What US Muslims think
Some good, some bad here. I highlighted some interesting areas for me.[;)]
Poll: One in Four U.S. Muslims OK With Homicide Bombings Against Innocent Civilians
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
WASHINGTON -
One in four younger U.S. Muslims said in a poll that homicide bombings to defend their religion are acceptable at least in some circumstances, though most Muslim Americans overwhelmingly reject the tactic and are critical of Islamic extremism and Al Qaeda.
The survey by the Pew Research Center, one of the most exhaustive ever of the country's Muslims, revealed a community that in many ways blends comfortably into society. Its largely mainstream members express nearly as much happiness with their lives and communities as the general public does, show a broad willingness to adopt American customs, and have income and education levels similar to others in the United States.
Even so, the survey revealed noteworthy pockets of discontent.
While nearly 80 percent of U.S. Muslims say homicide bombings of civilians to defend Islam can not be justified, 13 percent say they can be, at least rarely.
That sentiment is strongest among those younger than 30. Two percent of them say it can often be justified, 13 percent say sometimes and 11 percent say rarely.
"It is a hair-raising number," said Radwan Masmoudi, president of the Washington-based Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy, which promotes the compatibility of Islam with democracy.
He said most supporters of the attacks likely assumed the context was a fight against occupation - a term Muslims often use to describe the conflict with Israel.
U.S. Muslims have growing Internet and television access to extreme ideologies, he said, adding: "People, especially younger people, are susceptible to these ideas."
Federal officials have warned the U.S. must guard against homegrown terrorism, as the British suffered with the London transit bombings of 2005.
Even so, U.S. Muslims are far less accepting of suicide attacks than Muslims in many other nations. In Pew surveys last year, support in some Muslim countries exceeded 50 percent, while it was considered justifiable by about one in four Muslims in Britain and Spain, and one in three in France.
"We have crazies just like other faiths have them," said Eide Alawan, who directs interfaith outreach at the Islamic Center of America in Dearborn, Mich., one of the nation's largest mosques. He said killing innocent people contradicts Islam.
Andrew Kohut, Pew director, said in an interview that support for the attacks represented "one of the few trouble spots" in the survey.
The poll briefly describes the rationales for and against "suicide bombing and other forms of violence against civilian targets" and then asks, "Do you personally feel that this kind of violence is often justified to defend Islam, sometimes justified, rarely justified, or never justified?"
The question did not specify where a suicide attack might occur, who might carry it out or what was meant by using a bombing to "defend Islam."
Those of all ages backing at least some suicide attacks were about evenly divided between men and women, with support stronger from those who were U.S.-born and less educated, and those who attend mosques at least weekly.
In other findings:
- Only 5 percent of U.S. Muslims expressed favorable views of the terrorist group al-Qaida, though about a fourth did not express an opinion.
- Most said they are concerned about a rise in Islamic extremism in the U.S. and around the world.
- Only 40 percent said they believe Arab men carried out the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
- By six to one, they say the U.S. was wrong to invade Iraq, while a third say the same about Afghanistan - far deeper than the opposition expressed by the general U.S. public.
- Just over half said it has been harder being a U.S. Muslim since the 9/11 attacks. Nearly a third of those who flew in the past year say they underwent extra screening because they are Muslim.
- Forty-seven percent said they consider themselves Muslim first, rather than American. Forty-two percent of Christians and 62 percent of white evangelical Protestants identified themselves primarily by their religion in earlier surveys.
- By six-to-one, they favor the Democratic Party over the Republican Party, and by five-to-one say they voted for Democratic Sen. John Kerry over President Bush in 2004.
The survey estimates there are roughly 2.35 million Muslim Americans. Among adults, two-thirds are from abroad while a fifth are U.S.-born blacks.
By law, the Census Bureau does not ask about people's religions.
Telephone interviews were conducted with 1,050 Muslim adults from January through April, including in Arabic, Urdu and Farsi. Subjects were chosen at random, from a separate list of households including some with Muslim-sounding names, and from Muslim households that had answered previous surveys.
The margin of sampling error was plus or minus 5 percentage points
Poll: One in Four U.S. Muslims OK With Homicide Bombings Against Innocent Civilians
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
WASHINGTON -
One in four younger U.S. Muslims said in a poll that homicide bombings to defend their religion are acceptable at least in some circumstances, though most Muslim Americans overwhelmingly reject the tactic and are critical of Islamic extremism and Al Qaeda.
