How many muslims do you know personally?

[closeupready]

And if you know few or none, is that because you live somewhere without many muslims living there?

Seems like most people here get their info on muslims and Islam from cable TV. (Which has to be true, because it's TV.)

[gwheezie]

1. 6 that I have a social relationship with

outside of work.

[closeupready]

6. Close personal friends, I have 3, probably a dozen acquaintances,

and have known many, many other muslims over the last 25 years or so of my life, since I left my midwestern village, which was 95% Christian and white white white.

[yeoman6987]

69. None. I do not know any.

We have none at work (small college), at home (small gated community 300 homes), or personal friends. I am sure I would have some as friends if some were around.

[Throd]

2. None as far as I know.

Where I live most religious people would be Christians, Hindus, or Jews.

[etherealtruth]

3. I doubt I could put a number on this

... just as I could not reliably enumerate all the folk with blue eyes that I know.

How are we defining "Muslim"? Would a person need to make namaz five times a day? Have an Arabic name with heritage from traditionally Islamic states?

[gollygee]

7. If you know people and talk to them on even a semi-regular basis

then Ramadan has to come up during Ramadan. You know because you can't offer them a drink or food.

[etherealtruth]

26. I was married to a Muslim for a decade

We have three beautiful children.

Though I am not fond of my ex-husband, I adore his family and am forever grateful for the friends I gained through our relationship.

Though I never considered converting, I have fasted during Ramzan (Ramadan in Urdu), I have done my best to create Eid celebrations when we lived in areas distant from family or close adherents (and enjoyed Eid tremendously when we could be with family).

I grew up in metro Detroit and attended a public university in Michigan (we have a tremendous and old population of middle eastern immigrants).

I know many secular folk that many in the US would consider "Muslim" based solely on heritage/ religion of ancestors

[closeupready]

33. I share a lot of your life experiences/feelings.

Though I am a gay man. But I have occasionally dated muslim guys throughout my adult life.

[etherealtruth]

35. All I can say ...

People are just people

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

4. I have no idea. I also have no idea how many Christians I know.

Or how many atheists. I only talk religion online, not in meatspace.


(Edit: These days. I think a few decades back, as an undergrad, I did occasionally talk religion, and even took a comparative religions college course.)

[eppur_se_muova]

39. Ditto. Don't ask, don't tell. :evilgrin:

I've only known one person who made a point of telling me his religion without my asking, and he was an asshole.

I know a lot of people who have said things like "my faith/church is very important to me" but I never ask which one, and I can't remember anyone offering that info.

[gollygee]

5. A lot

Lots of Islamic people in Michigan.

[Quayblue]

24. yep and I know lots of Muslims as a result.

My childhood home was on the Detroit/Dearborn border.

[sibelian]

8. Local greengrocer, Mr Tariq.

Also the guy who runs the post office down the road from me, lovely chap.

Visit the local mosque occasionally for curry, they run a cafe. Excellent food, cheap as chips. Smart thinking, those guys...

[femmocrat]

9. None that I know of.

I think my doctor is Hindu, but of course I never asked him.

I live in a non-multicultural rural area.

[UglyGreed]

10. Four

they are very close friends with my daughter who is Catholic. Oh and I forgot one of the most caring Neurologist I see is a Muslim.

[logosoco]

11. I used to work for a vet that was Muslim.

It was nice getting to know him and his family. I am not religious, at that point I was still questioning the existence of a god after being raised Catholic. One day, over a cat spay, we decided if there is a god, it has to be just one to be considered the creator.
I live in a somewhat redneck place, but everyone liked this doctor because he knew it was not a rich area and was very reasonable.

[cloudbase]

12. At least a dozen.

One fellow engineer is a rather interesting guy who won't touch pork but has no problem going out for a beer or two.

[gollygee]

14. I also know a couple of Islamic people who are willing to have a small amount of beer

Really it's like any religion. Islamic people don't necessarily follow every rule 100% just like Catholics don't necessarily follow every rule 100%.

