Do you think mainstream Islam encourages violence
against non-Muslims, or is it a peaceful religion?
against non-Muslims, or is it a peaceful religion?
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Diana West quotes from a recent poll printed in the Washington Post, and discusses this question:
Q: Every religion has mainstream beliefs, and also fringe elements and extremists. Thinking of mainstream Islam, do you think mainstream Islam encourages violence against non-Muslims, or is it a peaceful religion?
I have presented these poll responses visually to make it easier to compare the patterns. I've gone to the original pdf file to get more complete data, with information also available for 2006. I have averaged the two sets of data for 2002 and 2006. Besides what is presented here, the pdf file has many more additional interesting information.
The comparatively low numbers in 2002 for those who think that Islam encourages violence are probably due to the public still getting used to this new phenomenon of Islamic terrorism, and the violence of Islam after 9/11.
The numbers for those who think that Islam encourages violence do increase sharply from 2002-2003, but the trend shows a gradual decrease from 2003 to 2009. There is no reason to think this decrease will not continue, unless something dramatic happens, similar to 9/11.
Conversely, the group which thinks that Islam is a religion of peace has steadily increased, bypassing even the 2002 levels.
So, more people think that Islam is a religion of peace in 2009 than they did in 2002, and the trend shows that they will continue to do so. And less people think that Islam encourages violence in 2009 than they did in 2003, with the trend continuing in that direction.
Why is that?
Firstly, I think it is complacency. Nothing as terrible as 9/11 has happened yet, so people haven't had to face again the violence Islam is capable of.
But, I think more importantly, the Islam experts and conservatives, with their almost daily output of information, and some with eloquent books, haven't managed to convince the public about the dangers of Islam.
These experts may react in vitriolic and ad hoc manner as the atrocities of Islam arise (like honor killings, especially the recent one in Buffalo), but they haven't come up with clear terms for Islam, Muslims, and even how to combat it, confusing the public about the nature of this religion.
For example, many Islam experts are still using the terms "moderate Muslims" and "extremist or radical Muslims", when it has become more and more clear that such differentiation of Muslims is incorrect.
While obfuscating the terms thus, they are unable to come up with concrete solutions to the problems, making it seem that only a minority of Muslims (i.e radicals), and an extreme fringe of Islam are what we should be dealing with.
This inability to take the bull by its horns is translated by the general public as the problem not being that great or important to begin with, while in fact, the problem is a very big one, tantamount to a civilizational war, that could destroy life as we know it.
As a final point, three other things stood out for me from the data in the pdf file.
1). Muslims make up only 1% of the American population (2% in Canada).
2). People who know a Muslim tend to think it is a peaceful religion rather than one which encourages violence.
3). Even though more people now think Islam is a peaceful religion than in 2003, 41% have a favorable opinion of Islam now compared to 47% in 2003.
But, as this statistic is broken down, those who tilt the percentage toward a favorable one in 2009 are:
- those more knowledgeable about Islam - 53% favorable towards Islam
- those who know "a" Muslim - 52% favorable
- liberals - 60%a favorable, and Democrats - 47% favorable
- and younger people - 44% favorable
In contrast, only 26% of conservatives and 33% of Republicans view Islam favorably, amongst other groups.
Liberals and Democrats are going to be difficult to convince otherwise. But, this information implies that those with increased interaction with Muslims are more likely to have favorable opinions about Islam. Those who have some knowledge about Islam, those who know a Muslim (or two), and younger people who have increased relationships with Muslims through work and social life, are more likely to have more tolerance for the religion and for Muslims.
Astute and knowledgeable politicians and experts can deal with this complacency (increased trust of Muslims and Islam) by:
- simply reducing the number of Muslim immigrants, and preferably having a moratorium on all Muslim immigration for the foreseeable future. At the very least, this will reduce interactions with Muslims, which clearly influences the view on Islam.
- and by the experts providing honest and unfiltered information about the dangers of Muslims and Islam.
And, 1% (and even 2%) of Muslims is a minuscule amount. Surely we can make sure this percentage doesn't grow, and that the 1% already present doesn't hijack our society. I am optimistic that we can do both.
