Islam According to Gallup
Dalia Mogahed spoke at July's Common Word Conference at Yale University, where hundreds of moderate Muslims and evangelical Christian scholars met seeking better understanding. As senior analyst and executive director of the Gallup Center for Muslim Studies, Mogahed travels widely, engaging audiences on what Muslims think. Her analysis has appeared in The Economist, The Financial Times, and The Wall Street Journal. Mogahed, a Muslim, lives in Washington, D.C., with her husband and two sons. Also attending the conference was Warren Larson, director of the Zwemer Center for Muslim Studies at Columbia International University and author of Islamic Ideology and Fundamentalism in Pakistan: Climate for Conversion to Christianity?
Here, Larson interviews Mogahed about the book she coauthored with John Esposito, Who Speaks For Islam? What a Billion Muslims Really Think (Gallup Press, 2008). The idea for the book was born shortly after 9/11, when Donald Rumsfeld was asked how Muslims felt about the attacks on the U.S. He replied, "I don't know; it's not like you can take a Gallup poll." The survey covered 90 percent of the global Muslim population on, among other things, Muslims' views of democracy, extremism, jihad, and women's rights, and Americans' views of Islam.
What surprised you most in your findings?
It was how much Americans and residents of majority-Muslim countries have in common. This flies in the face of conventional wisdom that paints a picture of an inherently conflict-ridden relationship. Americans are as likely, for example, as Iranians to say religious leaders should have no part in crafting a constitution. We found that 57 percent of Americans think the Bible should have at least some role in legislation. (Nine percent ...
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John Rickets
What grass has this guy been smoking? About 95% of all the violence in this world is related to Islam. Even now as I am writting Muslims have perpetrated a bloodbath in Mumbai, India. Its not only Palestine, look at any place where Muslims live (Thailand, India, Phillipenes, Indonesia, Ambon, Ossetia, Russia, Armenia, China, etc.. and the Muslim world). Just look at the life of the Prophet Muhammad who assasinated thousands, he is no doubt the best example of the Islamic violence. Islam has taken crime, like murder, looting and rape, and has turned it into a noble deed if done to further the Islamic cause. Crime and lust are lifted up to become "holy" deeds.
Gil T
Alas! Dalia Mogahed has played right into my hands! Really, the information and the intent are good. My problem is how many Christians might believe “now I understand those Muslims” because they’ve reviewed the latest Gallup poll. This “survey” mindset is the atrophy of many disciples: “What church do you attend?” “Does your church believe in speaking in tongues?” Every item in their list is checked off and they believe they know the individual when all their survey has confirmed are some matters of doctrine and little or nothing about the individual. Better to think about how we can create dialog rather than checklists. For example: “Do you go to church?” “Yes, I break bread (worship, fellowship, rejoice) with the saints as often as we come together.” There are several points in this response for the enquirer to pull out for further clarification or discussion.
Leviel
I am saddened by the responses to this article. It's aim was to point out that Muslims are human, just as Christians are - and that most people want the same basic things (which typically excludes killing other people) out of life. This hatred against other people based solely on one fact deeply concerns me; not only is it discrimination, but it also stinks of radicalism. The first step is to recognise each person you meet as a fellow human being; to _love_ them regardless of ANYTHING. Only after that should you start worrying about those "anything"s.