Saturday, January 29, 2011

What will the Muslim population look like in 2030?

Krista Tippett, host of the popular public radio show On Being, cites a recent 20-year forecast of the size and distribution of the world's Muslim population.  The study released by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life presents some thought-provoking graphics. Notice the birthrates in Muslim countries (twice that of non-Muslim countries) and the corresponding low education levels afforded Muslim women. Read the article and see the graphics (HERE)


I particularly like the way the Pew study dovetails with Greg Mortenson's work. Mortenson, recently a Walden University commencement speaker, is director of the Central Asia Institute. His passion for building schools and supporting community-based education, especially for girls, in remote areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan is documented in his books, "Three Cups of Tea" and "Stones Into Schools."


Helen Keller said, "The aim of education is tolerance." If so, then Mortenson may be on to something. Providing Muslim girls with an opportunity for education is a path to peace on Earth.



No comments:

Post a Comment