

[QuagDabPeg]

The worlds population isn't all that big. Every single family in the world could live in the state of Texas, in a 1 floor ranch style house with a backyard. That would leave the entire rest of the world for farming, industry, nature etc.

Population is not a problem.

Merry Christmas,
Pio Magnus

Where the heck do you get that? Please cite.

 

[Jasta]

http://www.netstate.com/states/geography/tx_geography.htm
261,914 sq mi of land area in Texas

http://www.census.gov/cgi-bin/ipc/popclockw
Call the population of the world about 6,400,000,000

.000041 sq mi per person, with everybody stuffed into texas.

.000041 sq mi = 1,143 sq ft per person.

so what would be an average household? 4 people?

1143 sq ft * 4 = 4572 sq ft.

4500 sq ft is a pretty good sized house...

but a backyard? what will you do with the dog?

 

[Spence06]

Yea, those little populations things are amazing to realize that whole over population thing is a myth. I use those stuff normally when I discuss abortion and if someone wants to justifiy killing children with overpopulation.

however the best answer when a girl asked about what about over population and that fact justification for abortion, my friend who is pro-life answered very simply, "What! Are we Deer?" Which I laughed at, but Truth can be found there.

Also;

According to United Nations 1998 world population estimates there will be nearly 6 billion people on the planet as of 1999. If you took these 6 billion people, split them up into family units of four and gave them each a piece of land 50' x 50', the entire population of the planet would fit very easily into the state of Montana (with over 300 billion square feet left over!).

​

From;
http://tennesseerighttolife.org/human_life_issues/human_life_issues_over-population_myths.htm

 

[Aaron-Aggie]

Where the heck do you get that? Please cite.

Texas is 261,914 square miles of land, or 7,301,743,257,600 square ft
Estimate world population 6,403,537,604 if we assume 4 people for family average. thats 4,561 sqaure ft per family.

Now of course that dosn't leave area for roads stores or anything else.

 

[Aaron-Aggie]

opps jsata beat me to it

 

[cool2bCatholic]

Christians are having the number of kids they want to have, contraception and abortion arent destroying us.

Really? I suppose you don't believe that the approx 4,000 children killed by abortion each day in the U.S alone are human? Let me guess, they're "zygotes", right?

(I'm not supporting either though I question the banning of contraception). Tell me how our society could support, say, 5-6 kids per family on average instead of 2 kids average?

God will provide. Trust in Him, he is the only support we need. Phillipians 4:13 I have the strength for everything through Him who empowers me.

We can't have unrestrained growth when the world's population is as large as it is.

This argument has been answered above. (Good job guys!) Plus, as Mother Theresa said, "Saying there are too many children in the world is like saying there are too many flowers."

Medicine, technology, and other advancements have made us live much longer than we once did. This means if we have kids at an extremely fast rate the population baloons. We can't afford that.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, on your own intelligence rely not; In all your ways be mindful of him, and he will make straight your paths.

God bless you and Pax Christi!
Angela

 

[Maynard Keenan]

unfortunately I don't check reason at the door, and if you'd actually read my post and not give a sarcastic reply, I mentioned that I don't support abortion. I think its murder. But abortion and contraception are not destroying us, because the average family still has 2 kids. It is terrible and 100% unjustified but we are not aborting ourselves out of existence as someone implied. Those population statistics are very interesting indeed, but regardless of thew question of size, we are not in a society (america i'm referring to) that allows families to have huge numbers of kids. So the options are have lots of kids and suffer the consequences, dont have sex (which is bad seeing as sexuality is a gift from God), or use contraception.

 

[Rising_Suns]

...that whole over population thing is a myth. I use those stuff normally when I discuss abortion and if someone wants to justifiy killing children with overpopulation

Exactly. Me too.

 

[Rising_Suns]

Well, I think it is still pretty scary that nearly one out of every five persons in the world is a Muslim.

Subdue your fears, Maximus; fear is the devil's playpen.

 

[Lifesaver]

So the options are have lots of kids and suffer the consequences, dont have sex (which is bad seeing as sexuality is a gift from God), or use contraception.

