Britain divided by Islam, survey finds

[Uthman]

More than half the population believes Britain is deeply divided along religious lines, the annual British Social Attitudes survey has found.

A majority of the country would also be concerned if a mosque was built in their area, while only 15 per cent expressed similar qualms about the opening of a church.

The survey found that only 45 per cent of those questioned felt that diversity had brought benefits to the country, while just one in four felt positively about Islam.

In addition it concluded that those with no educational qualifications were twice as likely to have negative attitudes towards Muslims as university graduates.

Findings in the annual study, which is produced with funding from Whitehall, will increase concern that tension over religion is growing in Britain.

The recent furore over plans by the extremist Muslim group Islam4UK to march through the town of Wootton Bassett, to oppose the war in Afghanistan, has increased feelings of division.

The social attitudes survey, which is produced by leading academics from interviews with almost 5,000 people, will be published in full later this month.

But the early findings are likely to heap criticism on Government policies which promote multiculturalism.

Professor David Voas, of Manchester University, who analysed the findings said many Britons felt the growth of Britain's Muslim population presented a threat to national identity.

He told the Daily Mail: "Opinion is divided and many people remain tolerant of unpopular speech as well as distinctive dress and religious behaviour, but a large segment of the British population is unhappy about these subcultures."

Source

 

[Supreme]

Well this is just silly. It's ignorance and fear.

 

[Alpha Dude]

In addition it concluded that those with no educational qualifications were twice as likely to have negative attitudes towards Muslims as university graduates.

I wonder to what extent the educated ones are truly without negative attitudes. I think in some cases, with a greater intellectual capacity, people are likely to want to remain politically correct and not be seen as intolerant/racist, for whatever reason, so they will not say what they truly feel and mask it? Lol :hmm:

 

[Skavau]

I wonder to what extent the educated ones are truly without negative attitudes. I think in some cases, with a greater intellectual capacity, people are likely to want to remain politically correct and not be seen as intolerant/racist, for whatever reason, so they will not say what they truly feel and mask it? Lol :hmm:

There's an interesting irony, or contradiction here. Perhaps you are not one who claims it.

Many Muslims on here claim that the UK (including the media, the government and as a result the general population) as a whole are inherently intolerant of Islam and/or Muslims. You now state that perhaps "political correctness" prevents people from saying what they truly think (negatively) about Islam. Only one of the above can be true.

I am glad you think the latter is though.

Irrespectively, Nationalism is one of the root cause in people's fear over Islam. Islam has no nationalism and so, to nationalists it undermines their national identity over time, and therefore their own identity over time. It is the very definition of an identity struggle.

I would to just add, and pay attention to this part:

A majority of the country would also be concerned if a mosque was built in their area, while only 15 per cent expressed similar qualms about the opening of a church.

This is hardly groundbreaking knowledge. The UK has a Christian history. It does not have an Islamic tradition. I do however suspect though that most people in the UK would not have a problem with other places of worship in other religions as they do with Islam.

 

[جوري]

This is hardly groundbreaking knowledge. The UK has a Christian history. It does not have an Islamic tradition. I do however suspect though that most people in the UK would not have a problem with other places of worship in other religions as they do with Islam.

That is because Islam is the only contender.. outside of spiritual guidance it is a political system and not a national identity, and the only thing that stands in opposition of debauchery and moral decline which explains why so many oppose it, as it is the natural inclination of people to lean toward lowly desires and crimes if they can get away with it. Other religions outside of Judaism can barely sustain themselves spiritually let alone politically or economically without caving into the pressures of homos or murderers against capital punishment or teenagers who can't help but pop out kids out of wedlock!

Jews are building up their system and setting themselves up for disasters (I won't touch upon that) and Islam will be the only thing remaining to oppose the decadent, dissolute societies that are unrestrained by convention or morality!

May the best system win and I have no doubt in my mind that it will in the end!

all the best

 

[Skavau]

That is because Islam is the only contender.. outside of spiritual guidance it is a political system and not a national identity, and the only thing that stands in opposition of debauchery and moral decline which explains why so many oppose it, as it is the natural inclination of people to lean toward lowly desires and crimes if they can get away with it. Other religions outside of Judaism can barely sustain themselves spiritually let alone politically or economically without caving into the pressures of homos or murderers against capital punishment or teenagers who can't help but pop out kids out of wedlock!

Jews are building up their system and setting themselves up for disasters (I won't touch upon that) and Islam will be the only thing remaining to oppose the decadent, dissolute societies that are unrestrained by convention or morality!

May the best system win and I have no doubt in my mind that it will in the end!

all the best

You've just expressed why the growth of Islam is feared by many people, ignorant or otherwise in the United Kingdom - some, or many of its followers wish for it to rule the country, and bring back the Caliphate.

Now, in light of this - do you not think that for people who value secular democracy it is a very rational fear?

 

[جوري]

You've just expressed why the growth of Islam is feared by many people, ignorant or otherwise in the United Kingdom - some, or many of its followers wish for it to rule the country, and bring back the Caliphate.

Now, in light of this - do you not think that for people who value secular democracy it is a very rational fear?

sure it is a very rational fear.. Now ask me if I care

all the best

 

[CosmicPathos]

all fears are irrational, what is this "rational fear?" lol

 

[CosmicPathos]

More than half the population believes Britain is deeply divided along religious lines, the annual British Social Attitudes survey has found.

A majority of the country would also be concerned if a mosque was built in their area, while only 15 per cent expressed similar qualms about the opening of a church.

