"For the first time in history we are no longer at the top: the Muslims have overtaken us," [Monsignor Vittorio] Formenti told Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano in an interview, saying the data referred to 2006.
(via Drudge Report)
Update: More Muslims than Catholics...again by Razib at Gene Expression
(via M. Z. Hemingway at Get Religion)
I am surprised to see this considered the "first time in history" surley around the time of the battle of Tours, when Catholic Europe was limited only to a few pockets of France, Italy, Ireland, and western Germany, Muslims outnumbered Catholics, likewise, in the high phase of the reformation when even Poland and Austria were Protestant (but before major missionary efforts in the New World had taken place) Muslims outnumbered Catholics.
ReplyDeletewhen Catholic Europe was limited only to a few pockets of France, Italy, Ireland, and western Germany, Muslims outnumbered Catholics
ReplyDeleteunlikely. when tours went down it seems likely that muslims were around 10% of the population of the territories under the caliphate. it seems likely that muslims didn't suprass catholics until the 10th century when the majority in places like iran switchd to islam.