Posted on 03/06/2002 11:55:55 AM PST by 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)
Retarded question. Most blacks are Christian; Baptist, Methodist, AME, CME, AME Zion and other various smaller denominations. NOI is well down the line there, and traditional Islam is well down the list.
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I refuse to ever say "african american" …
It's easy to be offended if you wish to be.
If you notice the black comedians and rappers who seem to be anti-establishment ("white") make alot of money. If you notice many of their fans are white children trying to piss of their parents. It was the same with jazz and the blues and disco funk. From Fats Domino to the Fat Boys and so on. This country is about dollar and not race. Race is just a tool used by those in power to separate those not in power. Those not in power just fall for it. If the middle class and poor whites would ban together with their non white counterparts ,the politicians would be in trouble!
Uneducated or non wealthy whites face a sort of discrimination among affluent , "establisment" white as well. Just not as defined. Not to mention it is more likely for a family to accept a poor white girl of the same race (you can always lie about her background) than a black (black is too easy to notice). The Irish , Italian, and Jews used to face more discrimination than they did until the WASPS realized they needed more people on their side.
The prophet also did not treat his servants as they did in America. They also had the possibility of freedom.
a "native American" is ANYBODY born in the Americas.
free dixie,sw
As a muslim, I have some of the same questions about the muslim prison population. My feeling is that they same way that Homosexuals can consider themselves as Gay American and Jews note their difference as a proud group I should be able to say Muslim American. But it would be nice if we could ALL just be American.
sniff
Unless the libs use it, as in United Negro College Fund.
"Colored" is racist, unless used by National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
"Black" is bad too, unless used by the Congressional Black Caucus.
I predict one day they will decide that AFrican-American is racist too, because to link American blacks with the hellhole that is AFrica is to say that blacks come from a loser continent....which is racist.
the rest of their time is spent trying to get ANYBODY to CARE what that bunch of IDIOTS, REVISIONISTS & LEFTISTS think.
Morris Dees has been known to say that the Sons of Confederate Veterans & the National Rifle Assn are MORE DANGEROUS than Al Qaida. (he's a nothing more than a (leftist) NUT imVho. Dees was quoted, on CNN several years ago, as saying that BILL CLINTON was the GREATEST American who ever lived!)
free dixie,sw
Because that day is now over.
If you want a Google GMail account, FReepmail me.
They're going fast!
1. a "parrothead",
2. a constant denizen of the "all you can eat" places
3. OR are you BOTH????
inquiring minds want to know.
free dixie,sw
Iambeautiful
Since Oct 16, 2005
This thread is three years old. Hmmmm....
how are you doing this fine SUNNY Sunday???
free dixie,sw
"Why is Negro "condescending"?
Because that day is now over."
Negro is Spanish for black, are you saying the language of Latinos day is now over? Remember they are our largest minority.
Did I mention anything about the Spanish language, neo-confederate? Don't even attempt to switch my words around.
If you want a Google GMail account, FReepmail me.
They're going fast!
"Did I mention anything about the Spanish language, neo-confederate? Don't even attempt to switch my words around."
Name caller, name caller Na Na na na na na
Name caller, name caller Na Na na na na na
How Childish
Besides it's neener neener neener LOL
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