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Study Shows Mainstream Views of American Muslims
Majority of Americans Know Very Little about Islam
The nation's Muslims have political views, income and levels of
education that reflect those of mainstream America. However, there
is evidence that the vast majority of Americans either know very
little about Islam or are deeply suspicious of the religion according
to a survey published in December 2007 by the University of California,
Irvine and directed by sociology professor and Carnegie
Scholar Jen'nan Ghazal Read. Read
the press release.
The telephone poll found that 66 percent of Americans said they
know "very little or nothing" about Islam, and 34 percent
said they have an "unfavorable opinion" of the religion.
The survey found that American Muslims are well-educated and affluent,
religiously active, politically engaged and socially conservative.
They hold very similar views to other Americans on social issues,
family life and domestic policies, but are more critical than most
Americans of the country’s policy toward the Middle East.
Sixty percent of American Muslims pray each day while 70 percent
of U.S. Christians pray daily, according to the survey. It also
indicated that more Christians (54 percent) than Muslims (43 percent)
believe that religion should influence politics.
Read said “American Muslims, many of whom are immigrants,
are not any different from earlier immigrant groups who came to
America - they are motivated by the same desire to integrate and
achieve a better way of life.”
Read’s work was funded in part through the Carnegie
Scholars program, which supports scholars whose work helps inform
national and international dialogues around Carnegie Corporation
of New York’s priority issues. For the past four years, Scholars
have contributed to public awareness of the values and forces that
shape Islam as a religion and social movement.
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