Russia's Future Demographics

"Russia's overall population is dropping at a rate of 700,000 people a year, largely due to the short life spans and low birth rates of ethnic Russians.

The country's 2002 census shows that the national fertility rate is 1.5 children per woman, far below the 2.1 children per woman needed to maintain the country's population of about 143 million. The rate in Moscow is even lower, at 1.1 children per woman.

But Russia's Muslims are bucking that trend. The fertility rate for Tatars living in Moscow, for example, is six children per woman, " Goble said, "while the Chechen and Ingush communities are averaging 10 children per woman. And hundreds of thousands of Muslims from Tajikistan, Uzbekistand and Kazakhstan have been flocking to Russia in search of work.

Since 1989, Russia's Muslim population has increased by 40 percent to about 25 million. By 2015, Muslims will make up a majority of Russia's conscript army, and by 2020 a fifth of the population.

If nothing changes, in 30 years people of Muslim descent will definitely outnumber ethnic Russians," Goble said.

Russia's Future Demographics

"Russia's overall population is dropping at a rate of 700,000 people a year, largely due to the short life spans and low birth rates of ethnic Russians.

The country's 2002 census shows that the national fertility rate is 1.5 children per woman, far below the 2.1 children per woman needed to maintain the country's population of about 143 million. The rate in Moscow is even lower, at 1.1 children per woman.

But Russia's Muslims are bucking that trend. The fertility rate for Tatars living in Moscow, for example, is six children per woman, " Goble said, "while the Chechen and Ingush communities are averaging 10 children per woman. And hundreds of thousands of Muslims from Tajikistan, Uzbekistand and Kazakhstan have been flocking to Russia in search of work.

Since 1989, Russia's Muslim population has increased by 40 percent to about 25 million. By 2015, Muslims will make up a majority of Russia's conscript army, and by 2020 a fifth of the population.

If nothing changes, in 30 years people of Muslim descent will definitely outnumber ethnic Russians," Goble said.

God Doesn't Make Mistakes

Andrew Denton asked: "Do you believe there are no circumstances in which abortion is acceptable?"

Jennifer O'Neill answered: "No, there aren't - because God doesn't make mistakes."

God Doesn't Make Mistakes

Andrew Denton asked: "Do you believe there are no circumstances in which abortion is acceptable?"

Jennifer O'Neill answered: "No, there aren't - because God doesn't make mistakes."

Been Feeling Uncertain Lately?

You're in good company:


"I do not love God. I never did. Therefore I never believed, in the Christian sense of the word. Therefore I am only an honest heathen...And yet, to be so employed of God!"

- John Wesley, at the age of 63, in a letter to his brother

"I look back now over our decades together, and it's easy to see God's big plan. But of course, as we were making our way through it, there was a lot of confusion; there were a lot of questions. We didn't really know from day to day what God had in mind!"

- Oretha Hagin, RHEMA, in her husband Kenneth E. Hagin's eulogy

"Art thou He that should come, or look we for another?"

- John the Baptist's question to Christ, when he was in prison

And yet the Lord Jesus immediately said of him (John):

"Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist..."

"Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief."

- Paul the Apostle, in his old age, in a letter to Timothy, his own son in the faith

Paul's mind was:

"Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

Been Feeling Uncertain Lately?

You're in good company:


"I do not love God. I never did. Therefore I never believed, in the Christian sense of the word. Therefore I am only an honest heathen...And yet, to be so employed of God!"

- John Wesley, at the age of 63, in a letter to his brother

"I look back now over our decades together, and it's easy to see God's big plan. But of course, as we were making our way through it, there was a lot of confusion; there were a lot of questions. We didn't really know from day to day what God had in mind!"

- Oretha Hagin, RHEMA, in her husband Kenneth E. Hagin's eulogy

"Art thou He that should come, or look we for another?"

- John the Baptist's question to Christ, when he was in prison

And yet the Lord Jesus immediately said of him (John):

"Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist..."

"Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief."

- Paul the Apostle, in his old age, in a letter to Timothy, his own son in the faith

Paul's mind was:

"Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

Balancing Prayer with Praise

When we praise, God does something.