Telling truth from myth


The internet is a fabulous resource but beware, it is also full of MYTHS and LIES. 

There is a myth floating around that I have now read in a number of blogs (spreading the fear) that Muslims in the USA will outnumber Christians by 2050 because they have larger families. 

This is created to demonise Muslims and to create fear. 

It simply isn't true and when you think about it, it doesn't add up. Don't take these sorts of "facts" at face-value, it doesn't take very much to look at the data and see that it can't be true. 

The average family size in the USA (total population) is 2.58. In Australia it is 2.6.

The international average size of a Muslim family is 2.9 (in 2010) compared to 4.3 in 1995. The current figure is probably even lower.

Muslims living in France and Germany are now having only 2.2 children per family, barely above the national average of those countries.

In Turkey the average family size in 2.15 and in Lebanon it is 1.86. Muslims in their own countries are not having large families as they once did and this partly the result of  education and improve circumstance of women. Those Muslims who are producing larger families tend to be very poor, uneducated and the least likely to move to another country i.e. those living in Pakistan. 

Fertility rates around the world are declining and demographers are seeing this in particular in third world countries. The more educated a woman is, the fewer children she has. This is very true in places like Africa. We are also seeing less infant deaths and as a result women aren't having as many babies as their children are surviving. 

Interestedly, when new migrants arrive in the first-world nation (such as the USA, Canada and Australia), they don't keep on having large families as they might have done in their own country. Their family size starts to reflect the national average. Across Europe, the difference between the Muslim and non-Muslim fertility rates has fallen from 0.7 to 0.4 and is heading towards a continent-wide convergence. Basically Muslim and non-Mulsim women will have the same fertility rates.

Muslims are not going to take over America with their "very large" families, simply because they don't have very large families.

This information is totally incorrect.

But more disturbing, we are seeing Americans moving away from Christianity (now around 34,169,000 people), however they aren't moving to Islam rather to no faith at all.

Secondly, our fear of Muslims is mostly due to the radicalised Muslims we are currently seeing within ISIS, most are not. Many who move to the west often do so to escape from radical Islam, the same reason why Christians escape places like Iraq and Iran.

So the next time you read a statistic that appears to be created to create fear - think twice before you share it around (as that simply shares the lie) and think about the facts. And don't assume the statistics are some government conspiracy or lie - the USA, Canada, UK, European countries and Australia produce very sound statistics. It is those that "tell a story" to suit their argument resulting in mis-useing information to create fear amoung the vulnerable and frightened. 


Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself'

(Matthew 22:37-39)

*****

Comments

  1. There are SO many lies going around. Actually, on that subject, people's lives are full of lies these days - often even those who are believers because exaggerations and jokes are often lies and even sayings and things people say habitually are lies. This was brought to my attention last year when I was reading a book and since then I have noticed it everywhere I go! For example, people say "just a sec" or "just a minute" to someone (with no intention of taking only a second or minute) and then proceed to take 10 minutes (or however long). People are not being as good as their word. Or people say, "That felt good!" when their finger got caught in the door - they are being sarcastic of course, but I came to realise that Satan has been very clever at making so many of us into liars through sarcasm, jokes and common sayings etc. It's something to think about because exaggerations (like Muslims overtaking other populations) are also lies - and yet exaggerations are a common part of conversation without anyone blinking an eye at the lies they are speaking. It really is a victory for Satan - and even Christians will try to excuse themselves from lies spoken in jest or through sarcasm... but I think God takes these things very seriously (and it is possible to have fun and laughter without having to lie!).
    "Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour." (Proverbs 14:9)
    "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" (Isaiah 5:20)

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    1. Some people have this desire to spread mis-truths just to support their argument (and agenda) and never assume that anyone will question the “facts” and sadly no one seems to. I have read many mis-truths and sometimes (if I have the time) will respond. I always think it is important to teach children how to research and look up “facts” so they can confirm if they are reading facts or just lies.

