http://www.examiner .com/x-19423- San-Jose- Interfaith- Examiner~ y2009m10d9- Studies-profile- Muslims-here- and-worldwide October 9, 5:00 PMSan Jose Interfaith Examiner Studies profile Muslims here and worldwide D. Andrew Kille Pew Forum Study on Muslims (AP) Two recent studies done by the Pew Forum on Religious and Public Life have illuminated aspects of Muslims around the world and here at home. In the study "Mapping the Global Muslim Population," released this week, reveals that Muslims worldwide make up about 23% of the global population. Contrary to the general belief in this country, the largest population of Muslims (60%) is not in the Middle East, but in Asia. The Middle East and North Africa, in contrast, are home to about 20% of the world's Muslims. However, more than half of the countries in that region are more than 95% Muslim. The three largest Muslim populations are found in Indonesia, Pakistan, and India. In India, where 10% of the world's Muslims live, they make up only 13% of the population. The US Muslim population is approximately 2.5 million, less than 1% of the overall US population, and about .2% of the world's Muslims. Canada has fewer Muslims, but because their overall population is smaller, Muslims there represent twice as large a percentage (2%). A Pew Forum survey conducted in August, "Views of Religious Similarities and Differences," gave some glimpses into what Muslims experience in the in the US, and how others perceive them. A strong majority of those interviewed (58%) believed that Muslims face "a lot of discrimination." Two thirds of non-Muslims consider Islam to be either somewhat or very different from their own religious tradition (both Buddhism and Mormonism rank as similarly "different.") It was interesting to note that people who said they knew a Muslim personally were less likely to believe that Islam was more likely than other religions to encourage violence, and they were more likely to consider that Islam was similar to their own religious tradition. Clearly, actual relationships with people of other traditions has the potential for changing attitudes and perceptions. The Pew Forum is planning a further study in 2010 that will measure the growth of worldwide Muslim populations and also make some projections for future population changes. A similar study on Christianity is also being planned. Since 2001, The non-partisan Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life has provided information on issues of public concern to promote a deeper understanding of issues involving religion and public affairs. They focus particularly on the implications of religion for politics, the law, domestic policy, and world affairs. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