The survey by the Pew Research Center, one of the most exhaustive ever of the country's Muslims, revealed a community that in many ways blends comfortably into society. Its largely mainstream members express nearly as much happiness with their lives and communities as the general public does, show a broad willingness to adopt American customs, and have income and education levels similar to others in the United States.
Even so, the survey revealed noteworthy pockets of discontent.
While nearly 80 percent of U.S. Muslims say homicide bombings of civilians to defend Islam can not be justified, 13 percent say they can be, at least rarely.
That sentiment is strongest among those younger than 30. Two percent of them say it can often be justified, 13 percent say sometimes and 11 percent say rarely.
"It is a hair-raising number," said Radwan Masmoudi, president of the Washington-based Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy, which promotes the compatibility of Islam with democracy.
He said most supporters of the attacks likely assumed the context was a fight against occupation - a term Muslims often use to describe the conflict with Israel.
U.S. Muslims have growing Internet and television access to extreme ideologies, he said, adding: "People, especially younger people, are susceptible to these ideas."
Federal officials have warned the U.S. must guard against homegrown terrorism, as the British suffered with the London transit bombings of 2005.
Even so, U.S. Muslims are far less accepting of suicide attacks than Muslims in many other nations. In Pew surveys last year, support in some Muslim countries exceeded 50 percent, while it was considered justifiable by about one in four Muslims in Britain and Spain, and one in three in France.
"We have crazies just like other faiths have them," said Eide Alawan, who directs interfaith outreach at the Islamic Center of America in Dearborn, Mich., one of the nation's largest mosques. He said killing innocent people contradicts Islam.
Andrew Kohut, Pew director, said in an interview that support for the attacks represented "one of the few trouble spots" in the survey.
The poll briefly describes the rationales for and against "suicide bombing and other forms of violence against civilian targets" and then asks, "Do you personally feel that this kind of violence is often justified to defend Islam, sometimes justified, rarely justified, or never justified?"
The question did not specify where a suicide attack might occur, who might carry it out or what was meant by using a bombing to "defend Islam."
Those of all ages backing at least some suicide attacks were about evenly divided between men and women, with support stronger from those who were U.S.-born and less educated, and those who attend mosques at least weekly.
In other findings:
- Only 5 percent of U.S. Muslims expressed favorable views of the terrorist group al-Qaida, though about a fourth did not express an opinion.
- Most said they are concerned about a rise in Islamic extremism in the U.S. and around the world.
- Only 40 percent said they believe Arab men carried out the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
- By six to one, they say the U.S. was wrong to invade Iraq, while a third say the same about Afghanistan - far deeper than the opposition expressed by the general U.S. public.
- Just over half said it has been harder being a U.S. Muslim since the 9/11 attacks. Nearly a third of those who flew in the past year say they underwent extra screening because they are Muslim.
- Forty-seven percent said they consider themselves Muslim first, rather than American. Forty-two percent of Christians and 62 percent of white evangelical Protestants identified themselves primarily by their religion in earlier surveys.
- By six-to-one, they favor the Democratic Party over the Republican Party, and by five-to-one say they voted for Democratic Sen. John Kerry over President Bush in 2004.
The survey estimates there are roughly 2.35 million Muslim Americans. Among adults, two-thirds are from abroad while a fifth are U.S.-born blacks.
By law, the Census Bureau does not ask about people's religions.
Telephone interviews were conducted with 1,050 Muslim adults from January through April, including in Arabic, Urdu and Farsi. Subjects were chosen at random, from a separate list of households including some with Muslim-sounding names, and from Muslim households that had answered previous surveys.
The margin of sampling error was plus or minus 5 percentage points
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The survey estimates there are roughly 2.35 million Muslim Americans. Among adults, two-thirds are from abroad while a fifth are U.S.-born blacks.
2,350,000 x 25% that are willing to blow your ass up means there are half a million of these guys out there that are ready to kill you
can you please provide a link to this ? Thanks0 -
...homicide bombings to defend their religion are acceptable at least in some circumstances,
Are you sure that was not a quote from some of our own religous loonies who bomb abortion clinics or turn a blind eye to those who do? When I stop to think about what would happen if the world were not filled with people and groups who want to tell everyone else what to do, how to live their lives or fill them with all sorts of fairy tales about wonderful life after they drop dead and rot...this would be paradise!0 -
Estimated 2.35 million Muslims in America.
