See other Religion Articles
Title: Major survey challenges Western perceptions of Islam
Source:
AP
URL Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/2008022 ... _alt_afp/usislamreligionethics
Published: Feb 27, 2008
Author: Karin Zeitvogel
Post Date: 2008-02-27 12:50:32 by richard9151
Keywords: None
Views: 268
Comments: 16
1 hour, 23 minutes ago WASHINGTON (AFP) - A huge survey of the world's Muslims released Tuesday challenges Western notions that equate Islam with radicalism and violence. The survey, conducted by the Gallup polling agency over six years and three continents, seeks to dispel the belief held by some in the West that Islam itself is the driving force of radicalism. It shows that the overwhelming majority of Muslims condemned the attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001 and other subsequent terrorist attacks, the authors of the study said in Washington. "Samuel Harris said in the Washington Times (in 2004): 'It is time we admitted that we are not at war with terrorism. We are at war with Islam'," Dalia Mogahed, co-author of the book "Who Speaks for Islam" which grew out of the study, told a news conference here. "The argument Mr Harris makes is that religion in the primary driver" of radicalism and violence, she said. "Religion is an important part of life for the overwhelming majority of Muslims, and if it were indeed the driver for radicalisation, this would be a serious issue." But the study, which Gallup says surveyed a sample equivalent to 90 percent of the world's Muslims, showed that widespread religiosity "does not translate into widespread support for terrorism," said Mogahed, director of the Gallup Center for Muslim Studies. About 93 percent of the world's 1.3 billion Muslims are moderates and only seven percent are politically radical, according to the poll, based on more than 50,000 interviews. In majority Muslim countries, overwhelming majorities said religion was a very important part of their lives -- 99 percent in Indonesia, 98 percent in Egypt, 95 percent in Pakistan. But only seven percent of the billion Muslims surveyed -- the radicals -- condoned the attacks on the United States in 2001, the poll showed. Moderate Muslims interviewed for the poll condemned the 9/11 attacks on New York and Washington because innocent lives were lost and civilians killed. "Some actually cited religious justifications for why they were against 9/11, going as far as to quote from the Koran -- for example, the verse that says taking one innocent life is like killing all humanity," she said. Meanwhile, radical Muslims gave political, not religious, reasons for condoning the attacks, the poll showed. The survey shows radicals to be neither more religious than their moderate counterparts, nor products of abject poverty or refugee camps. "The radicals are better educated, have better jobs, and are more hopeful with regard to the future than mainstream Muslims," John Esposito, who co-authored "Who Speaks for Islam", said. "Ironically, they believe in democracy even more than many of the mainstream moderates do, but they're more cynical about whether they'll ever get it," said Esposito, a professor of Islamic studies at Georgetown University in Washington. Gallup launched the study following 9/11, after which US President George W. Bush asked in a speech, which is quoted in the book: "Why do they hate us?" "They hate... a democratically elected government," Bush offered as a reason. "They hate our freedoms -- our freedom of religion, our freedom of speech, our freedom to vote and assemble and disagree with each other." But the poll, which gives ordinary Muslims a voice in the global debate that they have been drawn into by 9/11, showed that most Muslims -- including radicals -- admire the West for its democracy, freedoms and technological prowess. What they do not want is to have Western ways forced on them, it said. "Muslims want self-determination, but not an American-imposed and -defined democracy. They don't want secularism or theocracy. What the majority wants is democracy with religious values," said Esposito. The poll has given voice to Islam's silent majority, said Mogahed. "A billion Muslims should be the ones that we look to, to understand what they believe, rather than a vocal minority," she told AFP. Muslims in 40 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East were interviewed for the survey, which is part of Gallup's World Poll that aims to interview 95 percent of the world's population.
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
#1. To: richard9151 (#0)
"It does not take a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brush fires of freedom in the minds of men." -- Samuel Adams (1722-1803)‡
I didn't either, but would reconsider that now as well. Look at Iran/Persia. I think the last time they started a war was, what, 800 years ago? You have to think that their religion has something to do with that. And no nation that is hated with such fervor by the Jews can be all bad.... And there are Jews, Christians (in large numbers) as well as others in addition to Islam, and they have lived together in peace for hundreds of years. What's not to like?
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest. A life of evil is ultimately a life of wretchedness.
