The Islamization of Europe?

I've read several articles on several websites lately about "the Islamization of Europe". To summarize, according the majority of those articles, Europe in the last century (1900-2000) has gone from being a virtually Christian populated continent to a continent with a sizable Muslim minority, which is growing at a very fast rate. (Where did the Muslims immigrate to Europe from?)

Europe has been a predominantly Christian continent since Constantine was the emperor of the Roman Empire over 1500 years ago (southern Spain notwithstanding). That being the case, what effects will a Muslim minority have in European countries (or the E.U.) as it continues to grow? How long until many European countries have a Muslim/Christian 50/50 split, or even a Muslim majority? How will this effect U.S.-E.U. relations as it continues to develop in future decades, especially given the war on Muslim terrorists going on worldwide right now?

I'm very curious about this issue, and thought that ATS was the perfect place to turn for opinions and ideas. What do you ATS members in Europe think about this issue? As an American in the U.S., I can only read about what's going on in Europe from the outside in...

I really don't see why there has to be any drama attatched to Muslims emmigrating to Europe. In Toronto there are parts of the city that are predominantly Chinese, others Hindu. It happens and there are few problems involved. Those countries will still be Christian, with pockets of other cultures in them. Personally, I see that as a good thing. I've worked with many of these immigrants and have gained knowledge of the world that I would need a limitless credit card to get.

Intrepid, there wouldn't be any drama, if the immigrants were happy to settle into another culture and adopt, in some ways, its lifestyle.

This is true for Hindus and Chinese, the respect the cultures they are in (as far as I have seen) and try to fit in with others of that culture.

However this situation is NOT happening with some of the Muslims in Europe - a vocal minority of them I suspect.

Instead of changing their lifestyle to fit into their adopted countires, they demand that the locals of the country change to adapt to THEIR beliefs.

There are many examples of this in the media, to such an extent in England where some muslims wnt to fight against the British forces or demand a muslim overthrow of England itself.

You don't have to go far in society to see this refusal to adapt to the local laws and customs, from refusal to be photographed without a full hajib for female drivers, to students refusing to attend a class when the teacher wore shorts in the middle of summer.

Eventually it will create a backlash, when the people will start to say "enough is enough", and when Al Quaeda step over the mark. (Of course this may never happen in spineless spain, where people would rather capitualate to terrorist demands than stand on their rights)

NC, we are having the same problem with certain "gangs" from a Caribean island and the differing factions from Sri Lanka. Those that continue their practices are thrown in jail, then deported. Can"t these developed nations of Europe not police this problem?

Originally posted by intrepid
NC, we are having the same problem with certain "gangs" from a Caribean island and the differing factions from Sri Lanka. Those that continue their practices are thrown in jail, then deported. Can"t these developed nations of Europe not police this problem?

Not since the 1930's and 1940's. Why? Because of the stain the Nazi party left on national politics. To this day, Every western nation(and a few eastern ones) have been terrified of seeming too "Nazi-esque" As soon as a nation starts sticking to its' original ideals and not cowtowing to every foreign idea and demand(no matter how dangerous and ludicrous) that their minorities make, someone always starts yelling, "NAZIS'!, NAZIS!" It's using a sort of guilt card.

"Oh no! they're calling us Nazis'! We must give in to their demands, lest everyone think we are a oppressive Gov."

Kinda the equivalent of calling a dude "Gay". There is really no defence for it. Once it's out there, it never leaves. And there is no way to deny it without sounding like a bigot(Nazi).

I have a theory that, much like the once hated witches and communists, calling yourself a Nazi, and acting like a Nazi, will become the next big trend. All those people who call themselves witches and Communists because they think they are going against society( and thus, being a cool individual) will someday be wearing swastikas, and saying seig heil, all the while calling everyone who doesn't do these things "Sheep".