Here lies the weal point in your argument.
Not having sex is not bad at all. St. Paul even recommends that people lead a life of chastity.
Those who are members of the clergy, or lead a religious life, make vows of chastity.
What we have is a society obsessed with sex.

However, one thing is true: in the current numbers, it is already impossible to provide to each person in the world as if they were an American or Europpean. And by modern "quality of life" standards, that's what everyone should get.
This is impossible.

 

[cool2bCatholic]

unfortunately I don't check reason at the door, and if you'd actually read my post and not give a sarcastic reply, I mentioned that I don't support abortion. I think its murder. But abortion and contraception are not destroying us, because the average family still has 2 kids. It is terrible and 100% unjustified but we are not aborting ourselves out of existence as someone implied. Those population statistics are very interesting indeed, but regardless of thew question of size, we are not in a society (america i'm referring to) that allows families to have huge numbers of kids. So the options are have lots of kids and suffer the consequences, dont have sex (which is bad seeing as sexuality is a gift from God), or use contraception.

I wasn't being sarcastic. I may have sounded angry, but that's because I find it despicable that anyone tries to divorce procreation from sex, which IS a gift from God. However, as it is a GIFT, it should not be abused, especially by contraception. You imply that it is unthinkable for a couple to abstain from sex. Let me tell you, no one has or will ever die from not having sex. You also imply that having a large amount of children is bad ("have lots of kids and suffer the consequences"). Sex is a gift from God partly because it produces children, which are also beautiful and precious gifts from God! You are looking at this issue in the earthly perspective. What you must do in order to understand God's will and the Church's teachings is to look at it through the Godly perspective. "and if you'd actually read my post and not give a sarcastic reply, I mentioned that I don't support abortion." Contraception leads to abortion, as both use the mindset that children are burdens. So, by supporting contraception, you are basically supporting abortion. Both prevent God-given life. You need to realize that God has a plan, and it is beyond human understanding. Ever heard the phrase "if God brings you to it, He will get you through it?" Likewise, If God gives a couple 9 children, He will give them all the graces they need to support them. Sex involves 3 persons: the husband, the wife, and God. Do not be so foolish as to think that we control life! God does, and if we let Him be in charge, we have nothing to worry about.

"The way to plan the family is Natural Family Planning, not contraception. In destroying the power of giving life, through contraception, a husband or wife is doing something to self. This turns the attention to self and so destroys the gift of love in him or her. In loving, the husband and wife must turn the attention to each other. Once that living love is destroyed by contraception, abortion follows very easily."
- Mother Teresa

"I am supposing, then, although you are not lying [with your wife] for the sake of procreating offspring, you are not for the sake of lust obstructing their procreation by an evil prayer or an evil deed. Those who do this, although they are called husband and wife, are not; nor do they retain any reality of marriage, but with a respectable name cover a shame. Sometimes this lustful cruelty, or cruel lust, comes to this, that they even procure poisons of sterility . . . Assuredly if both husband and wife are like this, they are not married, and if they were like this from the beginning, they come together not joined in matrimony, but in seduction."
- St. Augustine

"No Christian married couple can want to block the well-springs of life. For their love is based on the love of Christ, which entails dedication and sacrifice. . . Moreover, as Tobias reminded Sara, a husband and wife know that 'we are children of saints, and we cannot come together in the way of the gentiles, who do not know God.' "
- St. Josemaria Escriva

God bless you and Pax Christi!
Angela


PS-I recommend http://pureloveclub.com/chastity/index.php?id=7&entryid=90 to help you better understand the Church's teaching on contraception.

 

[Rising_Suns]

Here lies the weal point in your argument.
Not having sex is not bad at all. St. Paul even recommends that people lead a life of chastity.
Those who are members of the clergy, or lead a religious life, make vows of chastity.
What we have is a society obsessed with sex.

However, one thing is true: in the current numbers, it is already impossible to provide to each person in the world as if they were an American or Europpean. And by modern "quality of life" standards, that's what everyone should get.
This is impossible.

Good post Lifesaver. I can't believe I missed the quote you replied to.

Perhaps it's due time for another Contraception thread. They always seem to help enlighten people on the reasoning behind the Church's teachings.

-Davide