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)

[warchild9]

When I was a boy (forty-plus years ago), we'd refer to our black friends as "Negroes," and I was referred to as "that white boy." Nothing was meant by the "white boy," but I recognize "Negro" was condescending, coming from those long-ago adults, and the word has disappeared from my life through disuse. The Kid.

[newgeezer]

I refuse to ever say "african american" until people start calling me an "Anglo European American".

I look for every opportunity to tell people I'm 100% Native American. The look of incredulity is well worth the ensuing explanation. ("Well, of course, I was born here. Weren't you?")

[Goetz_von_Berlichingen]

You ask:

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?

From the survey, here is the answer:

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.

Self-indulgence and crime are the usual consequences of moral relativism. Coincidentally, the percentage of the Black community that believes morality is relative is very close to the percentage that votes Democrat.

And the Democrats are the Party of Satan.

[Red Jones]

bump

[biblewonk]

That's pretty good. I'm going to try and remember that one. To say anything else is un-American now that I think about it. It shows allegence to somewhere else.

[INSENSITIVE GUY]

These rappers hate whites and that's all there is to it.

[Quester]

Some white people are so overly careful that they are afraid to say black.

Well, I'm black, and, sometimes I get strange looks when I refer to another black person as 'black'. It just isn't PC, ... ya know? Sometimes, it can be a bit frustrating.

[Nat Turner]

and guess how moral relativism goes in the Black community--from Democratic politicians,liberal media and public school systems . . .

[Quester]

These rappers hate whites and that's all there is to it.

Well, the good news is ... at some point the rappers start to like the money ... and, what do you know, all that white hate stuff goes away. Next thing you know ... they're starring in sitcom America. I tell you ... it happens every time ... unless they get killed first ...

[phenix]

My reply ought to be taken with a truckload of salt. I am white, with few close relationships with black Americans. I do observe, however anecdotally, that Black Americans seem more pre- disposed to conversion to Islam. I knop of no hard figures, (and I appreciate the poster's stats) but I would venture if one studied the pool of American converts to Islam, one would find the percentage of Blacks to be much higher than their representation in the general population. It seems logical that for some, Christianity is seen as "the white man's religion" and Islam is seen as "African" ( accuracy aside ) Until recently, I did not view Black Muslim Americans with anywhere near the suspicion with which I did Islamic foreign nationals. I figured Black Muslim Americans had simply found a way to assuage the racial/religious chip they may have (justifiably) had on their shoulder. But recent news has caused me to re-consider. There is a settlement of Black Muslims here in my rural community. They are part of a nationwide organization called "Muslims of America, Inc." They caused quite a stir in this racially mixed but very Christian rural county. I was skeptical of the press claims that they were "linked" to terror crimes in the US, and to foreign terror groups. The Muslims I have met seemed kind,polite, and respectful...like good neighbors. They did profess loyalty to a Pakistani " Sheikh Gilani", and named their street after him. He was arrested by the Pakistani govt. for heading a terror group, and for suspicion of direct involvement in the Pearl kidnapping/murder. Yikes! I hope and pray that my Black / African-American brothers and sisters will remain / return to belief in Jesus as the only way to eternal life.

[Quester]

My reply ought to be taken with a truckload of salt. I am white, with few close relationships with black Americans. I do observe, however anecdotally, that Black Americans seem more pre-disposed to conversion to Islam. I knop of no hard figures, (and I appreciate the poster's stats) but I would venture if one studied the pool of American converts to Islam, one would find the percentage of Blacks to be much higher than their representation in the general population. It seems logical that for some, Christianity is seen as "the white man's religion" and Islam is seen as "African" ( accuracy aside ) Until recently, I did not view Black Muslim Americans with anywhere near the suspicion with which I did Islamic foreign nationals. I figured Black Muslim Americans had simply found a way to assuage the racial/religious chip they may have (justifiably) had on their shoulder.

Per my experience, this is essentially correct. Generally, blacks don't become Muslims because they want to participate in the larger experience of Islam. They become Muslim as an expression against the white man's system.

