After the latest violent attack (in Paris) perpetrated by an extremist segment of the muslim religion, many muslims (including many imams) have registered their horror over what was done -- and have tried to make it clear that violence is not representative of islam. Do Americans accept that?
A Public Religion Research Institute study says probably not -- because Americans have a very troubling double standard when it comes to religion. Most are very willing to separate violent christian extremists (and there have been many) from the christian religion -- saying these extremists do not represent christianity. But they are not as forgiving when it comes to islam.
Only 13% of Americans believe christian extremists represent christianity, while a much larger 44% say muslim extremists represent islam. That percentage goes down to 10% among Republicans, and up slightly to 17% among Democrats.
And the same huge gap exists among those saying those extremists do NOT represent their religion -- with 83% saying extremists do not represent christianity (86% of Republicans and 78% of Democrats). But only 48% are willing to say extremists do not represent islam (40% of Republicans and 51% of Democrats).
I would have expected those kind of numbers from Republicans (since their base includes a large number of evangelicals), but it is very disappointing to see about 40% of Democrats believing the extremists represent more than a billion muslims throughout the world (because Democrats are usually more liberal and oppose bigotry).
I'm very disappointed in Americans. Either extremists (of any religion) represent that religion or they do not. I'm an atheist, but I don't believe extremists (especially violent extremists) represent the whole of any religious (or political) group. Lumping everyone in a group with the extremists is just a backdoor form of bigotry.
