Thursday, May 7, 2009

100% of UK Muslims Say Gay Sex Unacceptable But Violent Acts May Be OK

Ruth Gledhill reports in The Times on an interesting new Gallup Poll in partnership with the Coexist Foundation that provides responses to questions that indicate the degree of integration of Muslims in France, Germany and the UK. There were some interesting differences between the response of the Muslims and the general population in the countries to some questions about moral issues.

There were five questions about sexual morality. The statistics below are from pages 33-35 of the report. I've added in a calculation of the "gap" for each country on each question and bolded the gap for the country with the largest gap on each question. The responses confirmed the stereotypes that the French are more tolerant of married men and women having affairs and that the Germans are most tolerant of pornography. The Muslims in each country seem to have adapted a little to the local context, but we do see the gap is greatest in France on the married affair and in Germany on pronography. For each of the other three questions, the UK had the widest gap.

Now I'm going to read to you a list. Please tell me whether you PERSONALLY BELIEVE that it is MORALLY acceptable or MORALLY wrong?
% who say "morally acceptable"

Homosexual acts

France- General Population 78%
France- Muslims 35%
France Gap - 43%

Germany-General Population 68%
Germany- Muslims 19%
Germany Gap - 49%

United Kingdom- General Population 58%
United Kingdom- Muslims 0%
United Kingdom Gap - 58%

Abortion

France- General Population 78%
France- Muslims 35%
France Gap - 43%

Germany-General Population 47%
Germany- Muslims 19%
Germany Gap - 28%

United Kingdom- General Population 55%
United Kingdom- Muslims 5%
United Kingdom Gap - 50%

Viewing pornography

France- General Population 43%
France- Muslims 16%
France Gap - 27%

Germany-General Population 58%
Germany- Muslims 18%
Germany Gap - 40%

United Kingdom- General Population 35%
United Kingdom- Muslims 1%
United Kingdom Gap - 34%

Sex Between an unmarried man and woman

France- General Population 90%
France- Muslims 48%
France Gap - 42%

Germany-General Population 88%
Germany- Muslims 27%
Germany Gap - 61%

United Kingdom- General Population 82%
United Kingdom- Muslims 3%
United Kingdom Gap - 79%

Married men and women having an affair

France- General Population 46%
France- Muslims 14%
France Gap - 32%

Germany-General Population 24%
Germany- Muslims 6%
Germany Gap - 18%

United Kingdom- General Population 15%
United Kingdom- Muslims 2%
United Kingdom Gap - 13%


The widest gap of all was in the UK on the question of unmarried men and women having sex. Only 3% of Muslims thought that was morally acceptable while 82% of the general UK population thought it was acceptable, leaving a gap of 79%.

The difference in the responses becomes problematic when we consider the possibility that social control may be implemented through violent means. Another question about morality on page 33 addressed the death penalty, and we see that in the UK, the Muslims are unusually prone to support the death penalty:
Now I'm going to read to you a list. Please tell me whether you PERSONALLY BELIEVE that it is MORALLY acceptable or MORALLY wrong?
% who say "morally acceptable"

Death Penalty

France- General Population 35%
France- Muslims 24%

Germany-General Population 27%
Germany- Muslims 27%

United Kingdom- General Population 50%
United Kingdom- Muslims 63%

The Muslims in the UK show an unusually high level of support for the death penalty. Now consider the results for this question about violent acts from page 40:
There are many acts some people may do in life. I will read out to you a number of these acts, and I would like you to indicate to what extent it can be morally justified.
Scale of 1 to 5 with:
1=Cannot be justified at all and 5 =Completely justifiable

Use of violence for a noble cause

French Muslims 1=75%, 2=6%, 3=12%, 4=1%, 5=5%

German Muslims 1=80%, 2=5%, 3=10%, 4=1%, 5=2%

British Muslims 1=48%, 2=3%, 3=13%, 4=31%, 5=6%

Only 6% of French Muslims and 3% of German Muslims answered that violence for a noble cause is almost completely or completely justified. But there are 37% of British Muslims answering that violence for a noble cause is almost completely or completely justified.

9 comments:

karlboll said...

Yep, that sounds about right. It's not ok what I do in my own home but no one would mind it if I got publicly flogged.
Any similar statistics for catholics, protestants, jews, communists, democrats and republicans?
The jews are usually sympathetic with us gays.

Perpetua said...

Hi Karl,

I think it is a flaw in the Gallup Poll that it didn't gather similar statistics for other religions, and, as you point out, political affiliations.

I am also very curious why there are so many more UK Muslims that think violence in a noble cause is mostly or completely justified. What is the difference between UK Muslims and Muslims in France and Germany?

Andy said...

Perpetua, I believe we're witnessing the ticking down of a timebomb. While individuals may be at polar opposites over many issues, we have to say without equivication that violence against homosexuals, or any other category on that list is an outrage.

We have a shrinking window of opportunity in which to compete in the marketplace of ideas. Post revolutionary Iran provides a clear picture of a republic where sharia has become entrenched.

Perpetua said...

Hi Andy,

I agree with you. I was very concerned to note in my previous post on the Amsterdam park signing that the purpose was to protect gays from violence that had been occurring.

On the one hand, we have an increasingly permissive society. On the other hand, we have a growing radical and potentially violent group that is opposed to the permissiveness.

I myself am concerned about the permissiveness. But I am also deeply opposed to both Sharia Law and violent individuals taking morality enforcement into their own hands.

karlboll said...

Hi, Perpetua.
The reason I ask for deeper statistics is that I don't think this is unique to Muslims. In a survey among teens in Swedish schools a few years back similar figures occured implying that not everyone believes in equal rights for all people.

karlboll said...

Hi, Andy.
Yes, there is a ticking timebomb and I think it's people like you who feel threatened by other systems of belief and reacts by spreading your own more. The camp Jesus a few years back where it was argued that if muslims were integrating young children and brainwashing them we must do the same to keep up with the competition. I fear this can only lead to increased conflict.
My reaction is to further spread and teach about critical thinking and open debate to inoculate ourselves and our children (and thereby our society) against totalitarian systems of thought, be they religious, political or otherwise. I believe only then can our world truly develop towards a brighter future and less conflict with a higher respect towards our fellow humans.

duskfairy said...

I wonder if the UK muslims would have said the same thing if they were middle east muslims? ..
It's easy to talk about violence when you don't have to experience it. Everyone looks for a scapegoat and the gay-movements are an easy target, especially if you don't know any gays.

Andy said...

Karl,
We play a dangerous game of moral equivication when we're tempted to consider Islam as just another religion. The three of us, you, Perpetua and I though being different in our outlooks and tastes would certainly be hung from the same gallows or decapitated by the same knife if Sharia had its sway.

Like the Apostle in his letter to Corinth, we need to have the courage of heart and love for the world to say, "I will show you the most excellent way".

As far as Jesus Camp, it's a cliche on film that exploits a few out on the fringe. and attempts to paint all Americans of faith with the same tarbrush.

God's Peace to you Swedish Friend!

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