Quick, What's The Most Diverse Religious Group in America?

If you said Kabbalah, you spend too much time reading People magazine. If you said Muslim, you've probably read the Gallup Center for Muslim Studies "first comprehensive study of the Muslim American community and its habits, perspectives and beliefs."

Comprehensive is pretty much the word. Not distinguishing between native and foreign-born Muslims, the center conducted more than 300,000 national household interviews over the past year to try to coalesce the most accurate picture yet of what it means to be Muslim in America. Among the findings, as alluded to, Muslims are the most diverse religion in America in terms of ethnicity. According to the study:

Muslim Americans represent the only faith community without a majority race. They are black, white, Asian and Hispanic. African-Americans, not Arabs, make up the largest ethnic group (35 percent).

Synchronicity in play: At its annual Saviors' Day event outside Chicago this past weekend, the theme for the Nation of Islam -- previously a black nationalism Muslim movement -- was preaching the gospel of diversity, inclusion and outreach to more immigrants, Asians and Native Americans.

In addition to being diverse, Muslims also tend to be younger, and enjoy a higher employment rate than the general population:

More than a third (36 percent) of Muslim Americans are between the ages of 18 and 29, significantly more than the general public (18 percent). They are more likely than any other group to report being at work or school, with 70 percent reporting having a job, compared with the general public at 64 percent.

The fact that the majority of American Muslims are educated and employed is significant. Going on eight years after 9/11, there's still fear in some quarters that American Muslim sleeper cells exist. While the possibility can't be wholly discounted, the education and income levels of American Muslims tend to reduce that possibility.

In his online series on "why American Muslims don't blow things up," Slate's Timothy Noah delves into the Melting-Pot Theory, which pretty much asserts that smarts and good pay (along with the fact Muslims only make up about 1 percent of the population) tend to cool anti-American fervor.

For more perspective, visit That Minority Thing.com

Comments

[Koolmorning]

Even benign article on a the liberal HP elicits Anti-Muslims posts. Negative opinions of Islam and Muslims are "free speech" not to be constrained by the bounds of political correctness or naive civility. These opinions are said to be sad but important "FACTS."

All terrorists are Muslims. Islam=Violence and Intolerance, Muslims are not, and can not be good Americans. Moderate Muslims are not true Muslims for they do not fully understand their religion.
Muslims are at best, potential enemies that must be watched.

Conclusion:
Islam is not something that could be incorporated into the American project of religious freedom, it's inherently contradictory to American values since it comes with a political and social package.
But I do not believe that doing so will signal the beginning of the end of the American experiment.
American values are more likely to influence Islam, and I believe we will have new understanding of the religion that it's American adherents are very comfortable with. And you can not get that anywhere else including Europe.
Since we are not likely to pass a law prohibiting Islam, or exile all Muslims. I see no other remedy to the presumed "Muslims problem." American Islam is already here, and when Muslims here get their act together, will be over there. Iran, with it's young population, is an excellent market for this commodity.

Needless to say, this takes time. Hate against Muslims in general, and negative blanket critic of the religion-however true-prolong the process

[antaeus]

"Islam is not something that could be incorporated into the American project of religious freedom, it's inherently contradictory to American values since it comes with a political and social package."

It's the whole integration thing, isn't it? After all, we turn a blind eye to the German-speaking, quilt-making, possibly child-abusing Amish because those religious zealots don't demand that the mainstream secular culture accommodate them. They might dislike certain aspects of "English" culture, but they're not going to raise a fuss if the local newspaper prints a cartoon.

[chaos4700]

Just how many groups are you prejudiced against? You want to take a jab at Hispanics while you're at it? How about African Americans?

[Koolmorning]

Oh, the cartoons. What rational people could possibly be upset over cartoons?

Two weeks ago it was Black Americans rightfully a little upset over the NY Post racist "cartoon." The Profit Muhammad cartoon uproar was not echoed here in the Muslim community. perhaps because they developed thick skin, my Muslim Neighbors didn't burn the Liquor store over it.
I'm glade you brought up the cartoons, because it validated my view.
The truth about these cartoons is we know the limits of free speech, because WE set them ourselves. We decided that these cartoons should be excluded from our self censored daily main stream media. Usual applicable standards of decency and sensivitity did not apply. in other-words, we uncensored them.
Do you think the counter uproar over the cartoons was really about "free speech"?

We felt strongly about the need to convey a harsh message. That Muslims may see their prophet as holy and peaceful, but we believe him to be otherwise. They got that message, but they also learned that "free speech" is really a selective process. After the original publisher of the cartoons hinted of supporting the free speech aspect of a retaliatory Iranian contest to poke fun at the Jewish holocaust, and was promptly sacked!
We thought it was sinister and evil, which it was. And the good thing was, Jews did not riot.
Muslims could not retaliate using Jesus image in a derogatory manner since that for them, that will be blasphemous.

[checkmoot]

I didn't know terrorist Timothy McVeigh was a Muslim. Thanks for sharing your knowlege. Incidentally, if you were to ask Muslims who are the greatest terrorists they would probably say Christians. We have killed a helluve lot more Muslims than they have killed Christians. I think this is the third time Iraq has been invaded by Christian countrys since World War One. Twice by The Brits and once by us and the Brits.

