Are African-Americans Choosing Islam Over Christianity?

Barna Research Online ^

[Quester]

In response to a previous, though now deleted, thread which essentially asked the question - "Why are African Americans flocking to Embrace Islam?", I thought that some perspective was in order.

As an African-American christian, my experience with Islam in the African-American community has led me to conclude that the Islamic movement in the African-American community is a fringe movement. The originator of the previous thread presented a figure of 1 million to respresent the numbers of African-Americans within the American Islamic movement. Out of a current 35 million African-Americans, that number is a small fraction.

Per my experience, the religious standard in the African-American community is Protestant Christianity. To bolster my impressions, I looked up the following information from the Barna Research group which presents the following survey-derived information in regard to African-American Christian Faith and Practice.

You have opened the research archive relating to the latest findings on African Americans and their faith. The statistics and analysis in this archive come from national surveys conducted by Barna Research.

For more information about African Americans, be sure to check out the related resources and news releases featured on this page. Also, watch for new information to be added to this archive in the months to come.

Activities

African Americans are more likely than whites to report that they have prayed to God during the past 7 days. 93% of African Americans reported praying compared to 80% of white adults nationwide. (2001)

African Americans are significantly more likely than are whites to have read from their Bible in the past 7 days (52% to 35%, respectively). (2001)

43% of African Americans attend church on a given Sunday, which is similar to the rate of church attendance among whites (42%). (2001)

Faith

African Americans are approximately twice as likely as are whites to report that they are "searching for meaning and purpose in life” (58% to 28%, respectively). (2001)

African Americans are more likely than average to say that they are “a born again Christians.” A belief held by 57% of African Americans compared to 39% of adults nationwide. (2001)

21% of the African American population is unchurched, compared to 32% of whites. (1998)

Compared to 66% of whites, 83% of blacks say their religious faith is very important in their lives. (2001)

46% feel that they have a responsibility to tell other people about thier religious beliefs; 33% of whites feel the same way. (2001)

45% of black adults are born again Christians.(2001)

African-American adults are less likely than Hispanics or whites to contend that moral truth is absolute. In total, 10% of African-Americans believe moral truth is absolute, compared to 15% of Hispanics and 26% of whites. (2001) (For more information about the held perspectives on moral truth, see the February 12, 2002 Press Release article titled "Americans Are Most Likely to Base Truth on Feelings."

Beliefs about God

When asked what they believe about God, African Americans indicated the following: (2001)

84% believe that God is the all-powerful, all-knowing, perfect creator who rules the world today.

5% believe that God is a higher state of consciousness that a person may reach.

3% believe that God is the total realization of persona human potential.

3% believe that everyone is God.

2% believe that there are many different Gods, each with different power and authority.

1% believe that there is no such thing as God.

Beliefs about life after death

Among those who have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ that is still relevant in their lives today, they were asked what they thought would happen after they died. African Americans answered as follows: (2001)

61% believe that they will go to Heaven because they have confessed their sins and have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior.

18% do not know what will happen when they die.

8% believe that they will go to Heaven because they are a good person.

4% believe they will go to Heaven because God loves all people and will not let them perish.

5% believe that they will go to Heaven because they have tried to obey the 10 commandments.

The Church

The typical Sunday service of blacks is 70% longer than that attended by whites. (1997)

The typical black church has an average attendance that is about 50% greater than that of the typical white church. (1997)

63% say the pastors of black churches are the most important leaders in the African-American community (1996)

Self Descriptions

compared to 26% of whites, 46% of African Americans report that they are "trying to find a few good friends" (2001)

75% are "concerned about the future" (2001)

half (51%) are "personally struggling with finances"(2001)

71% are "concerned about the moral condition of the nation" (2001)

32% are "stressed out" (2001)

[Joe Boucher]

Many it seems that want a way to rebel, most are Southern Babtist.

[Argus]

Black Americans are, IMHO, generally as patriotic and conservative as their white counterparts, as well as being a mainstay of the armed forces. Politically they've been taken for granted for too long by Democrat liberals who have a vested interest in fostering the mentality of victimhood and oppression. I hope for the day when the scales fall from their eyes and they realize who their true friends are.

[kellynla]

Maybe you can answer this question. For a demographic group who is so religious and up until 30 years ago so family oriented what has happened to the family and why is there so much crime, drugs, illiteracy and illegitamacy in the black community today? Why does the black community continue to vote for the Democrats who refused to release them from their slavery in the late 19th century and refused them equal rights in the early 20th century. And continue to "enslave" them in poverty with welfare today.

[AzJP]

My experiences, although limited, mirror yours.
The only black that I'm aware of even close to "Islam" would be L. Farrakhan (sp?) an occasional resident in the Phoenix area.
As a counterbalance to that original thread, I do know of two ex-Pakistani who are getting naturalized, 'muricanized, and starting the process to become L.D.S.

But, gross generalizations here are not uncommon.

[Rytwyng]

If the Black community really is so much more Christian than the White community, why do 90+% of Blacks consistently vote for the most evil candidate on the ballot?

