Three-quarters of non-Muslims believe Islam negative for Britain

[Sarajmt]

Three-quarters of non-Muslims believe Islam negative for Britain

Muslim organisation calls for efforts to improve awareness as four-fifths of those polled admit to little knowledge of the faith
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/aug/02/poll-islam-negative-britain
    * Haroon Siddique
    * guardian.co.uk, Monday 2 August 2010 11.48 BST
  

Muslim men greet each other outside Whitechapel Mosque in east London before Friday prayers Two Muslim men greet each other outside Whitechapel Mosque in east London. Photograph: Felix Clay for the Guardian

Three-quarters of non-Muslims believe Islam has provided a negative contribution to British society, according to a new poll, which has prompted calls for Muslims to help improve the perception of their faith.

The study for the Islamic Education and Research Academy (iERA) also found that 63% of people surveyed did not disagree with the statement "Muslims are terrorists" and 94% agreed that "Islam oppresses women". It included qualitative as well as quantitative data. One respondent said: ""If I had my way I'd kick them all [Muslims] out of here."

The results follow an online YouGov poll, published in June, that found 58% linked Islam with extremism and 69% believed it encouraged the repression of women.

Despite the widespread negative perceptions of Islam, iERA believes the fact that most opinions were formed in ignorance of the faith indicates that Muslims can positively influence them.

Four-fifths of those polled said they have less than very little knowledge about Islam, while 40% did not know who "Allah" referred to and 36% did not know who the Prophet Muhammad was.

iERA's senior researcher Hamza Tzortzis said: "We wanted to do something positive with the survey results rather than just say, 'It's so sad'. So, the organisation's strategy is to give a new realm of possibility for people to comprehend Islam, have a proper respect for Islam and see the human relevance of the faith."

The organisation has made a number of recommendations on how to spread knowledge of Islam and the Muslim community through education and audiovisual materials. It also advocates "promoting Muslim women as ambassadors of change" to counter the impression that they are oppressed.

Although the survey indicated people may not be willing to listen – 60% said they preferred not to receive any information about religion, while 77% did not agree in any way that Muslims should do more to teach people about their faith – Tzortzis believes they will if they are shown that religion is relevant.

"We need to show that it [Islam] encompasses all the things in your life whether social or practical," he said.

"We had one of the biggest economic crises and we had no Islamic scholar saying the Islamic [financial] model wasn't as affected and might be relevant."

The study, carried out for iERA out by DJS Research, used face-to face questionnaires to ascertain the views of a "statistically robust" sample of 500 randomly selected non-Muslims.


    * guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media Limited 2010

[Sarajmt]

I like your Utopia.  I'm afraid we'll never have such a world unless the entire world is on Valium.  Some hatreds seem to run too deep.

[adgal]

BTW, I should add...it probably comes across that I believe we Christians should be making the effort.  That is actually not the case.  I believe that if we are living in a society that encompasses different cultures, races and religions, that everyone needs to make the effort.  Muslims should also take the time to educate themselves on Christianity, etc.  in order to help bring about peace.  I do agree with you that they do not tend to assimilate well and their belief system has a tendancy to promote superiority.  That won't work in a multicultural society.  Everyone needs to respect others belief system even if they don't agree with it.  And I do mean everyone.  It's the only way we will ever have a peaceful society...my Eutopia...sigh.

[adgal]

Nope, wasn't referring to you at all.  It was a comment on the original article that 4/5ths didn't understand Islam.  Sorry if it came across as being directed towards you.

I do agree with some of your points and disagree with others.  I think we shall have to also chalk this one up to a "agree to partially disagree".  We've gone through this before and have different perspectives.  On to the next debate  :)

[Sarajmt]

I'm going to assume you didn't mean that I hadn't done my homework on Islam.  I have.  And that's the problem.

Just as we Christians went through a state and church sanctioned violent period, I believe the Muslims are going through one now.  At one point in our history the Catholic church sanctioned the killing of Muslims, forced conversions of non believers, the Inquisition, et al.   It was an interpretation of the Bible.  A perverse interpretation to be sure, but an interpretation of the Bible by the Church.

The more I read of Islamic history and of the interpretation of the Koran, the more I fear it.  They have demanded and received government acceptance of Sharia law in Great Britain and Canada.  And we're next even though it is completely against our Constitution.  And if it is a peaceful religion, I wish they'd not be so violent.  But I don't believe their Imam's are interpreting the Koran's intent as peaceful.  I believe they are doing just the opposite.  How many times have we heard the call for Jihad from Imam's in the Middle East.  We have Imams in jail here for plotting terror.  Why won't they leave Israel alone?  Why did they VOLUNTEER to fight for Hitler's Nazi regime?  

No, I'm afraid what I'm learning is that it's not a peaceful religion unless you spell it "piece" ful.  A piece of you over here, a piece of you over there.  Sorry No Sale here on it being a religion of peace.  Not today nor in it's history.

[adgal]

I too believe education is the key here.  It's like anything...those that do the worst are the ones that make the news.  So what we mainly hear about in the media are those that are involved in radicalism, etc.  I personally know so many moderate muslims...my family Dr. is one.  

I think reading above that 4/5's don't know anything about Islam tells the story.  It is a peaceful religion for the most part.  Yes the Q'aran has it's "violent" moments, much like the Bible.  But most don't take that literally.  

I agree that we need to see more moderates coming out publically against radicalism, although it is happening more and more.  It would go along way to promoting peace and understanding.

[Sarajmt]

Part of the problem as I see it is that they do not assimilate as other cultures do.  Nor do they assist in the reporting and monitoring of extremists.  We get a lot of lip service but no action.  I haven't heard any Muslim denounce Islamic extremists unless backed in a corner.  Which I still don't believe. Under Sharia, they are allowed to lie to the infidel.  

And we're still hearing about "honor killings" even among so called "moderate" or "assimilated" families.  I do not trust them. I wish I did but I don't.

I'm still having my morning coffee so I hope this makes sense.  

[ILADVOCATE]

I do think education is crucial and it should come from people who are Muslim who would speak out against extremists among them. In a not so distant era (not saying this isn't true for other countries as well) there was a certain amount of anti-Semitism as well but that of course has changed. When any country has a homogeneous population (this is true for all of Europe) as that changes there will of course be some suspicion. However given that there were Muslims involved in terrorists acts I would not say all of that concern is unrealistic. I would think anyone allied to terrorism of any kind (they might be associated with the Taliban but they need not be immigrants, such as Johnathon Walker) should be arrested or deported. However any Muslim who is a moderate and peaceful person who respects the country and immigrated legally should be treated like everyone else.