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Islam
Islam today
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1.6 billion Muslims
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Around 85% Sunni
2.1 billion Christians
900 million Hindus
375 million Buddhists
14 million Jews
Fastest growing religion
Multicultural
Largest Islamic population: Indonesia
– Followed by Pakistan, Bangladesh, India
– Less than 15% of Muslims are Arab
Origins
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Context: Arabia: polytheistic, tribal
Muhammad (570-632 CE)
– Qu’ran records revelations to Muhammad
– 610: vision of angel Gabriel
– Other stories of his sayings and actions
(Sunnah) recorded as Hadith
– Night of Ascension
– Unified Arabs and started missions out of Medina
and Mecca (622-632)
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Sees itself building on, correcting Judaism
and Christianity
Five Pillars
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Belief and witness
Daily prayer (5x)
Tithe (Zakat)
– Must give 2.5% of wealth to needy
– Shi’a give 20% of disposable income (half
to clergy, half to needy)
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Fasting
Pilgrimage (Hajj)
Jihad
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“Striving”
“Sixth pillar”
Types
– Greater: spiritual struggle
In self, for justice
 Many regard as the dominant type
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– Lesser: physical struggle
Islam in America
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About 2% of population (6 million)
– Fastest growing
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4 waves of immigration (Eck 248)
– Post-1965 largest
– 80% of mosques founded since 1976
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Challenges/opportunities
– Separation of church and state v. sharia
– Multicultural makeup of mosques
– Youth and culture (Eck 280ff)