Poll finds Americans of two minds over Islam (white conservative evangelicals fear Islam the most)

Arab News ^ | 3-22-2002 | By Barbara Ferguson, Arab News Correspondent

[GuillermoX]

Poll finds Americans ‘of two minds’ over faith
By Barbara Ferguson, Arab News Correspondent

WASHINGTON, 22 March — Americans are trusting of Muslims in the United States, but they continue to be worried about anti-American attitudes in Islamic countries worldwide, according to a new poll released yesterday by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life.

The report found that 67 percent of respondents said that the United States is a “Christian nation.” But more Americans — 75 percent — also said that “many religions can lead to eternal life,” not just Christianity.

Regardless of this view on religious pluralism, a mere five percent of Americans say they know “a great deal” about Islam.

Americans polled said their concern over violence focused on Islam. “Those who think that some religions are more violent than others are more likely to see widespread anti-American sentiments among Muslims,” the survey said.

And those Americans who most likely to fear Islam and reject its claim to legitimacy are white, conservative evangelicals, the survey found.

The poll also said that Americans attitude toward Muslims in the United States has grown more positive, probably because of President Bush’s urgings not to blame Islam for terrorism.

“The public is trying to not think of this as a clash of civilizations,” between Christian West and Islam,” said Andrew Kohut, who conducted the poll as director of the Pew Research Center.

But, he said, “they are still struggling with the link between Islam and violence.”

Thirty-eight percent of Americans have a favorable view of Islam, while 33 percent have an unfavorable view. The view of “Muslims” in the United States is more favorable than “Islam” worldwide.

Muslim-Americans are rated favorably by 54 percent of the public, down slightly from 59 percent in mid-November, but still significantly higher than this time last year (45 percent). Fewer than a quarter (22 percent) express an unfavorable opinion of Muslim-Americans, up slightly from 17 percent four months ago.

There is also a distinction between ratings of Muslims as individuals and perceptions of Islam generally. When asked for its opinion of Islam, the public is divided, with 38 percent saying they have a favorable view of the religion, and 33 percent unfavorable.

While predominantly favorable, public views of Muslims continue to lag behind most other religious groups. Protestants, Catholics and Jews are rated favorable by roughly three-quarters of the public, with only around one-in-ten expressing unfavorable opinions of these groups.

A majority of those under age 30 express a favorable view of Muslim-Americans, Muslims, and Islam alike (57 percent, 57 percent and 51 percent respectively). Older Americans generally have a favorable opinion of Muslim-Americans; however, they express more skepticism toward Muslims and Islam, the survey noted.

College-educated Americans also express more favorable views of Muslims and Islam than those who did not attend college. Education has a particularly strong effect on perceptions of the Islamic religion. While about half (52 percent) of college graduates have a favorable view of Islam, just 29 percent of those who never attended college agree.

[richardthelionheart]

I wish I had received a phone call on this one. Islam is going to destroy the planet I just hope more people wake up to this fact.

[cactmh]

Islam is the Religion of Peace^TM

[StAthanasiustheGreat]

I remember a couple of months ago, where sadly members of my Church (the Roman Catholic Church), a majority in fact, view Evangelical Christians (derisivly labled Fundamentalists) unfavorably. I understand there are large theological differences between Evangelicals and Roman Catholics, but those differences are minor compared to our mutual acceptance of Jesus Christ. I view the Evangelical movement as Brothers in Christ and at times I find myself agreeing more and more with them. But nonetheless, I am distraught that the media has been able to create a wedge between Catholic and Protestant to the extent that they have. This is another way they are going about it, labeling the Evangelical movement as extremists. God Bless

[GuillermoX]

Pretty scary. But the article is right...our Muslim President has a lot to do with this.

[Bob J]

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[The Great Satan]

On this issue, at least, white, conservative evangelicals have their heads screwed on straight.

[Robert_Paulson2]

I think this is propaganda G-X.

I don't know a lot, but most americans I KNOW, view muslims with extreme caution right now... as in, "Is this one of those pukes the FBI, INS and NSA is looking for, but cannot find, because they are using fake papers and such?"

