What Muslims Really Think
Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 3:23 pm
DOUG
Many Americans, and almost all conservatives, have a mistaken view about what most Muslims think about human rights, the United States, and other topics.
Now the Gallup Poll people have spent six years of research and conducted more than 50,000 interviews representing 1.3 billion Muslims who reside in more than 35 nations that are predominantly Muslim or have sizable Muslim populations. Representing more than 90% of the world's Muslim community, it makes this poll the largest, most comprehensive study of its kind.
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Gallup's largest study of Muslim populations worldwide challenges conventional wisdom and the inevitability of a global conflict as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan continue...
Who Speaks for Islam? What a Billion Muslims Really Think by John L. Esposito and Dalia Mogahed (Gallup Press; March 2008; hardcover) summarizes the results.
What the data reveal and the authors illuminate may surprise you:
*Muslims and Americans are equally likely to reject attacks on civilians as morally unjustifiable.
*Large majorities of Muslims would guarantee free speech if it were up to them to write a new constitution AND they say religious leaders should have no direct role in drafting that constitution.
*Muslims around the world say that what they LEAST admire about the West is its perceived moral decay and breakdown of traditional values -- the same answers that Americans themselves give when asked this question.
*When asked about their dreams for the future, Muslims say they want better jobs and security, not conflict and violence.
*Muslims say the most important thing Westerners can do to improve relations with their societies is to change their negative views toward Muslims and respect Islam.
The research suggests that conflict between Muslims and the West is NOT inevitable and, in fact, is more about policy than principles.
See here.
Many Americans, and almost all conservatives, have a mistaken view about what most Muslims think about human rights, the United States, and other topics.
Now the Gallup Poll people have spent six years of research and conducted more than 50,000 interviews representing 1.3 billion Muslims who reside in more than 35 nations that are predominantly Muslim or have sizable Muslim populations. Representing more than 90% of the world's Muslim community, it makes this poll the largest, most comprehensive study of its kind.
=========
Gallup's largest study of Muslim populations worldwide challenges conventional wisdom and the inevitability of a global conflict as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan continue...
Who Speaks for Islam? What a Billion Muslims Really Think by John L. Esposito and Dalia Mogahed (Gallup Press; March 2008; hardcover) summarizes the results.
What the data reveal and the authors illuminate may surprise you:
*Muslims and Americans are equally likely to reject attacks on civilians as morally unjustifiable.
*Large majorities of Muslims would guarantee free speech if it were up to them to write a new constitution AND they say religious leaders should have no direct role in drafting that constitution.
*Muslims around the world say that what they LEAST admire about the West is its perceived moral decay and breakdown of traditional values -- the same answers that Americans themselves give when asked this question.
*When asked about their dreams for the future, Muslims say they want better jobs and security, not conflict and violence.
*Muslims say the most important thing Westerners can do to improve relations with their societies is to change their negative views toward Muslims and respect Islam.
The research suggests that conflict between Muslims and the West is NOT inevitable and, in fact, is more about policy than principles.
See here.