Most Minnesotans say religion plays a role in causing war, and most also think that certain religions are more likely than others to encourage violence among their believers.
In a Minnesota Poll taken in early December, 77 percent of respondents attributed at least a fair amount of the cause of the world's wars and conflict to religion. And nearly three in five said that some religions are more likely than others to encourage violence among their believers.
When the 1,049 respondents to the Dec. 2-8 poll were asked about specific religions, 34 percent said that Islam is more likely to encourage its believers to be violent, compared with 3 percent for Christianity, 5 percent for Judaism, 5 percent for Buddhism and 7 percent for Hinduism. Half said Islam does not promote violence more than other religions; 81 percent said that about Judaism; 91 percent about Christianity; 73 percent about Buddhism, and 68 percent about Hinduism.
As Bill Beschnett, 61, of Waseca, said of Islam, "They say, 'We're a religion of peace,' and I say, 'Show me.' "
But Karen Jenkins, a Lutheran from Minnetonka and a member of a group of Christians and Muslims that meets monthly, said she was cheered by the finding that 50 percent believe that Islam does not encourage violence. "I think part of the problem is that people don't have much contact with Muslims," she said. "When they meet them like ordinary people on a daily basis that changes their perceptions."
In fact, the poll found that only 24 percent said they have a basic understanding of Islam, a smaller percentage than a year ago.
Media bias
Owais Bayunus, a Muslim member of the group, said he believes that the media are biased against Muslims and that that damages Islam's reputation. "The media portrayal is biased and promotes terror," the Cottage Grove man said. "I'm concerned that young children in America will grow up with these ideas. The media is the only source of information about Islam." He reads a lot of international newspapers online daily, he said, and he finds European newspapers less biased than American.
Bonn Clayton, who founded the Muslim-Christian group 18 years ago with the help of the Minnesota Council of Churches, said: "The thing that's really hurt Islam from the media is the reporting of all the violence and inflammatory statements. Those are the things that cause the bad image of Islam. If it weren't reported as much, maybe it would be better, but it's endemic."
In a 2002 national poll, 47 percent told the Pew Research Center that they believe that some religions are more likely than others to promote violence, and 25 percent said Islam is more likely to promote violence.
In the Minnesota Poll, those who say that Islam does not encourage violence among its believers tend to be younger women, college graduates and those without religious preference. Frequency of attendance at weekly worship services seems to make no difference in that belief, nor does being a self-professed born-again Christian.
Education difference
On the other hand, education seems to make a big difference in attitudes. Sixty percent of college graduates said Islam does not spur its believers to violence, compared with 36 percent of those with less than a high school education.
Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer, a Lutheran who teaches about peace and justice at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, argues that Christianity has just as violent a tradition in its teachings as either Islam or Judaism. He has written a new book, "Is Religion Killing Us?"
He said, "I think Christians, Jews and Muslims do reasonably well in terms of compassion and concern for others, but we do it more in spite of rather than because of our sacred texts. Most of us have found ways of ignoring the violence of God in the Christian tradition."
While Minnesotans seem conflicted about Islam, they are clear that Muslims and people of other ethnic and religious groups can fit into this country. Seventy-eight percent of respondents said they believe that people who practice religions such as Islam can fit well into American society.
Historically, Judaism, Christianity and Islam are credited with coming from the same theological source. They are often called the three great monotheistic religions that claim Abraham as a founder. Yet many Minnesotans don't know that.
Fifty-four percent of respondents said they believe that their faith and Islam have very little in common, about the same as the national Pew poll found. Most of the respondents in both polls said they are Christians.
Favor others
Forty-two percent of the state's adults have a favorable view of Islam, similar to national figures, and 36 percent unfavorable. More than a fifth had no opinion about Islam.
Clayton expressed disappointment with the numbers. "I would have thought more people would be favorable to Islam," he said, "but perhaps I'm biased because of my closeness to Islam. After Sept. 11, 2001, and other things, people have developed some incorrect, negative attitudes that will just have to work themselves out until they understand that Islam is a religion of peace and, like other religions, highly deserving of respect."
Jenkins sees much good in the numbers. "I'm surprised at the positive numbers, especially with all the negative news coming out of Palestine," she said.
The three friends and ecumenical colleagues said they actually found some good in the fact that a smaller percentage than last year has a basic understanding of Islam.
Jenkins said, "I think that's progress. It indicates that people are not being superficial. They thought they knew Islam, but now they know better."
Clayton said, "They know how much they don't know."
Bayunus said that when he talks to groups, "people already know more about Islam than they did before. I feel they're more knowledgeable. Just today I was with some people, and their questions were deep, well-placed. It showed much more information about Islam. They're even saying that the impression they're getting about Islam from the media isn't the right one. I wouldn't have expected that five years ago."
Thirty-five percent of Minnesota Poll respondents said Jews, Muslims and Christians worship the same God. When asked direct comparisons, 77 percent said Christians and Jews worship the same God, while only 40 percent said Christians and Muslims worship the same God.
For Clayton, Jenkins and Bayunus, the sticking point for many, they say, is how God is defined in the three faiths and the words used to describe God. Bayunus said, "The personality of God is the difference. There's no difference between the God who created everyone."
For Clayton, who's a Congregationalist, it's a search for the truth. "It says in the Qur'an, the truth will knock out the untruth."