Is the ''Only a minority of Muslims are radical'' true?

[Dystopia]

1. Because that site isn't attempting to get a Muslim's view on what they think about non-related things. It is specifically asking them about Islam; not anything which is unrelated to Islam.

The Muslims were asked clear-cut questions: ''Do you believe in death for apostasy?'', ''Do you believe in honor killings?'', ''Thoughts on homosexuality?'' etc. These are basic questions which aren't surprising to Muslims given that such beliefs are in their own law.

The site isn't even smearing Muslims as terrorists, just posting what the general beliefs are of Muslims. Are most Muslims terrorist? No. But do signifcant numbers of Muslims believe in death for apostasy? Yes.

These are surveys which are done on global scales, even if they were ''cherry picked'' --- these are concerning, and scary results.

Didn't answer my question - Why should I trust this site?

2. Right, why can't I post polls?

You need to give your opinion and provide some insight, you can't simply quote the poll and runaway expecting people to buy it right away.

Here is an example from PEW - http://www.pewglobal.org/2010/12/02/musl...hezbollah/

As a rational person I hate wasting time - So tell me why should I click the link? Why will I not be wasting time? 

3. Cenk is definitely an apologist - it was clear when he got trashed in that debate. How is Harris akin to Hitler?

About a month ago I watched the whole debate out of sheer curiosity - I think both made good points. Cenk isn't even a Muslim - This is the problem I'm talking about, you call him an apologist when all he does is to argue for a tolerant society free of bigotry - He didn't even say Muslims are all good people, he just thought Harris gave special treatment to Islam, something he actually does. Cenk made a mistake linking Catholicism with the Holocaust - I have explained here in AF how you can't justify Hitler's eugenics program with Catholicism - But Harris makes the mistake of thinking doctrine must determine faith all the time.

How? If I posted you some quotes by Harris and Hitler, do you think you would know which ones were said by Hitler and by Harris? [unless you have extensive knowledge on both authors]. Harris thinks bigotry against a specific religion is justifiable because it's a religion and not a race. The truth is people don't make many choices, it depends on where they are born.   

[TheMessiah]

1. Because that site isn't attempting to get a Muslim's view on what they think about non-related things. It is specifically asking them about Islam; not anything which is unrelated to Islam.

The Muslims were asked clear-cut questions: ''Do you believe in death for apostasy?'', ''Do you believe in honor killings?'', ''Thoughts on homosexuality?'' etc. These are basic questions which aren't surprising to Muslims given that such beliefs are in their own law.

The site isn't even smearing Muslims as terrorists, just posting what the general beliefs are of Muslims. Are most Muslims terrorist? No. But do signifcant numbers of Muslims believe in death for apostasy? Yes.

These are surveys which are done on global scales, even if they were ''cherry picked'' --- these are concerning, and scary results.

Didn't answer my question - Why should I trust this site?

2. Right, why can't I post polls?

You need to give your opinion and provide some insight, you can't simply quote the poll and runaway expecting people to buy it right away.

Here is an example from PEW - http://www.pewglobal.org/2010/12/02/musl...hezbollah/

As a rational person I hate wasting time - So tell me why should I click the link? Why will I not be wasting time? 

3. Cenk is definitely an apologist - it was clear when he got trashed in that debate. How is Harris akin to Hitler?

About a month ago I watched the whole debate out of sheer curiosity - I think both made good points. Cenk isn't even a Muslim - This is the problem I'm talking about, you call him an apologist when all he does is to argue for a tolerant society free of bigotry - He didn't even say Muslims are all good people, he just thought Harris gave special treatment to Islam, something he actually does. Cenk made a mistake linking Catholicism with the Holocaust - I have explained here in AF how you can't justify Hitler's eugenics program with Catholicism - But Harris makes the mistake of thinking doctrine must determine faith all the time.

How? If I posted you some quotes by Harris and Hitler, do you think you would know which ones were said by Hitler and by Harris? [unless you have extensive knowledge on both authors]. Harris thinks bigotry against a specific religion is justifiable because it's a religion and not a race. The truth is people don't make many choices, it depends on where they are born.   

1. Actually, I did answer your question. The site is just a data-base, it's not making any claim besides compiling data. It's not a wiki; it's the research that is linked is what is in question, not ''challengingthetinyminority''

The research that is linked are global and national surveys. They don't *just* sample Muslims, they track world-wide trends and are used for global data. So...why is it only now cherry-picking when it samples Muslim beliefs?

2. There's nothing rational about what you're saying. The polls I've linked to are research studies which ask Muslims questions. On another thread you are fine with accepting that 59% identify as Christians in the UK but suddenly, if a Muslim disagrees with homosexuality it's not valid data? 

PEW is a trusted organisation which routinely collects annual data to note beliefs and trends. But here is more info on the methodology:

http://www.pewresearch.org/methodology/i...-research/

To date, the center has conducted more than 480,000 interviews in 91 countries, mainly in conjunction with the longstanding Global Attitudes and Religion & Public Life projects. Cross-national studies constitute the bulk of Pew Research Center’s international survey research. Such studies pose special challenges when it comes to ensuring the comparability of data across multiple languages, cultures and contexts.

It has considerable funding and has went to lengths to undertake thousands of hours of interviews in an effort to collect data; the fact that PEW has conducted that many is a testament to it's scale. 

What is wrong with Harris targeting Islam?

Islam is undoubtedly much more of a threat than Christianity, Judaism or any other belief system is today in the modern world. The radicals in Islam are much more violent and powerful than Christianity. 

Cenk was once a Muslim and his constant excuses for Islam are extremely noticeable; yet when it comes to Christianity, he is suddenly fine. If Cenk wants a free society without bigotry, then don't tolerate intolerance.

