Ignorance isn’t bliss, says Australian poll on knowledge of Islam and its followers

Only one in six Australians has a good understanding of Islam and its followers, while one-third claim complete ignorance about the religion, according to a new study published in the Journal of Islamic Studies by UNSW academic, Dr Kevin Dunn.

Women, the over-25s and people with no tertiary training most often claimed no knowledge of the religion, according to the study, which was based on a survey of 1,300 Australians.

Whether people feel threatened by Islam or not depends on their knowledge of the religion, yet not in a straightforward way, the survey reveals. Feelings of threat were reported by 56 percent of those with no knowledge of Islam. Even more of those with a little knowledge - 61 percent - felt threatened. Yet a surprising 46 percent of those with a reasonable or better knowledge felt threatened by it as well.

The most common negative stereotypes of Islam were that it is a fundamentalist (27 percent) and intolerant (24 percent) religion. The next most common Islamic stereotypes were that it is fanatical (11 percent) and hostile to women (11 percent).

Less than one per cent of those surveyed were Muslim, and more than half (55 percent) reported having no contact with Muslims. These were most likely to be women, people with no tertiary training and the over-50s. People with no contact with Islam were twice as likely (45 percent) to be ignorant of it, compared to those who had some contact with Islam (21 per cent).

Many judged that Islamic practices in the Middle East were stricter, and more fundamentalist, than those practiced in Indonesia. 375 respondents offered explanations as to why the faith differed in the two places. They cited reasons such as: stricter, more fundamentalist Islamic practices in the Middle East (176 comments), different cultures (196 comments) and geographic distance (46 comments).

The most common and accurate beliefs held about Islam were that people pray five times a day and face towards Mecca, and that Islam prohibits consumption of pig products and alcohol.

"Australians’ views of Islam and its followers are worrying but hopeful," says Kevin Dunn. "The linkages between ignorance, contact, feelings of threat and negative stereotyping of Islam is saddening. But it’s not all bad news. I think we could build more tolerant, informed views if we promote greater contact and education, and encourage greater visibility and celebration by Muslims of their faith."

What some Australians say about Islam

"They believe in Mohamed. The religion is based on tasks rather than beliefs. After they die they go to a place where they indulge in alcohol and women, I think it’s called paradise.”

“Very similar to Christianity only a bit more moral and stricter than Christians are these days. Can be a nice religion.”

“They follow the Koran. In their style of dress-women should be covered head to toe. It's fanatical. Females are circumcised. They don't eat certain meat (pork). They use specific types of meat. In some countries they believe war is a holy thing, permitted by Koran.”

“They pray to Mecca, they pray several times a day. They cover their women. They take their shoes off to pray. They face north for prayer.”

“They follow Allah. Mohammed is their prophet. Share same religious sites as Christians. Pray five times a day. Must face Mecca. And must take pilgrimage to Mecca once in their life. The Koran is peaceful to read.”

Source: Roy Morgan Research, Attitudes Towards Islam Survey, 2003.

The survey was commissioned by the Australia-Indonesia Institute.

Read the research paper: http://www.bees.unsw.edu.au/school/staff/dunn/A25.pdf

About Kevin Dunn:
Dr Kevin Dunn, PhD, is a geographer in the UNSW science faculty. His areas of research include trans-nationalism, geographies of racism, Islam in Australia, cultural diversity and citizenship.

UNSW Media Contacts: Dan Gaffney: +61 411 156 015, mob 0411 156 015; Kevin Dunn: +61 404 032 429, mob 0404 032 429.

Date issued: 20 March, 2006.