“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” George Santayana, 1863-1952

This proverb has been quoted by innumerable history teachers to some of their less-than-willing students. Thus, a look at the current movement of Islam in Europe begins with a brief look backward. One war stopped Islam in its tracks, while another war threw open the gates of Europe to the religion. Afterward, four major reasons will be given as to why Europe is becoming increasingly Islamic.

Leading up to the 8th century AD, a vast Muslim army had ravaged the remains of the Roman Empire. In October of 732, this army tried to push into the heart of Europe by fighting its way up the Iberian Peninsula. The Muslim army, led by Emir Abd er Rahman, was met by Frankish leader Charles Martel on October 25 at a site called Tours. The Frankish army succeeded in beating the Muslim army and killing their leader, Abd er Rahman. In this way the advance of Islam was stopped, and Christianity became the dominant religion in medieval Europe.

However, another war served to open Europe to a new Muslim invasion, of sorts. World War II had left Europe decimated. Major cities were prime bombing targets as factories, public works, and roadways were destroyed. Vast numbers of young men and women were killed in war and at home. For this reason European governments, hoping to shore up their devastated economies, invited people from outside of Europe to come and work temporarily. Algerians, Moroccans, Turks, and Pakistanis flooded France, Spain, Germany, and the UK. Many of these new immigrants were Muslims, and consequently brought Islam into Europe in a massive flood.

These Muslims put down roots, but were not integrated into mainstream European society. In this manner Islamic communities and sub-cultures grew as the immigrant workers brought friends to Europe and started their own families.

As the decades passed and Europe stabilized, refugees from neighboring countries or regions flocked to Europe. Muslims who hoped to get away from the troubled region of the Balkans traveled to Germany, France, and the UK in droves. People trying to flee warfare or oppressive rulers came out of Africa. Refugees even came from “Islamic” countries where the government was run by Muslims from a different sect.

During the period of time these events have covered, the birth rate of non-Islamic Europeans had been declining greatly. Anthropologists have suggested that the “replacement rate” for children is 2.1 children born for every woman of a society (the fraction is necessary to account for accidental deaths and disease.) However, Europe’s culture of the last half century has made it unfashionable to have a large family, or even what we Americans would call a small- to medium-sized family. Germany’s birth rate stands at 1.3 children per woman. Italy has the lowest birth rate of all developed nations, at 1.2 children per woman. Moreover, the Italian city of Bologna quite possibly has the lowest birth rate in the world, at 0.8 children per woman. (Information taken from Citizen magazine.) Such a decline in new, native European births has only served to spur more and more immigrants and refugees to come to Europe, each one looking for a new life.

The final factor in the spread of Islam into Europe has been conversion. Although the majority of Muslims in Europe have settled in their own Muslim communities, more and more people are converting to Islam. Church attendance in the Lutheran churches of Germany has fallen off greatly, and the churches are largely made up of people age 55 or older. When asked why, a native of Germany replied: “People say that a war will either make or break a person’s faith. World War II broke a lot of people, and Germany just hasn’t recovered.” The religion of Islam, with the apparent control it gives a person over his own salvation, has proven to be an attractive lure in this tumultuous world.

In this way, World War II has perhaps given the religion of Islam a foothold—and a handhold—in what may become a vast European cultural shift. The implications of this cultural shift will push to the forefront of American politics over the next generation. Even though the Muslims were stopped at the Battle of Tours, a battle that took place almost thirteen centuries ago will do no more for Europe. A war that took place sixty years ago may do too much for the world.

(Sources included: US News & World Report; Christian Science Monitor; Council on Foreign Relations; Wikipedia Encyclopedia; Citizen Magazine [a division of Focus on the Family])

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