Islam is growing among former American Christians.
According to a global study, the majority of conversions to Islam occur in America among those who have been raised as Christians.
Illustrative image
Generated by AI
[social-share align=»right» style=»button» mobile_app=»desktop»]
[social-share align=»center» style=»icon» mobile_app=»mobile»]
A new report published by the Pew Research Center March 2025 reveals a little-known trend: Islam is gaining followers in America, especially among people raised in Christianity.. In a global context marked by the rise of atheism and religious disaffection, Islam surprises with its ability to retain its members and attract new converts.
Globally, countries such as Spain, Sweden, Germany, the United States and Italy have experienced very high net losses of the Christian population. In Spain, for example, a 36% of adults have abandoned Christianity, while only 3% have joined. This phenomenon is particularly intense. in high-income countries, where ex-Christians often declare themselves atheists, agnostics or non-religious.
According to the study, the The majority of conversions to Islam take place in America. (North and South), and the 13% of the new Muslims interviewed They state that they were brought up as Christians.. This phenomenon challenges the traditional perception of the American continent as an exclusively Christian bastion.
Christianity and Buddhism are losing followers, Islam is retaining them.
The survey analyses 36 countries around the world and shows how many religions are losing followers. In particular, the Protestant Christianity and the Buddhism show very high dropout rates, while other traditions, such as Catholicism or Hinduism, are also affected by religious change.
On the other hand, Islam stands out for an almost unprecedented stability.. In the vast majority of the countries analysed, almost all adults who were raised as Muslims continue to identify as such. This high retention rate, together with occasional conversions in certain regions, contributes to the net growth of the Muslim population.
America: the focus of conversions to Islam
Although the global conversion rate to Islam is relatively low, the case of the American continent is particularly noteworthy. It is here that it is concentrated. the bulk of the conversions, and a large proportion of new Muslims come from Christian families. This trend is observed both in the United States and in other countries on the continent.
A 2020 survey indicated that 91 per cent of converts to Islam in the US were Latino., a notable increase compared with the 51 per cent recorded in 2017. These conversions mainly involve people of Mexican or Puerto Rican origin, but also extend to other Latin American countries.
Why do they convert?
The report does not go into the exact causes, but points to factors such as the spiritual search, the identity crises, or the Visibility and activism of Muslim communities as possible explanations for the phenomenon.
A hypothesis is the family contextalmost One third of Hispanic families in the US are single-parent., often led by single mothers, while Muslim families show Lower divorce rates. This family stability can be attractive.
Even so, Most converts cite spiritual rather than social reasons.. According to data from Pew and the survey on Latino Muslims, one 95% cited monotheism as the main reason for conversion., and a 94% stood out. desire for a direct connection with God.
This silent growth could have medium- and long-term consequences for both the religious balance and the cultural and identity debates in Western societies.
More Perceptions of
.
ERC, PSC and Comuns oppose combating political Islam in the European Parliament.
Azerbaijan expels students who wear Islamic headscarves from school
Sharia law in the US is supported by 75% of Muslims, 41% of atheists and up to 20% of Christians.
France now has a halal meat supply without the need to sacrifice animals facing Mecca.
The United Kingdom gives away a thousand hijabs in six months to immigrants arriving via the Channel
US Muslim politicians train Canadian Muslims under the slogan "From the mosque to the city hall"«
Teacher fired in Austria for denying a Muslim woman a prayer room
Canadian government normalizes Islamic prayer during workday
Lleida bans the burqa except if worn for religious reasons
Italy bans burqa and niqab but only in schools
The Generalitat pays tribute to the racist Abu Bakr al-Turtuxí as an anti-racist icon
A student residence in Scotland imposes Islamic law in common areas
Kazakhstan threatens to close private schools that allow hijab
A Catholic university in Belgium incorporates Islamic chants into the opening mass of the course
A Muslim family in Granada chooses a Catholic school and demands that the courts teach Islam there
Phrase of the Week
Image of the Week
-Don't you have cousins?