I think Arab groups were claiming 7 million but have recently bumped it up to 10 million. There are supposedly about 7 million Jewish people in America. So the Muslims were claiming an equal number but now they're claiming a greater number. I guess it's so that we should respect their opinions more.0 -
quote:Originally posted by Captplaid
Estimated 2.35 million Muslims in America.
I think Arab groups were claiming 7 million but have recently bumped it up to 10 million. There are supposedly about 7 million Jewish people in America. So the Muslims were claiming an equal number but now they're claiming a greater number. I guess it's so that we should respect their opinions more.
I do respect their opinions more. Every time I buy more ammo, I am respecting what they have to say.0 -
quote:Originally posted by kristov
...homicide bombings to defend their religion are acceptable at least in some circumstances,
Are you sure that was not a quote from some of our own religous loonies who bomb abortion clinics or turn a blind eye to those who do? When I stop to think about what would happen if the world were not filled with people and groups who want to tell everyone else what to do, how to live their lives or fill them with all sorts of fairy tales about wonderful life after they drop dead and rot...this would be paradise!
Just so you'll know, I hope everyone lives a good and moral life. I hope most of them believe in an afterlife and a creator. If they don't believe in a supreme power, so be it. I can't convince them otherwise. I don't want my beliefs dictating how they live in a free society, and other than breaking the law, I don't give a rats behind on what anyone believes or how they live.
But, if you plan to kill me or force me to live by your beliefs, I don't care who you call God, I'm not going to do it, and if you come to kill me, I'll do my best to do you first.
You can't compare 2% of radical Christians to 40% of radical Muslims and call it an equal comparison unless you're a democrat.0 -
Correct me if i am wrong but isnt defending the muslim faith what jihad is all about? 0 -
40% of 2,350,000 muslims in America equals 2% of 47,000,000 Christians. Now I don't know just how many Christians there are in America, but I bet the number is much higher than 47 million.
I know numbers can be confusing to liberals, but the way they see it, radical Muslims are still the minority when compared to the radical Christians. Again, numbers are confusing to them, but if there are 55,000,000 Christians in America, then 2 percent equals to 1,100,000 radicals. 40 percent of 2,350,000 muslims comes out to only 940,000 nut jobs. 1,100,000 is greater than 9,400,000.
Therefore, they still believe radical Christians are still the greater threat in America.
Besides, I think Rosie said it is so.0 -
...I find it pathetic that the libs don't think ANY number of musloon looneys is not a threat/problem. The percents do not have to be large, if the overall number is large.
...500,000+ musloons inside our border that find ANY scenario "acceptable" to carry out terroist acts; is WAY too many. Screw the "high moral ground", and the PC "rights for terrorist" crowd. I guess we can just chat with everyone that wants to destroy us, yeah that will work, right. Chamberlain "chatted" Hitler right up, what a job with words; THAT, worked out really well...[xx(]
...Keep it up and we will PC our butts into the same problems the Euro liberals or having with these musloon scumbags...[;)]
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I don't care what Muslims think, I don't care what Koreans think, I don't care what Mexicans think, I don't care what Somalis think, I don't care what Ethiopians think, I don't care what Iranians think, I don't care what El Salvadorans think, etc., etc., etc. ... !
... Hell, sometimes I don't even care what some of YOU think.
But, who's the best dancer in the land - you know - on that TV dance series!???
[:o)][:o)][:o)]0 -
Brain washed by a religion. Start them from the cradle and that is what they know.[:(] 0 -
bs,
there are a hundred times more christians here, and the muslims still hold their own when it comes to faith based violence!
quote:Originally posted by Captplaid
40% of 2,350,000 muslims in America equals 2% of 47,000,000 Christians. Now I don't know just how many Christians there are in America, but I bet the number is much higher than 47 million.
I know numbers can be confusing to liberals, but the way they see it, radical Muslims are still the minority when compared to the radical Christians. Again, numbers are confusing to them, but if there are 55,000,000 Christians in America, then 2 percent equals to 1,100,000 radicals. 40 percent of 2,350,000 muslims comes out to only 940,000 nut jobs. 1,100,000 is greater than 9,400,000.
Therefore, they still believe radical Christians are still the greater threat in America.
Besides, I think Rosie said it is so.0 -
Christians would still be killing those that didnt think their way if man hadnt passed laws making it illegal. After all they did it for centuries.[:(] It is easier to raise someone into a religion from the cradle than it is to kill em all.[:(]Only took them around 400 years to figure that one out.[:0] 0 -
well at least most christians are out of the middle ages here 0 -
quote:Originally posted by tsavo303
well at least most christians are out of the middle ages here
+1
The Muslims want to return to the seventh century,.......when they were the leaders of the world.
