Facts and figures
- There are 1.34 billion Muslims worldwide, according to the 2006 Encyclopaedia Britannica. This accounts for 20.4 per cent of the world's population.
- The faith is practised in 206 of 238 countries around the world.
- Most Muslims live in Africa or Asia. Roughly 40 per cent of Africans are Muslim.
- There are 33 million Muslims in Europe, out of a total population of 728 million.
- According to the 2001 census, 579,640 Canadians identify themselves as practising Muslims.
- The number of Muslims in Canada grew by 128 per cent between 1991 and 2001, making Islam the country's fastest-growing religion.
- Almost 61 per cent live of Canada's Muslims live in Ontario, while nearly 19 per cent live in Quebec.
- The faith was represented in each province and territory in the 2001 census.
Viewpoint and Analysis
Related Features
- IN DEPTHFaith-based schools
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- ARTSGeez, please
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- CBC RADIOTapestry
- A weekly exploration of spirituality, religion and the search for meaning
- IDEASUtopian wreckage
- Part 1
(Runs 31:01)
Part 2 (Runs 22:34)
The Faithful
My first name, Gurjung, connects two ideas — gur is the beginning of the word guru, and jung means conflict or struggle. So, put together, Gurjung is the conflict/struggle of life with the Gurus' teachings to guide.
The Faithful
In that moment, I got to see a glimpse of the godness of God — absolutely huge, mysteriously holding all of reality, powerfully sovereign over all things, providentially moving and loving it all.
The Faithful
To be a Canadian Hindu to me means to take nothing as absolute truth. Dharma, the social good, is necessarily dynamic and adapts to suit every society.
The Faithful
The rich history of Judaism is a compelling story. I wonder how we survived both internal strife and external threats. The story of Joseph is an example of the former and the Holocaust the latter.
The Faithful
Because the Dharma is so pervasive and eternal, it covers all situations. There is nothing on the news, in society, or in science that could ever bring doubt to my beliefs.
The Faithful
We were raised in the depths of the reserve by an Ojibwa father and a white mother. Sometimes that Sunday ritual of self-understanding and spiritual exposure meant going to a place called "the Lodge" almost right after church.
Our Radio Reports
- The World at Six, Jan. 11
- Eastern religions and the search for a relevant truth in a material age. (Runs 4:41) Listen
- The World at Six, Jan. 10
- Worship in the workplace, and the legal obligations for employers. (Runs 4:26) Listen
- World Report, Jan. 10
- When the interests of companies clash with the religious beliefs of their employees.
Listen: Part 1 (Runs 1:43) | Part 2 (Runs 1:45)
- The World at Six, Jan. 9
- The power of prayer in healing, and recovery from mental, physical and emotional illnesses.
Listen(Runs 4:52)
Your Comments
"By reading the descriptions of different religions, it appears the intent of 'religion' is to better ourselves, give answers and, most importantly, find peace within. If that really is the case, then can believing in a god do us any harm?" — Chris, Saskatchewan
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"One thing I hope for is that people keep asking God their hardest questions." — Geoff Rousseau
