# Only 1,4% of Iranians goes to mosque **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 27, 2006, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/only-1-4-of-iranians-goes-to-mosque/370444 "2006-08-27T19:35:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wildfire\_MM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f08c70/32.png) [@Wildfire\_MM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wildfire_MM)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2006, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/only-1-4-of-iranians-goes-to-mosque/370444/1 "2006-08-27T19:35:35Z")
According to this swedish article, only 1,4% of iranian goes to friday prayer > [@](#): > > Siffror från kulturministeriet visar att bara 1,4 procent av iranierna går på fredagsbönen. 1,4 procent! [http://www.expressen.se/index.jsp?a=643755](http://www.expressen.se/index.jsp?a=643755) Translated: “numbers from Ministry of culture shows that only 1,4% of iranians visits friday prayer” If these figures are correct, it means that iranians are far less religious and fanatic than assumed by world wide media? ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2006, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/only-1-4-of-iranians-goes-to-mosque/370444/2 "2006-08-27T19:41:43Z")
> [@Wildfire\*\*MM](#): > > According to this swedish article, only 1,4% of iranian goes to friday prayer > > [http://www.expressen.se/index.jsp?a=643755](http://www.expressen.se/index.jsp?a=643755) > > Translated: “numbers from Ministry of culture shows that only 1,4% of iranians visits friday prayer” > > If these figures are correct, it means that iranians are far less religious and fanatic than assumed by world wide media? Do you pay ANY attention to what people tell you about proofreading your posts, or at least your post titles? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2006, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/only-1-4-of-iranians-goes-to-mosque/370444/3 "2006-08-27T20:53:20Z")
There is plenty to indicate that the modern Iranian is much more secular than this leadership would indicate, the Iranians installed a constitution that gives veto power to the religious authority without any procedure for a check on that power. Just about the only way to utterly unite such a country would be to provide an outside threat of invasion/attack, which role our current roster of baboons seem intent on providing. ---
**Author:** ![Wildfire\_MM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f08c70/32.png) [@Wildfire\_MM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wildfire_MM)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2006, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/only-1-4-of-iranians-goes-to-mosque/370444/4 "2006-08-27T21:27:54Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > There is plenty to indicate that the modern Iranian is much more secular than this leadership would indicate, the Iranians installed a constitution that gives veto power to the religious authority without any procedure for a check on that power. > > Just about the only way to utterly unite such a country would be to provide an outside threat of invasion/attack, which role our current roster of baboons seem intent on providing. I think you are right there. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2006, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/only-1-4-of-iranians-goes-to-mosque/370444/5 "2006-08-27T22:09:26Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Just about the only way to utterly unite such a country would be to provide an outside threat of invasion/attack, which role our current roster of baboons seem intent on providing. Coincidentally, there is an article in today’s Atlanta paper in which young Iranians discuss how unhappy they are with the mullahs’ rule BUT say at the same time they **do not** want the US to try to topple the regime. Invade Iran? Let’s not throw the mullahs into that particular briar patch, please. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2006, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/only-1-4-of-iranians-goes-to-mosque/370444/6 "2006-08-27T22:13:29Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Just about the only way to utterly unite such a country would be to provide an outside threat of invasion/attack, which role our current roster of baboons seem intent on providing. Given the right wing’s **need** for an enemy, I can’t help but wonder if it’s on purpose. ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2006, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/only-1-4-of-iranians-goes-to-mosque/370444/7 "2006-08-27T22:28:46Z")
When I was in Iraq, I was completely surprised at how un-religious a lot of those guys were. Granted, that country actually had a secular government and is one of the more tolerant countries in the middle east. But it seemed only a small fraction of the Iraqis I saw actually prayed during the call to prayer, and Ramadan was only superficially observed. ---
**Author:** ![Wildfire\_MM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f08c70/32.png) [@Wildfire\_MM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wildfire_MM)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2006, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/only-1-4-of-iranians-goes-to-mosque/370444/8 "2006-08-27T22:36:46Z")
Off course, not all religious people goes to a church or a mosque to express their religious feelings. But the figure indicate that most iranians are far more moderate than the media gives the impression of. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2006, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/only-1-4-of-iranians-goes-to-mosque/370444/9 "2006-08-27T22:46:38Z")
> [@Wildfire\*\*MM](#): > > But the figure indicate that most iranians are far more moderate than the media gives the impression of. I don’t think you’ll find much evidence to the contrary. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2006, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/only-1-4-of-iranians-goes-to-mosque/370444/10 "2006-08-27T23:01:30Z")