[3in1]

The "Nation of Islam" has not been able to throw off their Christian roots. Too many are returning to the black christian churchs. Here in Chicago they are way behind the black churchs in helping the common folks.

In the 1930's the workers organized into unions and the labor laws came in to being.

NOI thought whites were not educating blacks correctly. Black studies, civil rights, etc started correcting education.

The Holy Spirit wants all to receive Jesus as Lord. Isalm may say "Allah-u Akbar " Those who leave Isalm and say "Jesus is Lord" and thank God that He came to serve them and be their Savior. To set them (white sinners) free. To set the example and be a slave to mankind who He created. And set the example to serve all of His children. Jesus saved us all (muslim Jew and Christian All of Asia Africa and all the the world.) And "ET's" too.

You too, My dear John Ridley

Man will not become God. Wallace Fard was not God and he did not claim to be. But men thought he was the messiah.

[SethBLiNK]

The Nation of Islam has little to do with the Muslim Religion. Most muslims are not members of "The Nation" and many of their views are diametrically opposed.

It's unfortunate that because of the Nation of Islam's high profile, many Americans confuse it with the religion.

[jinsei]

I really think everyone should be encouraged to learn about other cultures (any culture) that is very different from their own. Too often people selfishly and arrogantly expect that everyone should learn or care about their own culture but then never bother to learn about others! For random example, how often do Muslim people really get to know or take the time Chinese culture and history, or about Buddhism? How often do American black people learn about, say, Turkish culture? Or do American Jewish people take the time to learn or care about, say Indian culture, or Hinduism? Or Indian Americans learning about Swedish people? These are all random examples, and I'm overgeneralizing, but my point is that people (not just whites, or "Westerners") are selfish about culture and the world can be better when there's cross communication and interest in cultures/religion/ethnicities that are very different from one's own!

In fact, people of ALL backgrounds can learn a lot about themselves when they break out of their comfort zones and try learning/getting to know people of very different backgrounds. I feel really strongly about this!

[jinsei]

I forgot to add, people should also bring a little flexibility into their lives as well in terms of their habits, likes and dislikes.

[Curdleberg]

I think all religion su.cks, and Islam is certainly no exception...in fact, it would be silly to deny that there are aw.ful things happening in its name around the world that don't happen in any other religion.

[daffey]

The biggest boon for Islam, and why it grows post-9/11, is of course our deplorable knowledge of history, and the tendency that the post-modern world has of laying the evils of the world at the feet of traditional pillars of Western Culture (heck, some believe that all of Western culture is the harbinger of all ills and the world will be better without it). I watched a PBS special about Islam and almost converted. What's not to love? No criticism, no critique, no negative, nothing. It was as if the special was made by an Islamic outreach group. When I give lectures on history and mention, say, that the Crusades were spurred on when the Seljuk Turks, having consolidated their influence in the Muslim world, renewed the age old desire held by previous Islamic dynasties to finally take out Constantinople, I"m met with deer-in-the-headlights looks. What? I thought the Crusades were started by evil European Christians because, you know, that's what evil European Christians did. So the complete upheaval of history in the last few decades, a fear of confronting any negative aspects of Islam by the post-modern Left, and increasing attacks by a homogenous education system catering to secular bias is helping Islam make inroads across the national spectrum. I’m sure there are other reasons, but those have to be at the top. Good for them. Maybe they can make something out of the moral dung heap that has become Western Culture.

[MajorKong]

The Crusades predate the Turkish conquest of Constantinople.

In fact, the Crusaders at one point sacked Constantinople on their way to Jerusalem. The Byzantines were the "wrong kind" of Christians after all.

[MyNameIsJames]

I think that it is time that we clarify a few things about Islam in the United States.

Islam is practiced ( overall) in a tolerant way in the United States
Why?

1) Muslims are a relatively small group of people who immigrated to the United States in search of a better life.

2) Muslims tend to belong to groups that are considered racial/ethnic minorities in this nation. They tend to embrace this identity as a protection against potential threats from the majority population

In short Islam is not a threat in the United States of America

HOWEVER

This face of Islam in the United States is NOT the face of Islam around the world.

In many areas of the world Islam is

1) Highly orthodox -meaning Islam expects compliance to its laws and traditions - Individuals who choose not to abide by the rules will often encounter massive disapproval and stringent sanctions
2) Fundamentalist - There are nations where Islam is extreme in terms of how it views EVERY aspect of your life. Women are relegated to 2nd class status and its justified by the religious authorities.
3) Confrontational with other faiths - especially Christianity - look at Nigeria

This face of Islam is more typical than what we see in the United States.

Those who say that Islam is a religion of PEACE should also add that it is also a faith (along with Christianity) of bigotry and control.

[chaos4700]

Don't believe your lyin' eyes, believe the press releases and the propaganda and the Islamophobia mythology, huh? You're not being very convincing.