They haven't figured out that things have changed in that period of time, and that is the only way they can get back what they "miss"!
Walking around in a desert with a towel on your head, stepping in camel poop, just isn't considered "productive" anymore!0 -
I'm with Zipper on this one. I don't care what they believe, if they think they can change me I have something for them, and it comes in various calibers and velocities.
Even an old guy like me can take a few to meet their maker.0 -
What really gets me about this post is there is not one mention of actual numbers except in the first line...
I in 4....well if they use that for the 50%, that makes 2..if they use it for the 80%, its just over 3...
How many US muslims were asked?....I bet not all of them...anyone that has studied statistics knows how easily they can be skewed...
5 out of 10 is 50%, 8 out of 10 is 80%....
One(1) in four(4)...wow!!0 -
No one should be amazed by the "poll" results. Muslims are directed by their un"holy book" to lie, cheat and kill to gain advantage over non-muslims. Truth be told, closer to 100% truly believe in jihad in its most violent form in order for islam to gain world domination. Those who don't claim that belief are simply lying--or don't truly know their own religion, which is "sanitized and Westernized" for non-arab speaking people.
What's REALLY amazing are the MORONS spiritually-blinded ones on this forum who continue to equate a miniscule percent of a percent of so-called Christians who have committed violent acts (unable to cite Biblical mandates for their actions) with the HUGE number of muslims who have maimed and slaughtered millions all the WHILE QUOTING the KORAN as GROUNDS for their savagery.
Of course, if one hates the true living God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, anything vaguely related to Christianity is disgusting--and beyond their comprehension. Satan is a liar and has deceived many with his lies...and further seduced the God-haters to spread his lies. Spiritually blinded persons have NO HOPE of ever seeing truth unless God's Holy Spirit opens their eyes. If YOU don't see, pray that God will enable YOU to do so. If you CAN see, pray for those currently blind. Time is short and eternity lasts a long time. Even if one can't/won't believe in an "afterlife," just living out ones days here on the earth without being enslaved by (or KILLED BY) islam might be worth having ones eyes opened to the immediate truth!
Of course, you could be wrong--and die that way. Your choice. [:0]0 -
classic brainwashing of younger people with nothing to lose.
as they get older, have kids, jobs, income, and wealth, then they realize what life is really worth and change their minds.0 -
don't trust,don't beleive,ever...fk the bstds!![:0] 0 -
A rational person rejects all gods equally, because all of them are equally imaginary. How do we know that they are imaginary? Simply imagine that one of them is real. If one of these thousands of gods were actually real, then his followers would be experiencing real, undeniable benefits. These benefits would be obvious to everyone. The followers of a true god would pray, and their prayers would be answered. The followers of a true god would therefore live longer, have fewer diseases, have lots more money, etc. There would be thousands of statistical markers surrounding the followers of a true god.
Everyone would notice all of these benefits, and they would gravitate toward this true god. And thus, over the course of several centuries, everyone would be aligned on the one true god. All the other false gods would have fallen by the wayside long ago, and there would be only one religion under the one true god.
When we look at our world today, we see nothing like that. There are two billion Christians AND there are more than one billion Muslims, and their religions are mutually exclusive. There are thousands of other religions. When you analyse any of them, they all show a remarkable similarity -- there is absolutely no evidence that any of these gods exist.
What atrocities men put upon each other in the name of a god.[:(]0 -
quote:Originally posted by cactuspete1
A rational person rejects all gods equally, because all of them are equally imaginary. How do we know that they are imaginary? Simply imagine that one of them is real. If one of these thousands of gods were actually real, then his followers would be experiencing real, undeniable benefits. These benefits would be obvious to everyone. The followers of a true god would pray, and their prayers would be answered. The followers of a true god would therefore live longer, have fewer diseases, have lots more money, etc. There would be thousands of statistical markers surrounding the followers of a true god.
Everyone would notice all of these benefits, and they would gravitate toward this true god. And thus, over the course of several centuries, everyone would be aligned on the one true god. All the other false gods would have fallen by the wayside long ago, and there would be only one religion under the one true god.
When we look at our world today, we see nothing like that. There are two billion Christians AND there are more than one billion Muslims, and their religions are mutually exclusive. There are thousands of other religions. When you analyse any of them, they all show a remarkable similarity -- there is absolutely no evidence that any of these gods exist.
