Mosque project stirs concerns about the integration of Islam in Germany

[guyabano]

Is Germany a Christian country then?

Protestants (concentrated in the north and east) and Roman Catholics (concentrated in the south and west) each comprise about 31% of the population. The current Pope, Benedict XVI, was born in Bavaria. In total, more than 55 million people officially belong to a Christian denomination. Non-religious people, including atheists and agnostics amount to 28.5% of the population, and are especially numerous in the former East Germany. About three million Muslims live in Germany. Most are Sunnis and Alevites from Turkey, but there are a small number of Shiites. Germany has Western Europe's third-largest Jewish population. In 2004, twice as many Jews from former Soviet republics settled in Germany as in Israel, bringing the total Jewish population to more than 200,000, compared to 30,000 prior to German reunification. Large cities with significant Jewish populations include Berlin, Frankfurt and Munich. According to the Deutsche Buddhistische Union (German Buddhist Union), an umbrella organisation of the Buddhist groups in Germany, there are about 250,000 active Buddhists in Germany; 50% of them are immigrated Asians.

Out of Wikipedia

I would say, yes, dominance is christian

and oh, btw, this would be this famous cathedral in Cologne, pretty impressive

 

[Malaikah]

I would like to hear muslims opinions, if christians would like to build a huge catherdral in Mekkah ! Then, where would be again the so-called muslim tolerance, while 'westerners' must swallow everything? Pffffft...

It is called separation of state and Church... I know westerners love it, but they don't seem too good at swallowing fact that it means Muslims have as much right to build mosques as Christians do to build churches now do they?

Question- Is Germany a country run by Christian law? As far as I know, it is not. So comparing to Makkah is completely pointless.

Protestants (concentrated in the north and east) and Roman Catholics (concentrated in the south and west) each comprise about 31% of the population. The current Pope, Benedict XVI, was born in Bavaria. In total, more than 55 million people officially belong to a Christian denomination. Non-religious people, including atheists and agnostics amount to 28.5% of the population, and are especially numerous in the former East Germany.

Wow, there are almost as many religion-less people as there are Christians!! Hardly Christian at all!

 

[snakelegs]

is it christian by definition? u.s. is majority christian also, but is not a christian country. we have separation of church and state, though far from perfect.
also - how can you look down on a group of people and then complain about them not assimilating?
is a child of a turk who was born in germany recognized as a german citizen - equal to all other germans?

 

[guyabano]

So comparing to Makkah is completely pointless.

Thank you, this was the kind of answers I expected

 

[ahsan28]

hmmm, I think, you have to review your info. I was curious, and I google that from Mohamed in Amsterdam. Here is the result from a netherland Webpage:

Now where is this Mohamed ? For the rest, I didn't even google,...http://www.voornamelijk.nl/index.html"]Source

The writer is talking about Muslims.

The writer further states

If you ever wanted to see Paris or Rome before you die, but haven't had a chance to do so, you might want to hurry. Soon enough, most of what we now think of as Western Europe will be transformed into a branch of the Muslim world.

So if you really want to see the Eiffel Tower up close, you had best not delay. Before you know it, it might just turn into a minaret.




By MICHAEL FREUND
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?apage=2&cid=1167467696394&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull



Well, you may disagree with the writer, that exactly is the essence of democracy

 

[snakelegs]

this article sounds to me like fear mongering. beware the muslim menace! ;D

 

[snakelegs]

guy,
would you please answer my questions? thanks.

 

[guyabano]

is it christian by definition? u.s. is majority christian also, but is not a christian country. we have separation of church and state, though far from perfect.
also - how can you look down on a group of people and then complain about them not assimilating?
is a child of a turk who was born in germany recognized as a german citizen - equal to all other germans?

I don't look down on anybody. I just see the thread out from the architectural point of view, as it was also mentionned in the OP.
For those who know Cologne and its history and architecture, a big mosque with dome and minarets will hardly fit in. I'm not against a house of worship for muslims and neither the citizens of Cologne, but I'm pretty sure, it should be a more descent mosque.

Yes a turk born in Germany can have double citizenship, German and Turk (as far as I know)

 

[snakelegs]

what's indecent about a mosque? europe is changing.
also, i repeat - if a turkish resident has a baby born in germany, is that child considered an equal citizen?
ooops - i see you answered that. can you check it out to be sure? because i have read different.

 

[Uthman]

http://www.islamicboard.com/world-affairs/39736-can-germany-learn-live-islam.html

 

[Malaikah]

Thank you, this was the kind of answers I expected

Maybe if you stop to think about the difference between a secular country and a country rule by religious law you can reply with a more meaningful post.

Anyway, I'm more concerned about the fact they are using $20 million to build this mosque. What are they going to do, gold plate the walls?

 

[guyabano]

The writer is talking about Muslims.

The writer further states

If you ever wanted to see Paris or Rome before you die, but haven't had a chance to do so, you might want to hurry. Soon enough, most of what we now think of as Western Europe will be transformed into a branch of the Muslim world.

So if you really want to see the Eiffel Tower up close, you had best not delay. Before you know it, it might just turn into a minaret.




By MICHAEL FREUND
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?apage=2&cid=1167467696394&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull



Well, you may disagree with the writer, that exactly is the essence of democracy

[sarcastic on] yeahh, sure !

[sarcastic off]

 

[snakelegs]

is germany a christian country by definition? (no separation of church and state)?

 

[Amadeus85]

The presence of muslim immigrants will help Europeans to go back to their faith and tradition.

 

[Amadeus85]

is germany a christian country by definition? (no separation of church and state)?

Of course not. Germany has secular constitution.
In my opinion they should have mentioned in consitution special rights and priveleges for christian heritage. But thats just my opinion ^o)

 

[Malaikah]

If you are right, then they didn't, so they have no right to whine? Right?

Does any country have "special rights and priveleges for christian heritage", by the way?

 

[Amadeus85]

Does any country have "special rights and priveleges for christian heritage", by the way?

Its a good question. I think that there is no such country. :uuh: At least i cant say any now. Maybe in future it will be necessary.

 

[Suomipoika]

It is called separation of state and Church... I know westerners love it, but they don't seem too good at swallowing fact that it means Muslims have as much right to build mosques as Christians do to build churches now do they?

Yes. But like in the many "school and the veil" threads, muslims have to follow the same rules as everyone else. I dont really know how it is in Germany, but here in Finland we reject building permits for buildings that would change the city landscape drastically.

Wow, there are almost as many religion-less people as there are Christians!! Hardly Christian at all!

Actually, there is twice as many christians as non-religious, protestants and catholics each have 31%.

i don't know what the germans mean by "integration".
correct me if i'm wrong, but i think even the children of turkish are not recognized as german citizens, even though they were born in germany!
ugly.

Untrue for any child whose atleast one parent has been living legally in Germany for over 8 years. I also wonder whats wrong in not giving citizenship automatically for children born to foreign parents.

More information here: http://www.justlanded.com/english/germany/tools/just_landed_guide/visas_permits/citizenship

 

[Cognescenti]

and oh, btw, this would be this famous cathedral in Cologne, pretty impressive

That is searingly beautiful, although that building to the left of frame looks architecturally discordant already as does the one with the TV tower in the background. I think a lot of Cologne was rebuilt after WWII?

 

[Cognescenti]

Originally Posted by Malaikah View Post

Does any country have "special rights and priveleges for christian heritage", by the way?

I think Catholics have a big leg-up to all the high positions in the Vatican