The survey found that only 45 per cent of those questioned felt that diversity had brought benefits to the country, while just one in four felt positively about Islam.

In addition it concluded that those with no educational qualifications were twice as likely to have negative attitudes towards Muslims as university graduates.

Findings in the annual study, which is produced with funding from Whitehall, will increase concern that tension over religion is growing in Britain.

The recent furore over plans by the extremist Muslim group Islam4UK to march through the town of Wootton Bassett, to oppose the war in Afghanistan, has increased feelings of division.

The social attitudes survey, which is produced by leading academics from interviews with almost 5,000 people, will be published in full later this month.

But the early findings are likely to heap criticism on Government policies which promote multiculturalism.

Professor David Voas, of Manchester University, who analysed the findings said many Britons felt the growth of Britain's Muslim population presented a threat to national identity.

He told the Daily Mail: "Opinion is divided and many people remain tolerant of unpopular speech as well as distinctive dress and religious behaviour, but a large segment of the British population is unhappy about these subcultures."

Source

interesting.

 

[Skavau]

all fears are irrational, what is this "rational fear?" lol

If I am murderer on the run, and If I contact you by phone and say I know where you live, and you're next - you might be scared, and indeed it would be rational.

Rational fear.

 

[malayloveislam]

lol... British or Irish, or Scottish or Welsh or English or whatever people they are in the nation are those who should be the Caliphate of Britain.

Misunderstanding again happened to the word Caliphate. I guess this paranoia happened everywhere, not only in Britain but also in Muslim countries.

 

[Raaina]

In addition it concluded that those with no educational qualifications were twice as likely to have negative attitudes towards Muslims as university graduates.

This confirms what I already thought was true.

 

[aamirsaab]

Well seeing as how hedonistic a typical ''British'' life is I'm not surprised. Adultery (which is still not a crime btw), alcoholism and gambling are all the rage. So it's natural for those who pursue those courses of actions to feel threatend by something that completely denounces them.

In short: I don't actually care.

 

[Uthman]

Is Islamophobia real?

 

[Supreme]

Well seeing as how hedonistic a typical ''British'' life is I'm not surprised. Adultery (which is still not a crime btw),

'Still' not a crime? Don't you mean 'not any more' a crime? Adultery was once a crime on these shores I believe, as was homosexuality and alcoholism and gambling. Heck, even Christmas was once illegal because it wasn't mentioned in the Bible. I suppose they're called 'dark ages' for a reason...

 

[Supreme]

Is Islamophobia real?

Interesting article. I don't think we should ever ban groups such as Islam4uk just because the public doesn't like them. I saw a quote the other day that said 'A country that gives up a little freedom for a little security will deserve neither and loose both'. And besides, who else are we Brits meant to laugh at with the likes of Russell Brand and Ricky Gervais in the States?

 

[Banu_Hashim]

This is hardly groundbreaking knowledge. The UK has a Christian history. It does not have an Islamic tradition. I do however suspect though that most people in the UK would not have a problem with other places of worship in other religions as they do with Islam.

Yeah, but how many people in the UK now are practising Christians? Most people would be like... "well, yeah... I guess I'm Christian". This isnt a guessing game. You either are or you aren't. My guess is not many are. I think we have to face the fact that an opening of a church is not given even a second glance. The opening of a mosque would be local headlines. Prejudice and ignorance.

 

[KAding]

Well this is just silly. It's ignorance and fear.

What is silly exactly? IMHO increasing knowledge does not necessarily mean people will become less 'divided among religious lines'. There are differences and, thus, divisions between Christians/Atheists/Muslims, both doctrinal and cultural. That has nothing to do with ignorance. The fear is just a consequence of the understanding that there are divisions.

 

[KAding]

I wonder to what extent the educated ones are truly without negative attitudes. I think in some cases, with a greater intellectual capacity, people are likely to want to remain politically correct and not be seen as intolerant/racist, for whatever reason, so they will not say what they truly feel and mask it? Lol :hmm:

I completely agree.

I think higher education in general teaches tolerance, but it hardly teaches anyone what, say, Islam or Christianity is about. Interestingly those who enjoyed higher education generally are also more liberal and left-leaning. They are more open-minded on matters such as (homo)sexuality, more often supportive of things like abortion and overall less religious. The irony is that overall those higher educated claim to be less hostile towards Islam, yet in reality their beliefs are probably more at odds with, say, Islamic beliefs than those of more culturally conservative countrymen.

I mean, this is the very same educated 'liberal' crowd that revolted against the Church and Christianity in the middle of the last century.

 

[Raaina]

Yeah, but how many people in the UK now are practising Christians? Most people would be like... "well, yeah... I guess I'm Christian". This isnt a guessing game. You either are or you aren't. My guess is not many are. I think we have to face the fact that an opening of a church is not given even a second glance. The opening of a mosque would be local headlines. Prejudice and ignorance.

I totally agree. The UK has lost Christianity, what annoys me most,is the likes of people from say the EDL say things like, "This is a Christian country, i don't want to see it turn into an Islamic state". Yet, you ask them are they practising Christians? and you get this stupid answer along the lines of "Well I'm Christian by default because I was Christend and I live in the UK, but i'm not religious and I don't really believe in God".

That actually really gets me angry. If you want to proclaim this is a Christian nation, then fine. But practise what you preach.

Edited to say: I don't mean to offend any of the Christians here, I'm sorry if I did.