Islam, like other Arbahamic religions, is intolerant dogma.

[Thumpalumpacus]

World Public Opinion: 61% of Egyptians approve of attacks on Americans

32% of Indonesians approve of attacks on Americans
41% of Pakistanis approve of attacks on Americans
38% of Moroccans approve of attacks on Americans
83% of Palestinians approve of some or most groups that attack Americans (only 14% oppose)
62% of Jordanians approve of some or most groups that attack Americans (21% oppose)
42% of Turks approve of some or most groups that attack Americans (45% oppose)
A minority of Muslims disagreed entirely with terror attacks on Americans: 
(Egypt 34%; Indonesia 45%; Pakistan 33%)
About half of those opposed to attacking Americans were sympathetic with al-Qaeda’s attitude toward the U.S.
http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/p...09_rpt.pdf

The only nations with majorities listed are relatively small in population compared to places like Indonesia or Pakistan.

So it looks like even this source you've cited would answer your title question in the negative. I haven't run the numbers, but I'd be surprised if majorities of Palestinians or Jordanians would outweigh an Indian or Indonesian maj0rity. India has 180 million Muslims, Indonesia 203 million. Palestine, Egypt, and jordan put together don't reach 90 million, and those are the only three majority "extremist" populations listed above. And you'll notice that two of the three majority "extremist" nationalities don't approve directly of attacks on Americans, but rather, of groups which commit attacks on Americans, which is a different thing, as they may have another reason for approving of said groups.

The statistics you've presented don't support the argument you're making, seemingly.

1. Actually, I did answer your question. The site is just a data-base, it's not making any claim besides compiling data. It's not a wiki; it's the research that is linked is what is in question, not ''challengingthetinyminority''

Nonsense. Reread the opening paragraph:

Have you heard that Islam is a peaceful religion because most Muslims live peacefully and that only a "tiny minority of extremists" practice violence? That's like saying that White supremacy must be perfectly fine since only a tiny minority of racists ever hurt anyone. Neither does it explain why religious violence is largely endemic to Islam, despite the tremendous persecution of religious minorities in Muslim countries.

The bias is clear. That, combined with the fact that they (and you) avoid mentioning two of the three most populous countries -- while at the same time glossing over how such huge populations would change the numbers involved -- gives me reason to believe that, as Mr Agenda asserted, the countries are cheery-picked in order to produce what appear to be startling percentages but, when given a detailed review, wouldn't appear so salacious.

[Thumpalumpacus]

<double-post edited>

[Minimalist]

Your study is from 2009, Mess.

This, 2013 Pew Study,

https://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com...g-picture/

Pew report on Muslim world paints a distressing picture

backs you up with more current data.

There is a link to the full study in the summary.

[TheMessiah]

The only nations with majorities listed are relatively small in population compared to places like Indonesia or Pakistan.

So it looks like even this source you've cited would answer your title question in the negative.  I haven't run the numbers, but I'd be surprised if majorities of Palestinians or Jordanians would outweigh an Indian or Indonesian maj0rity. India has 180 million Muslims, Indonesia 203 million. Palestine, Egypt, and jordan put together don't reach 90 million, and those are the only three majority "extremist" populations listed above. And you'll notice that two of the three majority "extremist" nationalities don't approve directly of attacks on Americans, but rather, of groups which commit attacks on Americans, which is a different thing, as they may have another reason for approving of said groups.

The argument put forward is to look at Muslim majority nations; which have Islamic beliefs reinforced through law and then poll them. Likewise, Indonesia has roughly 250 million people. The Muslim population is roughly 196 million.

40% of Indonesian Muslims believe in violence in defense of Islam. That is roughly 80 million, yet again, more people than there are in some European countries. Even the 30% of Indonesians who support the death penalty for apostasy, roughly equates to 58 million Muslims (of Indonesia).

http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailweek...060728.@03

Egypt has a population of 82.06 million. 80 million are Muslims. 84% of 82 million is roughly 67 million; there are 67 million people in Egypt who see it reasonable that apostates of Islam deserve to die because of it.

Either way, I think you are missing the point I was making --- we are constantly smacked with ''A fringe minority of Muslims are radical'' yet what appears to be the case is that entire Muslim majorities in Muslim countries all hold extremely radical beliefs.

Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Nigeria, the list goes on.

[Saxmoof]

he just thought Harris gave special treatment to Islam, something he actually does

Anyone who is against religious oppression should be more against Islam than other religions, Islam is by a million miles the biggest offender in that regard

[TheMessiah]

Your study is from 2009, Mess.

This, 2013 Pew Study,

https://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com...g-picture/

Pew report on Muslim world paints a distressing picture

backs you up with more current data.

There is a link to the full study in the summary.

Thanks.

That is quite startling...

Seems that stoning is quite popular in some of these countries, and death for apostasy...damn

[downbeatplumb]

America is seen by many people as being a little bit meddlesome when it comes to foreign affairs, this happens mainly in areas of the world that find themselves over resources the US find useful such as the middle east. The middle east is mainly muslim and so the problem is down to geography and politics which then becomes mingled with religion rather than religion on its own.

[Saxmoof]

America is seen by many people as being a little bit meddlesome when it comes to foreign affairs, this happens mainly in areas of the world that find themselves over resources the US find useful such as the middle east. The middle east is mainly muslim and so the problem is down to geography and politics which then becomes mingled with religion rather than religion on its own.

It's true that if we're talking about terrorism you can't pin the blame on religion, or at least not entirely, but if we're talking about oppressive religious laws (imprisonment or death for gays, apostates, blasphemers) there is no other explanation. Almost every Muslim majority country does at least one of those three things, some even go as far as executing people for all three (Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Iran and Afghanistan)