This is weak even as anecdotal evidence, but during my embarrassingly long career in pizza delivery when I was younger, I worked with a number of (male) Iranian immigrants of various ages, and none of them seemed particularly devout. Most or all of them drank, for example, and I never witnessed any prayers. The unmarried ones enjoyed chasing local women (fellow employees and customers). Of course, I saw nothing of what they were like at home, and one could argue that devout, observant Muslims would be substantially less likely to emigrate to the great Satan and find employment delivering (alleged) pork products to the homes of infidels—but there you have it. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2006, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/only-1-4-of-iranians-goes-to-mosque/370444/11 "2006-08-28T00:51:24Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > There is plenty to indicate that the modern Iranian is much more secular than this leadership would indicate, the Iranians installed a constitution that gives veto power to the religious authority without any procedure for a check on that power. > > Just about the only way to utterly unite such a country would be to provide an outside threat of invasion/attack, which role our current roster of baboons seem intent on providing. Hey! Stop the name-calling! There is NO DARN NEED to associatemy clients, even by implication, with such a species of vile, unevolved, cerebrally-challenged primates. Further such instances will be considered hate speech. Skald the Rhymer, representative NAAB (National Association for the Advancement of Baboons) ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2006, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/only-1-4-of-iranians-goes-to-mosque/370444/12 "2006-08-28T01:01:09Z")
> [@Wildfire\*\*MM](#): > > Off course, not all religious people goes to a church or a mosque to express their religious feelings. But the figure indicate that most iranians are far more moderate than the media gives the impression of. I’ve never seen much concern about “most Iranians” in the media. The government is extreme, and that’s what is usually in the news. It’s been said for years and years that young Iranians in particular don’t like the government they have, and I’m sure that’s true. The intensity of their religious belief and their support for their government might not be related. ---
**Author:** ![Dottygumdrop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Dottygumdrop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dottygumdrop)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2006, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/only-1-4-of-iranians-goes-to-mosque/370444/13 "2006-08-28T08:02:19Z")
It’s kind of like drawing conclusions about Americans based on the actions of the US government! ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2006, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/only-1-4-of-iranians-goes-to-mosque/370444/14 "2006-08-28T08:19:15Z")
> [@Vinyl Turnip](#): > > This is weak even as anecdotal evidence… As is this I’m currently in Azerbaijan, directly to the North of Iran. It’s [officially](https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/aj.html#People) 94% Shi’ite. While there are plenty of mosques, you almost never hear the call to prayer. The local beer is good (although the locally produced pork chops\* aren’t up to much). Young ladies in Baku wander around in mini skirts and not a gret deal else - the only clothing restriction is that guys wearing shorts are frowned upon. It’s a little more conservative out in the boondocks, but not by that much. \*No, I’m not kidding ---
**Author:** ![FRDE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e68b1a/32.png) [@FRDE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FRDE)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2006, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/only-1-4-of-iranians-goes-to-mosque/370444/15 "2006-08-28T08:33:36Z")
It is also interesting that (according to the BBC) 75% of Iranians are under 30 years old. ---
**Author:** ![shizaru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@shizaru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shizaru)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2006, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/only-1-4-of-iranians-goes-to-mosque/370444/16 "2006-08-28T09:25:52Z")
> [@Vinyl Turnip](#): > > This is weak even as anecdotal evidence, but during my embarrassingly long career in pizza delivery when I was younger, I worked with a number of (male) Iranian immigrants of various ages, and none of them seemed particularly devout. Most or all of them drank, for example, and I never witnessed any prayers. The unmarried ones enjoyed chasing local women (fellow employees and customers). > > Of course, I saw nothing of what they were like at home, and one could argue that devout, observant Muslims would be substantially less likely to emigrate to the great Satan and find employment delivering (alleged) pork products to the homes of infidels—but there you have it. But where I work we have muslim guests from the middle east. According to some of my friends that secure accomodations for them the first thing they ask is where they can find hookers and liquor…because “allah can’t see them here”. I’m not a big fan of islam and hearing that just made it seem stupider than I believed possible. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2006, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/only-1-4-of-iranians-goes-to-mosque/370444/17 "2006-08-28T14:27:52Z")
Based on my converstaions with conservatives, I fear some of them have convinced themselves that because the youth of Iran are disaffected those young Iranians would therefore welcome an American invasion. You know…like they did in Iraq. :rolleyes: We need to nip those theoretical rose petals in the bud. ---
**Author:** ![FRDE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e68b1a/32.png) [@FRDE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FRDE)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2006, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/only-1-4-of-iranians-goes-to-mosque/370444/18 "2006-08-28T14:31:55Z")
> [@spoke-](#): > > Based on my converstaions with conservatives, I fear some of them have convinced themselves that because the youth of Iran are disaffected those young Iranians would therefore welcome an American invasion. > > You know…like they did in Iraq. :rolleyes: > > We need to nip those theoretical rose petals in the bud. Agreed - young males are very dangerous. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2006, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/only-1-4-of-iranians-goes-to-mosque/370444/19 "2006-08-28T14:34:00Z")
> [@shizaru](#): > > I’m not a big fan of islam and hearing that just made it seem stupider than I believed possible. I neither am a fan of that particular faith, but in that circumstance, surely the stupidity comes from the adherents in question, rather than the religion itself. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2006, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/only-1-4-of-iranians-goes-to-mosque/370444/20 "2006-08-28T14:40:55Z")
> [@FRDE](#): > > young males are very dangerous. Old geezers can be pretty dangerous, too. Especially if they own stock in Halliburton. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/only-1-4-of-iranians-goes-to-mosque/370444.md?page=2)