What they do not want is to have Western ways forced on them, it said. Could George W. Shrub be wrong? /sarcasm
Our citizens do not deserve a President as good as Dr. Ron Paul. What we deserve is higher taxes, more government inefficiency, war, regulations and devalued currency.(me) "I am further of opinion that it would be better for us to have [no laws] at all than to have them in so prodigious numbers as we have." "I'm pro-choice.........on light bulbs!" To counter the bad press, the "moderate" Islamics need to take the PR offensive and get VERY VERY LOUD when the radicals go nuts. Would defuse quite a bit of stuff before it gets blown out of proportion. The unfortunate bit is the sheer number of radicals. 7% of a billion is still a gigantically huge number. However, a well orchestrated PR campaign could blunt a lot of the criticism. The biggest criticism of Islam is simply, "Where are the moderates?" - they are not getting their word out and should work a bit harder to make that happen to avoid the guilt-by-association trip that the MSM likes to pull.
America is not at war. The military is at war. America is at the mall and the Congress is out to lunch.
I don't respect Islam or its' retarded adherents, they're ALL onboard the crazy- train: "HEALTH officials are having crisis talks with Muslim medical staff who have objected to hospital hygiene rules because of religious beliefs. Women students at Liverpool’s Alder Hey children’s hospital have raised objections to removing their arm coverings in theatre and to rolling up their sleeves when washing their hands because it is regarded as immodest. Minutes of a clinical academics’ meeting at Liverpool University revealed that female Muslim students at Alder Hey children’s hospital had objected to rolling up their sleeves to wear gowns. Similar concerns have been raised at Leicester University, and Sheffield University also reported a case of a Muslim medic who refused to “scrub” as this left her forearms exposed. Some students have said that they would prefer to quit the course rather than expose their arms, but hygiene experts said no exceptions should be made on religious grounds. A Royal Liverpool hospital spokesman said they had experienced issues of Muslim staff not sanitising their forearms with alcohol gel although this had now been addressed. Dr Steve Ryan, medical director at Alder Hey said that while the “bare below the elbows” dress code is a matter of patient safety, the trust would work with Muslim students to find a solution. He said: “We specify bare below elbows, no wrist watches, nail varnish or false nails in clinical areas. “Good hand hygiene is one of the most important and simplest actions we can take to prevent healthcare associated infections. “A number of female Muslim students had approached the University of Liverpool to ask if we would provide facilities for them to change their outerwear and Hijab for theatre scrubs. “We were pleased to accommodate this request and these facilities have now been incorporated.” But the Islamic Medical Association insisted that covering all the body in public, except the face and hands, was a basic tenet of Islam. It said: “No practising Muslim woman – doctor, medical student, nurse or patient – should be forced to bare her arms below the elbow.”" http://www.bnp.org.uk/2008/02/26/culture-clash-at-liverpool-hospital/ Knowing this about muslims, I wouldn't feel safe if I went to Britain and had an accident requiring surgery over there and I saw some burka-wearing-bitches enter the operating theatre.
"There is a Providence that protects idiots, drunkards, children and the United States of America." - Otto von Bismarck
Well, my friend, the same is true here; The biggest criticism of As long as the Jews control the press, I doubt that ANY moderates will be heard from, , ANYWHERE, as it does not serve 'their' pocket books.
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest. Attention, Shrub; A life of evil is ultimately a life of wretchedness.
Says who? You? So what? But the Islamic Medical Association insisted that covering all the body in public, except the face and hands, was a basic tenet of Islam. I take it this means that you object to people who actually practice what they preach, unlike Americanized Christianity, which has never found a war they did not like. As for me, I would live there, before I would within the United States.
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest. Attention, Shrub; A life of evil is ultimately a life of wretchedness.
Ah, see that's where there is a difference. Even when Pat Robertson rears his ugly head, there is a hue and cry -- from Christian Churches and it also makes the press.
America is not at war. The military is at war. America is at the mall and the Congress is out to lunch.
Boy, all afternoon while I was cutting wood (for our pictures that we make), this kept running through my head, and I started going over some of the stuff I have learned over the last 10 years of so. Do you know what the difference is? Why in the west, where the so-called Christian churches have not seen a war they did not like in a 1,000 years or so, but in the Muslim countries, there was a war only if there was a contamination that led to wars? Like in the Iberian pen. And only if that contanmination was present would the war go forward. Give up? Or have you already figured it out? I bet you have. The so-called Jews. That have taken over the Christian churches, and parts of Islam, like Turkey and the Sauds. Places where they have not been able to forment trouble is where they have never been able to influence the power, like in Iran. Which explains why there has been no wars, and, why they are a part of the axis of evil. Talk about twisted. Wont go to war, so become a part of the axis of evil.