Any decent theologian can tell you that a conservative political outlook is a necessary implication of a biblical worldview. Any decent historian can tell you that our traditions of freedom such as common-law, limited government, individual rights, etc -- which conservatives seek to preserve and liberals are hell-bent on tearing down -- are all largely of Christian origin. But this fact seems lost on many modern Americans of all colors -- not just Blacks.

[Mixer]

Most rappers follow the Islamic faith. This should be an imediate alarm for all.

[xm177e2]

If the Black community really is so much more Christian than the White community, why do 90+% of Blacks consistently vote for the most evil candidate on the ballot?

Please, Democrats aren't "evil," their party isn't "evil," and people who vote for them are not making baby Jesus cry.

Maybe blacks tend to have more left-wing views on economics, that doesn't make them the servants of Satan.

[beekeeper]

Amen. Some, too often, equate people who vote differently as wrong in all aspects of their lives.

Another point. The number of moslems in the US has been reported way over what the numbers actually are, which is between 1.5-2.8 million. The mulslim Arab community tend to make the number high for political influence. Another fallacy is that all Arab-americans are muslim. Truth is from 60-75% are Christians who fled their homeland to excape persecution from their tolerant governments. Lots of garbage out there acting like facts.

[Robert_Paulson2]

correct... and we need to keep from going into a racist alert on this thread... good comment on your part.

[AzJP]

Speaking of generalizations, perhaps if you're still here you've noticed:

"Most rappers follow the Islamic faith"

"90+% of Blacks consistently vote for the most evil candidate.."

"...so much crimes, drugs, illiteracy and illegitamacy (And THAT poor spelling is an example of illiteracy!)in the black community..."

So here we have experts on the religion of rappers, specific knowledge of who blacks vote for, and an illiterate question of illegitimacy in whatever the heck the black community is. As if it was a particular zip code.

Thanks for your post Quester, and like you I'm gone. Perhaps time to reread Sowell or Steele.

[biblewonk]

I refuse to ever say "african american" until people start calling me an "Anglo European American". It has even more syllables.

[Quester]

Blacks have an emotional tie to the Democratic Party, and tend to vote more in line with their feelings. Most older voting Blacks, who personally experienced blatant discrimination in society (previous to the 60's) resonate with any candidate who declares that he/she 'feels their pain'.

But, with the passage of time, there is good news. Younger blacks (though not the very young, who tend to be liberal anyway), who have not experienced so much the pain of discrimination, are beginning to approach the voting box basing their decisions on what their heads are telling them, rather than according to how their heartstrings are being pulled.

It will take time for the process to be completed, but the Black/African-American community will eventually rise up out of it's pity party.

[Virginia-American]

George Washington freed his slaves. The Prophet didn't.

[Quester]

I refuse to ever say "african american" until people start calling me an "Anglo European American". It has even more syllables.

Yet another concession to a feelings-based societal morality. This will also eventually peter out. I don't know exactly who decided that we needed yet another designation. I think that we were happy with 'Black'. You know what ... I bet it wasn't even one of us.

[warchild9]

The majority of Middle-Easterners I have gotten to know, mostly from Pakistan, Lebanon, and Egypt, have been Catholic. The majority of black Muslims I have met (and that's in excess of two dozen) have been racist followers of Karl Marx. They convert because doing so sticks it in the eye of white Christians. The Balkanization of the U.S. is developing, folks. The Kid.

[Snuffington]

My impression is that black seperatists look to things like Islam to increase their sense of alienation from the general culture. That sort of thing always gets greater press than it deserves.

I suspect the spiritual peril of black Christians is the same as white Christians - apathetic indifference - rather than the peril of Islam.

[warchild9]

I prefer Confederate. No "Neo-." Duck and cover, Round Two is underway! The Kid.

[biblewonk]

Yet another concession to a feelings-based societal morality. This will also eventually peter out. I don't know exactly who decided that we needed yet another designation. I think that we were happy with 'Black'. You know what ... I bet it wasn't even one of us.

Some white people are so overly careful that they are afraid to say black. Ofcourse Negro is out but sometimes you have to make a distinction between black and white in conversation. I don't know who came up with it but a friend of mine always uses it instead of black.

It reminds me of a Saturday Night Live skit with a black girl who was being 'in your face' with her blackness calling herself an 'African American Princess' and 'your worst nightmare, a N with a job'. It was funny because there are people, obviously not you, that seem to feel that way.

[luvzhottea]

Another point. The number of moslems in the US has been reported way over what the numbers actually are, which is between 1.5-2.8 million.

It is important to keep in mind that the "studies" were funded by groups with an ax to grind against the political strength of Amerians of the Islamic faith.

Jewish group says estimates of Muslim
population in U.S. overstated by millions
By Rachel Zoll, Associated Press, 10/22/2001 21:21

NEW YORK (AP) The American Jewish Committee, concerned by the growing political influence of U.S. Muslims, released a report Monday saying commonly used estimates of the Muslim population in this country are too high, likely by millions.

The study concludes that the best estimate of Muslims in the United States is 2.8 million at most, compared to the 6 million figure used by many researchers and Muslim organizations. Muslim leaders said the report was an attempt to undercut their influence.

David Harris, the committee's executive director, said his group commissioned the review just after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.