Though Muslims compose a tiny fraction in the usa, in addition to their holy publication and lots of of its spiritual traditions are distinctly their particular, Muslim People in the us was in no way “the other” when it comes to religious existence or government throughout the United States. In manners, they stand out not really much for their distinctions for the similarities with other religious organizations.
Within their amount of religious connection, Muslim Us americans most directly resemble light evangelicals and you can black colored Protestants. Within very first political orientation, it directly end up like black colored Protestants together with seculars. When it comes to the feedback on specific societal things, such homosexuality, Muslims’ conservatism matches regarding light evangelicals. Muslims try even more most likely than simply evangelicals or other group to help with a job to have bodies when you look at the protecting morality.
Religion
Muslims make up lower than 1 percent of the nation’s populace, whereas seven-in-ten Us americans is Religious. Recent public-opinion studies by Pew Research Cardiovascular system realize that, according to the intensity of their faith, Muslim Americans extremely directly end up like white evangelicals and black colored Protestants. Within the three teams, high majorities (72% away from Muslim People in the us, 79% off light evangelicals and you may 85% off black colored Protestants) say religion is “important” in their own lifetime. Those individuals significantly high percent put the about three organizations except that Catholics (49%) and you will light mainline Protestants (36%).
Whenever asked about the way they consider their individual identity, only about 25 % (28%) of all of the Muslim Us citizens state it identify on their own basic because a keen American rather than because the an effective Muslim. This amount was strikingly just like the percentage of white evangelicals (28%) just who state they feel of on their own basic because American and just secondarily given that Christian. Actually, a top part of evangelicals (62%) identify on their own first by the their faith than simply manage Muslims (47%). (On the that-5th off Muslim Us americans – 18% – say they think away from on their own while the one another American and you can Muslim.)
Half Muslim Americans (50%) view the Koran while the word of Goodness to be taken practically, sentence after sentence. Majorities regarding both light evangelicals (66%) and you can black Protestants (68%) hold a comparable view of this new Bible. Certainly one of Catholics and light mainline Protestants, in comparison, fewer than simply half (25% and twenty two%, respectively) need a literal look at the Scriptures.
Not one on the should be to suggest that Muslims and Christians carry out not have extremely other religion and practices. Still, the fresh new resemblance from inside the religious concentration of Muslims to numerous organizations one to might think out-of themselves as entirely in the place of Muslims was hitting.
Partisanship and you will Ideology
Even in the event light evangelicals display similarities having Muslims regarding spiritual strength, the two communities are very different when it comes to its particular political orientation. Muslim Us citizens, this means, are more politically liberal than just evangelicals, plus equivalent inside their very first political outlook so you’re able to black Protestants, secular People in the us and you will, often times, white mainline Protestants.
Certainly one of Muslims, only 11% say he is Republicans or lean Republican; the newest shape is comparable (10%) certainly black colored Protestants. Certainly white evangelicals, brand new portion of Republicans (57%) is over 5 times high – leading them to, from this level, the group which is very instead of Muslim People in the us.
From the half dozen-in-ten Muslims state he could be often Democrats otherwise slim Popular, approximately an equivalent ratio because certainly one of secular Americans. Black colored Protestants is alot more greatly Democratic than Muslims, when you find yourself light evangelicals try dramatically reduced Popular.
The largest variety of Muslim People in america identify its governmental ideology since the “moderate,” as is the situation with a lot of other communities. The fresh “moderate” class has 38% from Muslims, 40% out of seculars, 41% away from black colored Protestants, 44% of light mainline Protestants and 46% away from white Catholics. White evangelicals split this pattern, into the prominent matter identifying on their own because the conservatives (55%), before moderates (30%).
These partisan and you will ideological needs was reflected from the 2004 presidential election. Aggregation of your own 50 state hop out polls conducted by the Federal Election Pond shows that more than eight-in-10 Muslim voters (85%) offered John Kerry when you look at the 2004. This makes Muslims similar to black colored Protestants (86%) within their service to possess Kerry, and you may somewhat more greatly Democratic inside their choose than just Jews (74%) and you can secular voters (67%).
The right Part from Authorities
With the matter of ideal size and you can range off bodies, a strong most Muslim Americans (70%) say they prefer a larger government that give a whole lot more characteristics rather than just an inferior regulators taking a lot fewer functions, a desires nearly identical to regarding black Protestants. One of evangelicals (together with white Catholics and white mainline Protestants), majorities show a preference to possess quicker authorities.
Even with its seemingly liberal political positioning, Muslims never need liberal positions towards every facts. Into societal activities, he could be significantly more the same as light evangelicals. About 60% of Muslim Us americans, for-instance, say that homosexuality might be discouraged, a statistic near to you to recorded one of white evangelicals, and significantly more than certainly one of other teams.
On matter-of whether or not authorities shall be in securing morality, Muslim Us citizens is far more supportive away from authorities step than simply evangelicals (or other classification). Approximately half a dozen-in-10 Muslims (59%) believe that government need to do significantly more to guard morality, weighed against only 30% exactly who state they care that the bodies is getting too inside in the issue of morality. Certainly every other biggest religious communities, not even half express the scene that regulators should do significantly more to protect morality.
Muslims and stay ahead of almost every other organizations with the problem of immigration, possibly to some extent once the a few-thirds (65%) off Muslim People in america try first-age bracket immigrants themselves. When questioned if or not immigrants strengthen otherwise load the country, for-instance, nearly around three-in-five Muslims state immigrants fortify the country. So it professional-immigrant sentiment is much greater than one to viewed among other religious teams. (Catholic Hispanic Us americans – several other class complete with a high part of basic-generation immigrants – will be exclusion. Expected a slightly various other matter during chat room vegan the an early on Pew questionnaire, two-thirds from Catholic Hispanic People in the us said that broadening quantities of immigrants strengthened Western people.)
End
In manners, Muslim People in america look like a good mosaic of several other Western groups, discussing particular faculties with our other groups whilst not becoming identical to virtually any ones. He or she is anything but completely apart; in fact, inside the crucial respects, Muslim People in america reflect the new spiritual and political opinions kept from the most most other People in america.