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest. Attention, Shrub; A life of evil is ultimately a life of wretchedness.
Wait wait waitwaitwait a twisted minute! Are you trying to claim that PAT ROBERTSON IS A MODERATE????????????? And even if you are not, the churches who raise their equally ugly heads for the media are still all for war! (Or they would not be allowed on the air.) Those churches now and for some 100 years have been backing wars from the pulpit.
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest. Attention, Shrub; A life of evil is ultimately a life of wretchedness.
I said, "Even when Pat Robertson rears his ugly head, the Christian Churches come out...." Nowhere did I claim Robertson was a moderate. I claim the Churches who complain about him are. Big difference there! Not all of the Churches are for war. Both the Catholic Church and the UCC are still steadfastly against it. The Pope is still quite vocal about his opposition to it. Funny how the Catholic Church becomes a voice of reason sometimes....
America is not at war. The military is at war. America is at the mall and the Congress is out to lunch.
I had to think about this a bit. I am not referring to a single war, but to war in general. I have yet to see ANY so-called Christian church urge its followers to not permit their children to enlist in the military. By extension, they support war. And that includes the Catholic church, whose own long history is full of war and blood. None of which has or ever will be apologized for, because the church is incapable of error. And you were correct; you did mention Pat Robemall's ugly head. I usually have just one question for so-called Christians. I ask them how many people the Christ killed, or had killed, or asked that they be killed, in His life on earth. If they even hesitate before answering, I know what I am dealing with and leave. (I will on occasion also ask how many grand churches/cathedrals He asked be built, with the same reaction watched for.)
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest. Attention, Shrub; A life of evil is ultimately a life of wretchedness.
I think Theo van Gogh would disagree with the author's assessment. Lots of people in France and England and Denmark and Spain and Eastern Europe would disagree, too.
When seconds count, the police are only minutes away.
Well, there is the Just War Doctrine which Christians are SUPPOSED to adhere to. This permits them to fight a defensive war. Remember, "If you have not a sword, then sell you cloak and buy one" ....
America is not at war. The military is at war. America is at the mall and the Congress is out to lunch.
Yeah, I can buy into that..... the key being defensive. Hard to call any war that America has been in since 1865 defensive. And all of them had the blessings of the so-called churches, which were generally amoung the first to raise the hue and cry. Really hard to fight a defensive war on some other poor souls ground/home/nation.
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest. Attention, Shrub; A life of evil is ultimately a life of wretchedness.
Halting a Genocide would come into play there as would stopping an aggressor if invited to do so. Its still a defensive war at that point.
America is not at war. The military is at war. America is at the mall and the Congress is out to lunch.
#2. To: ghostdogtxn (#1)
Maybe I should.
#3. To: richard9151 (#0)
(Edited)
But the poll, which gives ordinary Muslims a voice in the global debate that they have been drawn into by 9/11, showed that most Muslims -- including radicals -- admire the West for its democracy, freedoms and technological prowess.
Michel Eyquem, seigneur de Montaigne (1533–1592)
Joseph Farah (2008)
#4. To: richard9151 (#0)
#5. To: richard9151 (#0)
#6. To: mirage (#4)
The biggest criticism of Islam is simply, "Where are the moderates?"
Islam Christianity is simply, "Where are the moderates?"
#7. To: X-15 (#5)
I don't respect Islam or its' retarded adherents, they're ALL onboard the crazy- train:
#8. To: richard9151 (#6)
The biggest criticism of Christianity is simply, "Where are the moderates?"
#9. To: ghostdogtxn (#1)
Y'know, whenever I get to thinking of what country I'd run to if/when the US goes completely statist, I don't even think of Islamic countries...
#10. To: mirage (#8)
Even when Pat Robertson
#11. To: richard9151 (#10)
Are you trying to claim that PAT ROBERTSON IS A MODERATE?????????????
#12. To: mirage (#11)
I claim the Churches who complain about him are.
#13. To: richard9151 (#0)
#14. To: richard9151 (#12)
#15. To: mirage (#14)
Remember, "If you have not a sword, then sell you cloak and buy one" ....
#16. To: richard9151 (#15)
Really hard to fight a defensive war on some other poor souls ground/home/nation.
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest