How exactly did the Times manage to discern that the children in question were believers.
The Times has a strange, scaremongery headline on its front page today warning (at least it comes across like a warning) of a ‘Rise in Muslim birthrate as families feel British’.
This is the sort of thing one expects from the likes of the Daily Mail and Express, so it feels rather strange to see it pasted across the front page of a respectable organ like the Times.
Without trying to guess the ‘motive’ of the paper’s headline writers, there is another problem with this article quite apart from it blurring the distinction between news and scaremongering about ‘birthrates’.
In the opening paragraph of the ‘story’, the Times says the following:
“Almost a tenth of babies and toddlers in England and Wales are Muslim, a breakdown of the census figures shows.”
What on earth is a “Muslim baby”?
What I mean to say is, can we not at least wait until a child is old enough to make their own mind up before we try to deduce with strand of theology they adhere to? I very much doubt it would be ok to write about Communist babies and Tory babies; so why, then, is it ok to do so with religion?
This sort of thing is not unique to Islam of course; and I can already hear the counter argument: that the children in question are ‘culturally’ Muslim rather than necessarily believers.
Again, though, if it is about culture rather than religion, would it be acceptable to label babies in this fashion based on the political ‘culture’ of their parents? I very much doubt it.
And anyway, in the third paragraph the Times has the following to say:
“One expert said it was foreseeable that Muslims who worshipped would outnumber practising Christians.”
So it isn’t about culture at all, but rather refers to practicing, worshipping and believing religion.
In which case I’d like to know how exactly the Times managed to discern that the children in question were believers.
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25 Responses to “What exactly is a ‘Muslim baby’?”
sarah ismail
A ‘Muslim baby’ is a baby born to Muslims. Being born Muslim, of course, does not necessarily mean that you will remain a Muslim once you are old enough to decide for yourself but, if you are born into any religion, your parents like to think that you will grow up to practice and believe it.
That’s why parents must have spoken for their babies/toddlers in the census.
You might think it is a badly phrased headline, but the point being made is clear, to me, at least.
bcarter007
people reverting to Islam exponentially outnumbers the converts out of Islam.
bcarter007
just like the empire fell so shall the small island of britian
Esa Soudbakhsh
Rugs, your intelligence is one of the most stupidest things I have read on the internet because by the time the child grows older, he will be able to think for himself whether he wants to stay in Islam or not. Ever thought of that? Human beings can think for themselves, apparently you had a birth disorder so your an exception to that.
Andrew Walker
The American foreign policy towards Muslim countries over the last 35 years has created a political and media narrative along the lines of “Islam is bad” as a smokescreen to get closer to controlling the oil supply since the oil crisis of the 70’s.
What this article serves, is to perpetuate ignorance amongst those who perhaps need to get out more.
I think Islam and Islamic culture has more to fear from some aspects of western neo liberalism and culture than the other way round.
Religious justification for bad behavior is never a good excuse.. Christian, Islam, Jew or Hindu.
all cultures can easily be labelled for a few flawed characters if you wanted to.
Where cultures clash in some ideals of human nature and behaviour, its usually under the banner of control or common sense.
Morals are a mechanism to reduce how much you hurt someone else through your actions.
The anxiety surrounding rising populations and birth rates, all competing for jobs, housing, food and resources is not a cultural or religious problem, but a wealth , equality & opportunity problem.
People from poor families tend to have more children than wealthier families, because it provides insurance in later life that there is someone to look after us.
that’s not fear, that’s family.
Family appears to be a concept that gets in the way of making money,
instead of the means of supporting a healthy family.
Islam isn’t the highest threat to cultural identity, ignorance and mistrust are.qq