[vishix]

american islam is totally different than desert islam. once the population becomes significant enought and reaches a certain percentage of total population... they'll start demanding their own seperate state with sharia law. this is the way it is in any country where there islam is a large minority.

[3rdCitizen]

“The men who came to train in Afghanistan in the 1990s were not impoverished social failures. As a group, they mirrored the 'model young Egyptians' who formed the terrorist groups that Saad Eddin Ibrahim had studied in the early eighties. Most of the prospective al-Qaeda recruits were from the middle or upper class, nearly all of them from intact families. They were largely college-educated, with a strong bias toward the natural sciences and engineering. Few of them were products of religious schools; indeed, many had trained in Europe or the United States and spoke as many as five different languages. They did not show signs of mental disorders. Many were not even very religious when they joined the jihad.” – “The Looming Tower” by Lawrence Wright.

Reminds me of a line in the movie “O Lucky Man!” – “Revolution is the opiate of the intellectuals.”

[desthmoneses]

Tell that to the Khmer Rouge

[3rdCitizen]

I don't expect to change the minds of any fundamentalist anti-religious reductionists, but for what it's worth, I'm a Christian who has read Dawkins & Hawking & Flew & Sartre & Nietsche, to name just a few. I find no conflict between my faith and science, and certainly not between my faith and reason. For those who are open-minded when it comes to intellectually honest discussions, I would suggest Kitty Ferguson's "The Fire in the Equations," Ian Barbour's "Religion and Science," and any of John Polkinghorne's books (Ferguson was Stephen Hawking's biographer; Barbour is both a professor of physics & a professor of religion; Polkinghorne is a professor of mathematical physics, a member of the Royal Society, and an Anglican priest). And as for the historical record: philosophy, science and civilization are the children of religion. And while I have great respect for the ideas & cultural contributions of many atheists, atheist societies, just like religious ones, have a lot of oppression and blood on their hands. Obviously, Hypocrisy is a land populated by believers and skeptics alike.

[rolodex]

Oh please, the most diverse religious group is definitely the NON-religious group. It is also the fastest growing group and is quite large to start with. In the US the estimate of admitted atheists/agnostics is 12-15%, which dwarfs the Muslims or Jews, and is larger than all but 2 christian denominations (catholic & baptist).

[BilaalUSA]

SELF respect is one of the greatest gifts from Allah (God). So a poignant question to my brothers and sisters in Islam is this: Do you really need an endorsement from any segment of humanity, or, is God (Allah) sufficient. The American Muslim demographic indicates that we are doing just fine. Simply speak the truth in an effort to promote justice and equality at every venue of life and give God all the praise and glory for blessing you with the good sense to do so. Peace.

[mutron]

It's religious moderation that makes religious fundamentalism possible.

[Princeton]

How?

[mutron]

Also, of the three Abrahamic religions, Islam is the only one that has never undergone any kind of reformation. The Wahabbi aspect of Islam is actually the opposite of reformation.

[pixy242a]

To people who say that Bin Ladin and most of the 9/11 hijackers come from wealthy, educated backgrounds, miss the point about poverty and violence. Most leaders come from the upper classes, but get their support and power from the masses because of poverty and feelings of hopelessness.

[BBC9nch]

the well educated middle class attackers on 911 were not leaders they were followers, they certainly were not impoverished or hopeless. Just like you are following the premise of this article without looking for the facts on your own.

[JamesLM207]

I live in a building where 80 percent of my neighbors are Muslim. I am gay. My neighbors are friendly, thoughtful, good neighbors. It's easy to stereotype people and hate them when you don't know anyone from that group. But try talking to people who actually know Muslim people and you'll get a very different picture.

[antaeus]

And the last time I was in Amsterdam my friend and I got threatened and harassed by a bunch of Moroccan guys on a Friday night as we were simply walking down the street looking for pizza. Incidents like mine, and worse, are more and more common in parts of Europe. Until it actually happened to me, they were just stories. Now I feel the fervor of the the testifier, and I'm ready to challenge the denial whenever I hear it.

[chaos4700]

There are neighborhoods in my American city I can't safely enter because of my ethnicity, and the dominant ethnicity therein. Same goes, largely, for people from those ethnicities entering my neighborhood. You speak as if what you experienced should be exceptional when it applies across a very broad spectrum. You can't single out Moroccans, or Muslims for that matter.

[holyhandgrenaid]

Your Moroccan harassers could have just as easily been a street gang of any ethnic or religious background. You've provided no evidence that their religion or anything of the sort was the driving factor.

[mcthfg]

Quick... who believes in fairy tales?

Why is blind allegiance to an invisible cloud being anything but a source of ridicule?

[taldutronc]

that's an ignorant comment. the mind is invisible. thought is invisible. feelings are invisible. as is love.

[creepsinc]

So the presence of more different skin colors than any other religion somehow makes their insane beliefs, unchanged since the Middle Ages, somehow better than any other insane beliefs? Glad I read this.

[antaeus]

Hey, anti-modern, anti-gay, "insane" (to use your word), it's all good, right? Just as long as it brings a sense of community to some neighborhoods, then any port in a storm.