Or, the thought that follows immediately thereafter:"I wonder if this person knows, supports or attends a MOSQUE where some of the thousand or so ones who are wanted, is hiding?"

Arabs want to think that we see them as "okay", and I really don't think as a majority we do. Americans are afraid of being labelled "racist" so they may NOT be stating their true feelings. I would like to have seen the questions asked. As in:

• "As an American, do you actively practice racism by engaging in your own descrete forms of 'profiling'?
• Or a better question: "Would you trust your little children to be left in a daycare center, run by your friendly neighborhood Mosque?"

Most americans would answer no to the first question, to appear "non-racist", but how many would HONESTLY answer the second one "yes" after our increased understanding of "kill the infidelsm" known as Islam?

It's all in the questions.

We DON'T trust Arabs, or muslims. Any report that shows upwards of 20 percent of any demographic here in the states doing so... I think is full of it.

FWIW. Nice catch on the article by the way.

[SunStar]

And those Americans who most likely to fear Islam and reject its claim to legitimacy are white, conservative evangelicals.

I'm an American and a conservative, but not an evangelical Christian. I do not "fear" Islam. I do reject all Moslem extremist punk bitches, and I hope our President continues to have the guts to put these ragtops in their place -- for good.

[GuillermoX]

I'm not too sure. When you say the people that "you know", that means it's anectdotal evidence. Kind of reminds me of that lefty (her name escapes me) who was so shocked when Nixon beat McGovern. She said "How did Nixon win, no one I know even voted for him".

The average joe on the street doesn't know or care the first thing about Islam. He just thinks it's another religion. Pew has a pretty good record on polls, in my opinion.

[mercy]

****Muslim-Americans are rated favorably by 54 percent of the public, down slightly from 59 percent in mid-November, but still significantly higher than this time last year (45 percent). ****

Gee, murder us without mercy and we will like you more. A testimony to the ole addage about publicity. "I don't care what you say about me, just spell my name right." I mean how else can one explaing this?

Maybe when the terrs set off a nuclear bomb in an American port city their popularity ratings will rival W's.

[ChadGore]

"Fear" isn't the best word for it. Discust is more acurate.

[mercy]

Diversity Is Our Strength.

[GuillermoX]

Fear is their word, not mine. Kind of like "homophobic". Anyone who is against special rights for homosexuals is "homophobic". Anyone who believes Islam is false and dangerous "fears" it, in their eyes.

[cactmh]

that's a good one. One final touch.

DIVERSITY IS OUR STRENGTH^TM

[RnMomof7]

The report found that 67 percent of respondents said that the United States is a “Christian nation.” But more Americans — 75 percent — also said that “many religions can lead to eternal life,” not just Christianity.

Someone needs to tell them that Islam worships a false god and their path does not lead to heaven!

[umgud]

Muslims wordwide hate us and we're supposed to believe that when these same Muslims move to America, they leave their hatred for us in their homeland. I don't buy it.

[VOA]

Poll finds Americans of two minds over Islam
(white conservative evangelicals fear Islam the most)

What the real title should have been is:

Poll finds Americans of two minds over Islam
(white conservative evangelicals more honest and informed about negative
aspects of Islam)

I'm on a pretty liberal campus on the West Coast.
I've been suprised at how many of my more liberal colleagues/accquaintances
have been openly angry about Islam and are supporting Dubya and our Military.

And yes, there are still a few idiots in denial.
It wouldn't be a university campus with a fair number of these educated idiots.

[GuillermoX]

Yeah, say something like that and you'll be sentenced to a 16 week sensitivity training course. How dare you be so judgmental and closed-minded.

[SunStar]

Fear is their word, not mine. Kind of like "homophobic". Anyone who is against special rights for homosexuals is "homophobic". Anyone who believes Islam is false and dangerous "fears" it, in their eyes.

I am homo-disgusted and moslem-enraged. I fear neither of them. Time to reload.