What atrocities men put upon each other in the name of a god.[:(]
Kinda like saying that because your yard has weeds over head-high that lawnmowers don't exist? Your "rationale" is flawed on so many levels, it's not worth dismantling here. [V][:X]0 -
quote:Originally posted by chrishiher
Correct me if i am wrong but isnt defending the muslim faith what jihad is all about?
Yeah and I will kill to defend my way of life too...and I have better and more stuff0 -
There is nothing to dismantle. Mostly lame excuses as to why there is no evidence of a gods existance.. Thats the bottom line,there is absolutely no evidence that any of these gods exist.
When you prove to me they do, then I will retract the statement and I dont want to hear the word "Faith" because faith is admitting you have no proof. Proof, Proof, Proof, that is all that is required as made in the statement.
If there was one iota of proof, then as the statement says, all would flock to the one true god if it indeed existed. Since it doesnt, there will continue to be many gods worshiped by many different cultures.. Again, where is the proof other than saying it is so?0 -
I realize that all religions have committed atrocities, however more americans are killed by americans than by Muslims every day and with 85% of americans claiming to be christians that means many christians are killing each other. I think more emphasis should be put on that fact. Stop the killing here by each other. One is just as bad as the other. Only difference is Muslims use religion now, where americans do it for fun or material things.[:(]OH I forgot, if a christian kills someone they arent a christian, but will be forgiven for killing if they confess to being a christian. [:0] 0 -
This is getting plain "dumb" now! 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Classic095
I realize that all religions have committed atrocities, however more americans are killed by americans than by Muslims every day and with 85% of americans claiming to be christians that means many christians are killing each other. I think more emphasis should be put on that fact. Stop the killing here by each other. One is just as bad as the other. Only difference is Muslims use religion now, where americans do it for fun or material things.[:(]OH I forgot, if a christian kills someone they arent a christian, but will be forgiven for killing if they confess to being a christian. [:0]
What "fact?" By your shabby math, there are 272,000,000 actual Born-again, Bible-believing, faith-practicing Christians in this country. (Based on reported numbers of 320,000,000 total Americans.) This leaves 48,000,000 NON-christians who are innocent of any violence or murder? Or are you saying there are as many as 272,000,000 murderers in this country? If this is true, we're losing population quickly (each murderer must have murdered at least one person, right?) Or that all murders in this country are committed by genuine Christians?
Please, Larry, hairy2 or whatever, you need to get back on the meds. Living so closed to Hudson, FL has twisted your mind. See above post about spiritually-blinded persons.0 -
quote:Originally posted by Ramtinxxl
No one should be amazed by the "poll" results. Muslims are directed by their un"holy book" to lie, cheat and kill to gain advantage over non-muslims. Truth be told, closer to 100% truly believe in jihad in its most violent form in order for islam to gain world domination. Those who don't claim that belief are simply lying--or don't truly know their own religion, which is "sanitized and Westernized" for non-arab speaking people.
What's REALLY amazing are the MORONS spiritually-blinded ones on this forum who continue to equate a miniscule percent of a percent of so-called Christians who have committed violent acts (unable to cite Biblical mandates for their actions) with the HUGE number of muslims who have maimed and slaughtered millions all the WHILE QUOTING the KORAN as GROUNDS for their savagery.
Of course, if one hates the true living God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, anything vaguely related to Christianity is disgusting--and beyond their comprehension. Satan is a liar and has deceived many with his lies...and further seduced the God-haters to spread his lies. Spiritually blinded persons have NO HOPE of ever seeing truth unless God's Holy Spirit opens their eyes. If YOU don't see, pray that God will enable YOU to do so. If you CAN see, pray for those currently blind. Time is short and eternity lasts a long time. Even if one can't/won't believe in an "afterlife," just living out ones days here on the earth without being enslaved by (or KILLED BY) islam might be worth having ones eyes opened to the immediate truth!
Of course, you could be wrong--and die that way. Your choice. [:0]
you are a piece of work0 -
mond does not overanaylize and assume equality like us americans-
refreshing!
quote:Originally posted by mond
don't trust,don't beleive,ever...fk the bstds!![:0]0 -
Originally posted by Ramtinxxl
No one should be amazed by the "poll" results. Muslims are directed by their un"holy book" to lie, cheat and kill to gain advantage over non-muslims.
You are correct, sir, and while you will not win any converts with your style, the truth is unpalitable to many.0
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