Tross wrote:
I don't know much about Europe's political scene, but assuming it shares some similarities with the rest of the Western world, I assume it will be predominantly atheist by the next century, if it isn't already.
As for whether Muslims account for the bulk of the religious population however...I really can't say, but that probably depends largely on what percentage of the populations in various European countries will be from countries where Islam is the dominant religion. Sure, even a local white person could take up being a Muslim, but it's a hard sell to most of us. In the event that someone is to take up a religion, a simplified Protestant sect would probably be much more appealing as one will not have to adopt nearly as much in the way of doctrine and/or lifestyle changes.
Regardless, as long as laws continue to separate church and state and guarantee both freedom of religion, and freedom of absence of religion, I wouldn't worry too much about which religion is the most popular in a given country. If these Islamists start to have an influence on the law, that would be a different story...
Dude...learn to read between the lines please.
The issue is NOT conversion to Islam.
The issue is immigration to Europe of people from Muslim countries. From north Africa and mideast, and also to some extent immigration of Pakistanis in to the UK.
The alarmists (like America's Pat Buchanan) are worried that the low birth rate of native Europeans combined with large immigration of high birth rate people from Muslim countries. The alarmists are worried about the later group becoming so numerous (through the combination of immigration and continuing to have a high birth rate when the take up residence in Europe)that they will out number the historically Christian White population.
Also (though they never admit to this) one gets the impression that these alarmists are at least as concerned with skin color (ie race) as they are about religion. Its Europe turning brown that they...might...really be worried about...maybe.
Anyway...Pat Buchanan might answer you that so many Muslims are coming into Europe that they will outvote native White secular/Christians, and that they will vote for...Sharia law, and turn countries like France into Islamic Republics. But he is an alarmist.
Not saying that they are right. Just saying that is what the alarmists say that the issues are.
But you are right that it is indeed hard to extrapolate. Immigrants from the rural mideast to Urban Europe may become like all urban populations and go down in birth rate, they may also assimilate to the local culture ( become Christian, or become secular, or become atheist, or even become some mild progressive form of Islam).