70% of Americans Say Their Religion Is Very Different From Islam

"Public Expresses Mixed Views of Islam, Mormonism" (Pew Research Center)

"A new national survey reveals some notable similarities, as well as major differences, in the ways that Americans view these faiths and their followers. Public impressions of both religions are hazy - 58% say they know little or nothing about Islam's practices, while 51% have little or no awareness of the precepts and practices of Mormonism. The number of people who say they know little or nothing about Islam has changed very little since 2001."

From the full survey report, on average 70% of those surveyed believe their religion is very different from Islam. Among white evangelical Protestants, this number jumps to 83%! Compare this to November 2001--just one month after the 9/11 terrorist attacks--when the average only 52%. What's the cause of this change?

For more, read the full Pew Research Center Report.

Suggested reading for exploring similarities between Islam, Judaism, and Christianity:

A History of God: The 4000-year Quest of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, by Karen Armstrong
BT98.A65 1993

The Children of Abraham: Judaism, Christianity, Islam, by F.E. Peters
BM157.P47 2004

Three Faiths, One God: The Formative Faith and Practice of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, by Jacob Neusner, Bruce Chilton, William Graham
BL221.N45 2002

Keywords: Koran or Quran, monotheism--comparative studies, God--comparative studies, God--history of doctrines, intertextuality