Re: Copying Non-Muslims
Quality of a person is only partially genetic. And the proportion played by he genes in that has been coming down over time because of exposure. I will elaborate.
In the old times, a person was exposed a few small villages around where he was born and lived. Marriage, associations, trade, education everything happened in small clusters. So the proportion of external influences were small in comparison to genetic, family traits. In that situation, I can certainly see some possibility of that argument ...because upbringing in a atmosphere of 'piety' or whatever quality is likely to breed more of it.
But then the printing press, trains, planes, radio, TV and Internet all came along. Nobody is limited in information or external influence. Travel is cheap, settling in alien lands is common...under these circumstances, the environment is global and the role of immediate relatives, while still important, is only a fraction of what it used to be in old times.
That is why what you have referred to doesn't scale I think.
In fact in the current (and what has been for past several centuries) atmosphere those that take up the collar or priesthood voluntarily rather than because of family compulsion actually are mor pious...just like first generation immigrants work a lot harder than their children (in general that is). Because it is a transformation they themselves undertook and forced into circumstantially.
The other point I'd make is that Islam is not the only religion that allows marriage of their clergy. Hindu priests have regular family life (unless they undertake the sanyas or renunciation in which case they are not priests anymore); some christian denominations do not bar family life for clergy.
Peace StirCrasy
Actually I agree with you ... My initial point was not intended to be a genetic one. My point was that pious people, moreover pious clergy who propagate religion will do well having children because they are likely to continue the message, provided it is done properly. You will find people who are scholars more often than not their offspring are also close in their footprints.
I also believe that with the right sort of message from the parents the information age will not affect the upbringing. It is true that other religions allow marriage of clergy my point was not intended to be exclusive. I was merely saying that Islam promotes it, rather than allows it.