According to a new report by Pew Research Center, over the past few years Americans have warmed toward almost all major religious groups including Muslims (and atheists). Pew did a similar survey in 2014, but this time found much higher ratings for numerous religious groups including Muslims.
The survey was conducted by asking nearly 4,000 US adults to rate different groups through a “feeling” thermometer. In June 2014, Americans on average gave Muslims 40 degrees but by January 2017, that jumped up to 48 degrees.
According to PEW:
“Across the board, Americans express warmer feelings toward religious groups when they are personally familiar with someone in the group, consistent with findings from the June 2014 survey…. People who do not know atheists or Muslims rate these groups on the colder side of the scale, but those who do know someone who is an atheist or a Muslim rate these groups on the warmer side of 50…. Fewer than half of Americans say they personally know a Mormon (43%) or a Muslim (45%), though more Americans say they know a Muslim today than said this in June of 2014 (38%).”
