Studies

2019 Study on U.S. Evangelical Christian & Muslim Relations

FFEU Survey of U.S. Evangelical Christians & Muslims Shows Great Divide Between Groups

While Groups Share Many Key Values, Evangelicals Have Little Interest in Interacting with Muslims

NEW YORK – The Foundation for Ethnic Understanding (FFEU) released a first of a kind study today that shows that Evangelical Christian and Muslim relations is the greatest interreligious challenge in America today. The study found that Evangelicals have little interest in interacting or learning more about Muslims.

Both Muslims and Evangelicals see room for improvement in their relationship with the other group. The two groups share similar religious values such as daily prayer, family and improving the world and see these three commonalities as a way to bond and improve relations. Despite this, Evangelicals are more likely to see differences between the two religions. Frequent interactions lead to more perceived similarities between the groups. Evangelicals show low familiarity of Muslim terms/holidays, but many of those familiar with Muslims and Islam are able to correctly define these terms such as Ramadan, hijab and sharia.

Evangelicals and Muslims alike acknowledge that Muslims have been discriminated against because of their faith and agree that there is anti-Muslim sentiment in the Evangelical Christian community. Sixty-two percent of Evangelicals report there is anti-Muslim sentiment in their own community. With this in mind, when asked if Muslim holidays should be observed in the United States with a day off from work/school like Christmas is, fifty-seven percent of Evangelicals say that they shouldn’t be observed.

The study also examined U.S. political and geopolitical issues that unite and divide the two faiths:

President Trump – Muslims did not vote for President Trump and three in four express disapproval of his performance in office (58-percent strong disapproval); Evangelicals voted for and continue to support the president.
The Travel Ban – Evangelicals and Muslims do not agree on the travel ban. Evangelicals are more likely to support it (61-percent), while Muslims consider it a “Muslim ban” (70-percent).
Migrant Caravan – Evangelicals and Muslims do not agree on the issue of the migrant caravan – 58-percent of Evangelicals see it as a threat, while Muslims do not.
Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) – Evangelicals (57-percent) tend to approve of President Trump’s decision to pull out of the JCPOA and re-impose economic sanctions on Iran, while Muslims are not nearly as supportive.
Jamal Khashoggi – Both Muslims (52-percent) and Evangelicals (55-percent) fault Saudi Arabia for Khashoggi’s death, but Muslims are more critical of President Trump’s response to the event.
Israel and Palestine –
- Across both religions, over half either blame both Israelis and Palestinians or don’t have an opinion, signaling a potential area for common ground.
- Muslims (58-percent) are more optimistic for a peaceful solution between Israel and Palestine.
- Evangelicals strongly support U.S. policies towards Israel-including moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem – while Muslims do not.
Muslim Countries Support for Israel – Both groups are receptive toward Muslim nations cooperating with and supporting Israel (82-percent of Evangelicals and 72-percent of Muslims). Evangelicals tend to perceive lower levels of support for Israel among Muslim nations.

“Evangelical Christian-Muslim relations is today’s largest interreligious challenge and the poll shows that there are causes for concern and elements of hope and optimism on both sides to narrow the divide between the two faith communities,” said FFEU President Rabbi Marc Schneier. “As a next step towards bridging this divide, I recently led a mission of the leading Evangelical Christian leaders from the United States to Azerbaijan, a Muslim-majority country, which is a leading advocate for interreligious dialogue and coexistence so that we can start bridging the gap.”

The FFEU, in partnership with PSB Research, conducted a national online survey of 1,000 total respondents (500 self-identified American Evangelical Christians and 500 self-identified American Muslims) between January 3rd-15th, 2019.

Click here to read the 2019 FFEU Evangelical Christians-Muslim Poll.

2018 Study on Muslim-Jewish Relations

Foundation For Ethnic Understanding Releases First Study Examining Muslim Jewish Relations In America

Benchmark Study Finds That The More Devout, The More United The Two Religions Are – Except For The Issue Of Jerusalem

NEW YORK – The Foundation for Ethnic Understanding (FFEU) released a first of a kind study today that provides a national benchmark measuring opinions and behaviors of Jewish and Muslim Americans. The study showed that the gaps between the two groups were smaller than previously thought, and that the more devout the person was, the closer they aligned with the other religion. The one issue where there was dramatic disagreement was over Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

American Jews and Muslims who interact often with the other faith are more likely to see the similarities between the religions and communities. The majorities of both faiths recognize the similarities between them – and the study found that this increases with exposure to the other. Nearly three-quarters of Muslims who interact with Jews frequently say that Judaism and Islam share more similarities than differences. More than two-thirds of Jews (69-percent) who interact with Muslims frequently agree. The study found that those with more exposure to the other faith are more likely to see it as inclusive and progressive.

Both faiths see the importance of working together to combat discrimination and are optimistic that America can be more tolerant. Both see the merits in combining forces to achieve this goal. Three-quarters of Muslims who interact with Jews frequently, say that it is “very important” for the two faiths to work together on strengthening the laws to prevent discrimination. Nearly three-quarters Jews (73-percent) who interact with Muslims frequently agree that it is very important.

The study also examined geopolitical issues that unite and divide the two faiths:

Trump’s Travel Ban – The majorities of both faiths oppose it.
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict – Jews and Muslims who interact with the other faith are more optimistic about a mutual solution to the conflict.
U.S. Policy on Israel – A plurality of Jews are content with current policy but half of Muslims say the U.S. supports Israel too much.
Jerusalem – The two religions are divided on the issue of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and even Jews are divided among themselves.
Muslims Speaking Out Against Extremism – Both communities agree that Muslims speaking out can have an impact by promoting open-minded understanding and improve perceptions of Muslims and Islam in the U.S.

“Muslim-Jewish relations are thought to be in conflict but this study shows that they are in a state of cooperation,” said FFEU President Rabbi Marc Schneier. “This is the first definitive study of its kind to quantify that with cooperation and dialogue between the two groups, we are stronger together. This is the mission of the FFEU and the study shows our success in this area.”

The FFEU, in partnership with PSB Research, conducted a national online survey of 1,000 total respondents (500 self-identified American Jews and 500 self-identified American Muslims) between January 9-24, 2018. The study was sponsored by Ory Capital Partners.

“We have long known that people of faith have more that unites us than divides us. This study underscores the power of faith in building bridges of mutual understanding and simply demonstrates the incredible headway made by the organization’s visionaries,” said Ory Capital Partners Managing Partner Ahmed Y. Al-Rumaihi. “As a Muslim and longtime partner with the FFEU, I am proud to support the work of Rabbi Marc Schneier and the FFEU in pioneering Muslim-Jewish relations as we work to foster a more tolerant, inclusive society.”

Click here to read FFEU’s poll on Muslim-Jewish relations 2018.