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)

[Quester]

Just see my post #15.

Sigh ...

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

Sigh ...Tired?

[wildandcrazyrussian]

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. 31 posted on 3/6/02 2:41 PM Pacific by Quester
**********
In my experience, I have had fun telling such people that "by the way, did you know that Ethiopia (you know, eastern Africa) was a Christian nation centuries before Europe, AND almost a thousand years before the last white guys became officially Christian (that would be the Lithuanians, about 1380)"

"Hey, by the way, did you know that all the slave-traders in western Africa were Muslim? The white guys on ships didn't go more than a mile inland..."

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

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.

AHHHH HE$$ IM WITHYA MAN i get tired of the whole african ,chinese, somoan, korean,HYPHENATED AMERICAN thing myself

[FormerLib]

Considering that it was Islamic Arabs who were responsible for so much of the slave trade on the African continent, that Black Americans would consider embracing Islam seems like some sort of cruel cosmic joke.

[Rytwyng]

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

Generalizations exist because they are *generally* true. There's nothing wrong with generalizing, as long as you're accurate.

The fact that Blacks consistently vote ~90% liberal is very thoroughly documented. Ditto for the elevated rates of Black crime, bastardy, academic failure and drug use. Study after study has confirmed these grim realities -- it is simply not possible to dispute them.

I, bearing no ill will to the Black community, wish with all my heart that these things were NOT true -- but, they ARE. It may deeply wound Black self esteem to state these facts -- so much so, that any non-Black who mentions them is virtually sure to be called a racist -- but nothing ever got solved by ignoring proven facts.

I'd be surprised to learn that rappers are mostly Moslem, though. Never heard that one before.

So here we have experts ...in whatever the heck the black community is. As if it was a particular zip code.

Who is the Black community? You'll have to ask them. They use the term to describe their own subculture, I didn't invent it.

[Rytwyng]

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

Do babies cry in partial birth abortions? "Whatsoever ye do to the least of My brethern, that ye do unto Me"

BTW... the word "Democrat" literally means "Mob Rule"... It was Mob Rule that demanded Barabbas over Christ.

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

If they're willing to sell out a whole lot of other moral issues, in exchange for more of other people's money (which is itself a serious moral issue), who exactly ARE they serving? Ye cannot serve God and Mammon.

[Mixer]

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

Back in the late 80's early 90's was the worst of it. Public Enemy was the leader of all of the rappers that took the word of Allah to their music. They put down whites and they praise Muslim leaders that teach hatred.

[Mixer]

How many are rappers? More than a couple dozen?

The number may not be high but they are the voice of Black Youth. They preach Islam and they Preach that the White man is the devil. Sound familiar?

[Pay now bill Clinton]

Got any 'Ruby Ridge' photos to add to that?

[biblewonk]

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.

Strange looks from whites or blacks? If the latter, I'd be surprised. Otherwise I guess it's what I'd expect.

It really reminds me of a similar type of situation I have right here at work. The guy in the cube behind me is in a wheel chair. We have seldom spoken to each other and I feel uncomfortable around him because I don't want to hurt his feelings in any way. I always wonder if he will be annoyed at me for holding a door open for him or for not. It seems to me it could go either way. The thing is, we aren't close and have never talked about his chair and how he got there and how he deals with it. It is the same for blacks and whites who aren't close.

[Quester]

Actually, I was talking to my wife last night, and I noticed that neither of us felt any reluctance to describe a person we were referring to as either 'white' or 'black'. It seems that it's only when you're in mixed, that is, black and white, company that it can become an issue.

As an added note, there is also a reluctance among blacks, in my experience, to refer to whites as 'white' when in mixed company. At those times, it seems that it is expected that there is a better way to denote a person's racial heritage than by skin color. In those instances, the term 'caucasian' seems to be accepted better. Sometimes, the lengths I/we go to are quite extreme. For instance, I've descibed whites, on ocassion, in the following way ...

... he/she is of the majority persuasion.

It can be tough. I do hope we can all get past this at some point in the not-so-distant future.

[biblewonk]

Actually, I was talking to my wife last night, and I noticed that neither of us felt any reluctance to describe a person we were referring to as either 'white' or 'black'.

Yes, mixed company, or formal company especially in a PC work environment. It is similar to the whole sexual harassment overkill. Now we are afraid to even say female and we would never think of telling an Admin that her hair looks nice.

As an added note, there is also a reluctance among blacks, in my experience, to refer to whites as 'white' when in mixed company.

Now that I didn't know.

... he/she is of the majority persuasion.

LOL! That is a good one.

It can be tough. I do hope we can all get past this at some point in the not-so-distant future.

I'm sure that it will never go away. Prejudice is a sin just like all the rest. It is a fundamental part of being a fallen, sinful human being. It goes all ways and across all human differences.

[Iambeautiful]

I want to first say thank you in saying that your comment should be taken with salt.
I am a Muslim who happens to be related to many of those Muslims in the "Muslim of the Americas" group you are speaking of. I am not sure if you are aware of it by now, but many Americans who were Muslim, regardless of race or origin of birth were arrested around this time in the same way that many people were accused of being communists not too long ago. Thankfully, all of the people that I knew of directly , (Including Sheikh Jilani were acquitted of the charges). I am also thankful that you noticed that they are going neighbors and try to be good Americans.
In reference to the other person who replied to your comment if they have read history, it is not uncommon for ANY group that feels oppressed or feels like outsiders to flock to a belief system that tells them they are equal or superior. In earlier time of Christianity, not lost after Jesus left this earth, many groups that felt they were oppressed flocked to Christianity. If it was not so hard to convert to Judaism, I think many would do so. In case no on knew, (and PBS made a children's special with this in mind) Islam was in America for a very long time. There were Muslims on the boat with Columbus (Spain was a Muslim country before the crusades) one of the Muslims was a noted scientist. There are entire tribes of Native Americans who learned Islam behind this. Many of the Africans who were brought over as slaves still secretly practiced Islam. Furthermore, even though it is true that most of the newly converted Muslims are of African descent. I have known quite a few "white" Muslims who converted from Catholicism or Judaism. Many ignorant people assume that they are Arab or something once they grow the beard or wear a veil. The ones who do not wear the Muslim garb do not announce that they are Muslim so that either they will not be singled out or that they can enjoy the privileges of their status in this country.
Lastly, please remember, during slavery many Native Americans and African Americans were forced slavery. Furthermore Christianity was used to justify many of the atrocities that were caused in this country that have allowed all of us as Americans to live this "better" life that we live. I think that before anyone judges what is correct they should first ask themselves if they are correct.
I thank you once again for your view. At least you have a much more open mind than some. And you can't get any answers without asking questions.

[Buffettfan]

No, but Louis Farra(con) is choosing Islam for African Americans. BTW, both the "Nation of Islam" and the "New Black Panther Party" are listed as hate groups on the Southern Poverty Law Center website. Both of these hate groups sponsored the rally in DC yesterday and the MSM and republican politicians are silent.

http://www.splcenter.org/intel/map/hate.jsp?T=17&m=3

[aruanan]

Are African-Americans Choosing Islam Over Christianity?

Not if they're Sudanese who have immigrated from Sudan because of the depredations of the Muslims.

[ßuddaßudd]

[R. Scott]

Most rappers follow the Islamic faith.

They also apparently embrace the gangsta life style. Should it be unusual for them to also embrace the Religion of Slavery? It’s probably mostly PR to show how radical they are.