[Pay now bill Clinton]

Just a few comments: Beliefs about God

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

If God truely "rules the world today" then he's doing a god-awful job of it, or else does not have the best of intentions as far as the human race is concerned.

3% believe that everyone is God

OTOH, this statement could explain the above statement (still not necessarily good news, if true)

2% believe that there are many different Gods, each with different power and authority.
1% believe that there is no such thing as God.

Interesting, I would not have thought that pagans outnumbered atheists, in any ethnic group.

[cpressroll]

Why is Negro "condescending"? It is the Spanish word for black and is the accepted scientific designation for the race. I consider it no more condescending than Caucasian.

[cpressroll]

We were warned long ago that the corruption of language is the greatest tool of the enslavers. We have reached the point that many now believe that the term "Native American" actually means those who were here before the arrival of the Europeans rather than, as you point out, simply someone who was born here. The worst part is that if you describe yourself as "a native Atlantan" everyone understands that, but if you say "native American", they think you mean something else. Alas, there is very little support for precision in language use these days.

[MarkWar]

>Black Americans are, IMHO, generally as patriotic and conservative as their white counterparts,

The day before yesterday, it was -4 degrees here south of Chicago. I was standing with a group of people across the street from our local police station when a Muslim woman in a burka came out of the police station and walked past us to get into her SUV.

Some of the people in the group were white, some black. We all kind of half-stared at the woman in the burka. (It was the first time I saw one in real life.) When the woman got in her SUV, I observed that, at -4 below zero, it was good weather to be in a burka...

The black guys laughed as much as the white guys did.

Mark W.

[Quester]

Why is Negro "condescending"?

Honestly ... it simply has too many negative past connotations.

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

Are African Americans Americans ? Or are they Africans who dont want to be Americans ? Or they they Americans who want to be Africans ?

Now do we have to call them Muslim African Americans ? or African Muslim Americans ?Or American Muslim Africans?

Im Scottish by ancestry But i dont walk around telling people im Scottish American AM I WRONG ? Should i be telling people im SCOTTISH AMERICAN when i greet them? I dont think so

But on to better things Ive asked this question of many black people i know and they cant seem to give me an answer either

How many blacks in prison CONVERT TO MUSLIM

How many are practicing Muslim before they go And what KORAN are they studying

Just some simple questions from an AMERICAN

[foreshadowed at waco]

The Muslims in Sudan and Mauritzania are still enslaving blacks but they're Christians so not too many black leaders seem to care...American black leaders seem afraid to ruffle Farrakhan's feathers since he takes money from these Muslim regimes...Sharpton did finally make a trip to Sudan last summer/fall to one-up Jesse Jackson who essentially doesn't give a rat's a$$ about slavery if there's no money in it for him...Sharpton was horrified but has not followed up on the issue in any serious public way...he can only get press by attacking the Louima cops I guess...profitability wins out over conviction again.

[RightWhale]

Most rappers follow the Islamic faith

How many are rappers? More than a couple dozen?

[Quester]

Alas, there is very little support for precision in language use these days.

Wait ... you wouldn't be any relation to the Learys of Baltimore, would you?

From "The Accidental Tourist" by Anne Tyler

When he hung up, he found Rose embarked on a discussion of the English language. She pretended not to notice that Macon had rejoined the group. It was shocking, she was just saying, how sloppy everyday speech had become. How the world seemed bound and determined to say "the hoi polloi", a clear redundancy in view of the fact that "hoi" was an article. How the word "chauvinist" had come to be a shorthand term for "male chauvinist," its original meaning sadly lost to common knowledge. It was incredible, Charles chimed in, that a female movie star traveled "incognito", when anyone should know that it was "incognita", instead. Julian appeared to share their indignation. It was more incredible still, he said, how everyone slung around the word 'incredible' when there really was very little on earth that truly defied credibility. "Credence", Macon corrected him, but Rose rushed in as if Macon hadn't spoken. "Oh, I know just what you mean," she said to Julian. "Words are getting devalued, aren't they?"