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Overview

How do Americans perceive Jews, Christians, Buddhists and Muslims?

What factors predict prejudice toward Muslim?

What factors predict no prejudice toward Muslims?

Conclusions

Thinking honestly about your feelings, how much prejudice, if any, do you feel toward each of the following religious groups?

Muslims

Christians

Jews

Buddhists

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

57%

82%

85%

85%

14%

8%

8%

8%

20%

6%

6%

5%

9%

4%

1%

1%0.01

None at all A little Some A great deal Don't know

(Among all American respondents)

What is your opinion of each of the following religions?

Christianity

Judaism

Buddhism

Islam

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

66%

25%

20%

9%

25%

46%

38%

33%

4%

10%

14%

22%

4%

15%

21%

31%

1%

4%

7%

5%

Very favorable Somewhat favorable Not too favorable Not favorable at all Don't know/Refused

(Among all American respondents)

How much knowledge would you say you have about each of the following religions?

Christianity

Judaism

Islam

Buddhism

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

67%

7%

3%

2%

27%

44%

34%

26%

4%

30%

40%

41%

2%

19%

23%

31%

A great deal of knowledge Some knowledge Very little knowledge None at all

(Among all American respondents)

Do you, yourself, happen to know anyone in the following religious groups, or not?

Christians

Jews

Muslims

Buddhists

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

99%

81%

52%

32%

1%

19%

47%

68%

Yes, know someone No, do not know anyone

(Among all American respondents)

The tone on Islam becomes worse and worse

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 82007 2008 2009

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

negative no clear rating positive

There has been no improvement in reporting about Islam in US TV news, as day-to-day religious life does not play a large role in news selection. As violence was the dominant news value, coverage became significantly more negative since autumn of 2008.

Basis: 9,268 statements in 3 US main evening TV news, 01/2007-08/2009

Long-term analysis

Islam in US TV news: Tone, 01/2007-08/2009

Source: MediaTenor

Christianity: Low volume of reporting in 2009

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 82007 2008 2009

0

500

1.000

1.500

2.000

negative no clear rating positive

Coverage of Christianity is volatile as only few events or scandals make for intensive coverage over a protracted period. The uproar about abuse of children in Catholic orphanages in Ireland proves the case.

Basis: 8,379 statements in 3 US main evening TV news, 01/2007-08/2009

Long-term analysis

Christianity in US TV news: Volume and tone, 01/2007-08/2009

Source: MediaTenor

8,1%

57,8%

4,5%

4,8%

17,3%

7,5% 0,1%

0,1%2,7%

0,5%

90,0%

6,7%

Fundamentalist Militant Politics Society Religion other

Violence shapes image of Islam

While religious organizations and leaders, clerics and believers are the dominant aspects of Christianity, fundamentalist and militant groups account for 2/3 of the coverage of Islam.

Islam Christianity

Basis: 4,618 / 1,772 statements in 4 US main evening TV news, 01-08/2009

Religion in US TV news, 2009

Islam and Christianity in US TV news: Perspective of reporting

Source: MediaTenor

Do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements about Muslims? Most Muslims around the world...

Want peace

Are accepting of people of races other than their own

Are accepting of other religions

Christians' and Muslims' religious beliefs are the same

Believe that women and men should have equal rights

Are accepting of homosexuals

70%

47%

30%

29%

16%

8%

27%

47%

66%

68%

81%

78%

3%

6%

4%

3%

3%

14%

Agree Disagree Don't know/Refused

(Among all American respondents)

Some people have also had discussions about the rights that should be guaranteed to women. Please tell me whether or not you generally agree with each of the following: Women and men should have equal legal rights

Iran

Saudi Arabia

Sudan (Muslims)

Egypt

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

89%

85%

78%

73%

9%

12%

20%

27%

2%

3%

2%

Agree Disagree Don't know/Refused

Surveys conducted in Sudan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt in 2009. Iran survey conducted in 2007.

Variables Associated With Prejudice Toward Muslims (Respondents self-reporting “a great deal” of prejudice toward Muslims)

Know any Muslims (No)

Religious attendance (< Once a week)

Know Islam's prophet (Yes)

Muslims are accepting of other races (Disagree)

Muslims are accepting of homosexuals (Agree)

Muslims want peace (Disagree)

Opinion of Islam (Not favorable at all)

Beliefs are the same (Disagree)

Prejudice toward Jews (A great deal)

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35

2

2.4

2.4

2.4

2.5

2.5

4.8

4.8

31.6

Odds Ratio

Variables Associated With Non-Prejudice Toward Muslims (Respondents self-reporting “none at all” of prejudice toward Muslims)

Religious attendance ( > once a week)

Muslims want peace (Agree)

Muslims believe in equal rights (Agree)

Opinion of Islam (Very favorable)

Race (Nonwhite)

Prejudice toward Christians (None at all)

Prejudice toward Jews (None at all)

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20

2.1

2.2

2.2

2.2

2.3

4.2

11.2

Odds Ratio

Variables Associated With Non-Prejudice toward Muslims (Respondents self-reporting “none at all” of prejudice toward Muslims)

Education (Less than college)

Age (30+)

Opinion of Christianity (Somewhat favorable, Not too favorable, Not favorable at all)

Income ( < $50,000)

Muslims are accepting of other religions (Agree)

Muslims are accepting of other races (Agree)

Know Islam's holy book (No)

0 1 2 3 4 5

1.6

1.6

1.6

1.6

1.7

1.8

1.9

Odds Ratio

Conclusions

Of the four faith groups asked about, Americans express the most prejudice toward Muslims

Self-reported prejudice toward Jews is most strongly associated with “a great deal” of prejudice toward Muslims

Frequent religious service attendance is associated with reports of “no prejudice.”

A favorable opinion of Islam is associated with “no prejudice”, whereas personally knowing a Muslim is not.

Methodology

Nationally representative Field dates

– Oct. 31 to Nov. 13, 2009 The total number of completed surveys used in the analysis

for this report is 1,002 The design effect-adjusted margin of error for the overall

study is ±3.4 percentage points Cumulative response rates

– Wave 1 – 7.9%