Poll: Americans are tolerant of other faiths -- except Islam

WASHINGTON (RNS) Americans consider religious freedom a cornerstone of
society, but fall short in their tolerance of Muslims, according to a
poll released Tuesday (Sept. 6) that probes Americans' attitudes toward
immigrants and the nation's safety 10 years after 9/11.

The "What It Means to Be American" poll found that a small majority
(53 percent) say the country is safer now than before the 9/11 attacks.
Attitudes toward Muslims, however, are far less straightforward.

More than 8 in 10 Americans say that self-proclaimed Christians who
commit violence in the name of Christianity are not really Christians.
By contrast, less than half (48 percent) say that self-proclaimed
Muslims who commit acts of violence in the name of Islam are not really
Muslims.