      People do need to work on being honest to each other, it might make the community a much nicer place to live in:)

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    2. PS it is interesting when I write about these topics because I get very few comments but quite a few visits. I sometimes wonder if I make some people annoyed by revealing the truth which they don't want revealed.

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  2. Thank you for sharing this post with us at Good Morning Mondays. You are so right that we should really back up all the information that we receive before spreading it around. We have a friend who forwards on emails regarding the above subject and others and when you look into the topics we find that they just aren't true. We need to be so careful about what we read and then believe. Very well written, thank you. Blessings

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    1. As I just wrong to the lady below - some people are attracted to these sorts of facts because they want to “hear” this sort of information to support their argument. The other one going about and has been for ages is the one about the world population but its too long and complicated to respond to that one so I have never bothered. It is sounds odd when first hearing it, it is likely to be inaccurate!!

      Hoping you are having a wonderful week :))

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  3. Well, that was a new one on me. I hadn't heard it before. Ugh. So many scare tactics these days to try to control people for various reasons. I can easily see this falling into the "Quiverfull" agenda to push Christians with the "need" to have more children and thus "take over the world for Jesus." Sad and frustrating.

    It's so important to check facts. I try to do it, but don't always remember to search some things out as diligently as I probably should. A good reminder. It also makes me think of this verse: Proverbs 14:15 The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.

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    1. You hit the nail on the head with your comment about “quiver full” agenda, because that is where I have heard it - from those pushing large families. I know it can be hard at times to check facts but often that don’t sound right but sadly people are attracted to them because they want to “hear” this sort of information to support their argument. The verse from proverbs is spot on :)

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  4. Thank you for this. It is my love/hate relationship with the internet. I'm forever checking out posts to test them for truth. I won't like or share anything until 1. I check its truth. and 2. Decide if it's simply intended to spread hatred and fear. Truth gives freedom. Thanks for pointing us in that direction. Blessings!

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    1. I often check peoples comments to see how true they are and if they are only pushing a viewpoint of hate. I find it very sad when Christians do it because it goes completely against "Love thy neighbour". Thanks for dropping by :))

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  5. Thank-you for posting the truth. A few years ago I was approached by a family visiting Fairbanks, Alaska, from the Middle East. They were wealthy business owners with two children. They asked us if we were like the Duggar Family like they'd seen on TV. We explained to them that we probably had some similarities in that we both read our Bibles and love Jesus but have differing beliefs and opinions. We do have lots of children simply because they are beautiful gifts from God and we enjoy them. We don't have hidden agenda's. After talking with this family, the Mother took me aside and shared with me that she was a Christian and her husband was Muslim and she was almost in tears to have spent a few minutes just fellowshipping with another Christian mom on American soil. I told her I'd pray for her. The story continues... it's too long for a comment, I'm sorry. I'll just post a blog and link to your article too if that's OK because I think there are some really important lessons here for all of us and our preconceived ideas. I've also felt the brunt of this just from choosing to have lots of children. Thanks again for sharing, Jeannie

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    1. We can never tell a book by its cover and that goes for people as well. And we all need to remember the bible verse “You shall love your neighbour as yourself”, because by spreading these negative hateful comments means that we are not following this very important commandment. Your story sounds very interesting and one of promise, thankyou so much for sharing.

      I can imagine the comments you get for having a large family - this is such a personal decision and others should not be commenting at all - for families with only one child all the way through to those like yourself with larger families :))

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  6. Such an important point -- don't believe everything you read, and don't look for statistics to justify your own fears/beliefs!!

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  7. Very interesting. In regards to some fear mongering emails, I typically try to do a little research before sharing. Sometimes on snopes.com in the case of those "warning" emails.

    {Pinned and Visiting from #SmallVictoriesSundayLinkup - hope to see you link up again!}

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    1. I agree, it is important to check these fear mongering comments and blogs as they aren't interested in facts generally. Thanks for stopping by.

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