Pew: Americans ages 65+ object to NYC mosque 63%-21%; young adults (18-29) support it 50%-36%.

[Ian David]

RT @pewresearch: Americans ages 65+ object to NYC mosque 63%-21%; young adults (18-29) support it 50%-36%. http://pewrsr.ch/d3fdsa

Public Remains Conflicted Over Islam
August 24, 2010

The public continues to express conflicted views of Islam. Favorable opinions of Islam have declined since 2005, but there has been virtually no change over the past year in the proportion of Americans saying that Islam is more likely than other religions to encourage violence. As was the case a year ago, slightly more people say the Islamic religion does not encourage violence more than other religions (42%) than say that it does (35%).

Amid controversy over the proposed construction of an Islamic cultural center and mosque near the former site of the World Trade Center, more Americans agree with those who object to the building of the center than with the supporters of the project (51% to 34%).

At the same time, 62% say that Muslims should have the same rights as other religious groups to build houses of worship in their local communities; just 25% say local communities should be able to block mosques in their area if they do not want them.

<snip>

As in the past, there are substantial partisan, educational and age differences in opinions about Islam. By more than two-to-one (54% to 21%), Republicans express an unfavorable opinion of Islam; the balance of opinion among independents is negative (40% unfavorable vs. 28% favorable). Among Democrats, favorable opinions of Islam outnumber unfavorable ones by 41% to 27%.



<snip>

Most Know Little about Muslim Religion

As in previous Pew Research surveys, most Americans say they know little about the Muslim religion. Currently, 55% say they do not know very much (30%) or know nothing at all (25%) about the Muslim religion and its practices; 35% say they know some about the religion while just 9% say they know a great deal. These numbers are largely unchanged from 2007.


More:
http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1706/poll-americans-views-of-muslims-object-to-new-york-islamic-center-islam-violence

[aquart]

1. But it's NOT A MOSQUE.

Right?

[Ian David]

2. It's like the YMCA for Muslims. The YMIA. n/t

[Igel]

12. The YMCA I went to didn't contain a church.

This "cultural center" contains a mosque. At times, it will function as a cultural center for a religion-, not an ethnic-, defined group. At times it will serve as a religious center for a religion-defined group.

People cavil over calling the prayer hall a mosque as though English were straitened by shari'ah or constrained by a non-existent semantic isomorphism between English and Arabic.

[madrchsod]

3. new york city is 891 miles and 14 hrs from where i live...

why in the hell should i care if new york city has a Islamic center near 'ground zero'.

[dkf]

4. Its become an international incident

You should care because people in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan care.

[Deep13]

5. ages 18-29 support the right to build it.

That's not the same as supporting the project. I don't agree with the building of any religious building anywhere. I think religion is bad for humanity and would never encourage its expansion anywhere. For that reason, I do not support this project in NY while at the same time I don't oppose it either. Obviously, I agree that there is a Constitutional right to build religious buildings.

By the way, the Park 51 project is headed by an Iman and will be able to accomodate 1000-2000 Muslims praying. How is that not a mosque?

[Starbucks Anarchist]

7. Because it's a community center that also includes a mosque.

[Deep13]

9. Gotcha. Good explanation. nt

[pampango]

6. I've seen polls that reflected the same youth tolerance for gay marriage, interracial

dating/marriage, and immigrants (legal and illegal). Not sure how this happened given the pervasive RW media circus dominating the culture. Maybe parents or schools or the kids themselves deserve some credit for this generation of non-homophobic, non-racist, non-xenophobic people.

The question remains whether they will keep these views as they mature or whether these "idealistic" world views will evolve as they grow older and "wiser".

[snooper2]

8. That's why we will be much better off in about two decades

These leftover racist ignorant fucks born in the 30's and 40's will pretty much have died off...

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[kctim]

11. Maybe so

but at least they were willing to give a hard days work for what they needed instead of waiting for others to give it to them.

[bullwinkle428]

13. So everyone younger than 64 expects things to be handed to them?

Congrats on winning the "GREATEST GENERALIZATION EVER" award at DU!

[kctim]

14. Thank you

but please tell me that "people born before 1946 suck..." was at least in the running.