[Dreamer Tatum]

13. And do you know all of their hates, fears, desires, tendencies, plans, and demands

the way you do all the fundamentalist Christians you know?

[closeupready]

16. Okay, so mark you down as 'don't know any, don't want to'?

[Dreamer Tatum]

18. No, I know a few and have known many.

I can't peer into their souls, however. They were and are all unremarkable people.

[gwheezie]

17. I avoid funnies

of all religions.

[Dreamer Tatum]

20. I like Hagar the Horrible sometimes. nt

[gwheezie]

38. Ha Ha

sometimes auto correct makes me look like an idiot other times it stops me from looking like an idiot

[whatthehey]

15. I suspect everyone has the same answer statistically

...whether it's 0 or 1000. Far too few to reliably inform on the scope of a major religion of a billion and a half and nigh 1500 years of global history. Reading the Qur'an and studying that history would do far more good. I've done that. You?

How many Nazis do you need to know personally before you understand that extreme anti-semitism, eugenicism, and state worship is a bad idea for global peace and co-operation? Probably about as many as Islamist extremists you need to know to get it that fundamentalist Shari'a, kafir slaughter and dhimmi oppression are similarly bad ideas.

I know a whole lot of church lady Republicans personally. It sure as hell doesn't make me an expert on flower rotas, prayer meetings and VBS.

[closeupready]

19. Yet, here they come, to opine about Islam - when you concede

they are not equipped to do so. Funny how that works.

[whatthehey]

45. Well not quite

I'm more of the opinion that personal relationships are of little value in understanding huge global movements. It's certainly possible for outsiders to understand huge global movements though. Just that the path to that understanding is studying the writings, disputes, history and sociology of that movement rather than sharing potato salad and diet coke with a handful of its adherents.

[whathehell]

85. Lots of people in other countries opine about Americans without knowing any personally.

[DanTex]

21. Islamist extremists are also not representative of a religion of 2 billion or so people.

[whatthehey]

40. Never said they were. They are however, the biggest current global problem.

[DanTex]

47. I'd go with global warming.

Still, assuming this OP is a response to the Bill Maher flare-up, judging 2 billion Muslims, or the religion of Islam, based on the acts of Islamist extremists is wrong.

[randome]

60. Muslim is not a religion. No one really cares about religion. Muslim culture, however...

...it has quite a few problems.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]“If you're not committed to anything, you're just taking up space.”
Gregory Peck, Mirage (1965)[/center][/font][hr]

[Prophet 451]

22. Define "know"

Well enough to chat with? Three or four.
Well enough to invite into my house? None (although that's partly due to my illness).

[aikoaiko]

23. I don't talk about religion. I have no idea.

[closeupready]

36. But you do talk religion - at least here you do.

[pipi_k]

25. A member

of my extended family, although I've never met her since she's in FL and I'm in MA.

Other than that, I don't know any Muslims.

[hobbit709]

27. About a dozen. 4 that are close friends.

[cali]

28. The only Muslims I know are Sufis.

[gwheezie]

29. I answered 6 because they said they were Muslim

i have a pretty large group of friends from Africa and we socialize. Go to weddings funerals parties each other's homes. Some are close friends others not so close. The topic of religion comes up so when I said I know 6 Muslims it's because they said they were Muslim. I know some are more interested in their religion than others. Just as I know people who say they are catholic who attend church every week and others who go twice a year. I'm neither christian or Muslim so take their word for it when they identify their religion.

[JustAnotherGen]

30. That I consider real friends?

3 - and their spouses/families.

Real friends - we socialize in each other's homes and do things non work or goal related.

I'm a Unitarian so I'm pretty open to other peoples' beliefs.

I have to say - it's not uncommon for us to have the Barsoums and Weiss' to our home for dinner. The 'three couples' - we all get along very well!

[ismnotwasm]

31. At least 10

One very close friend

[AgingAmerican]

32. A bunch

I work with two who are refugees from Iraq. One left because her family was Sunni and lived in a Shia neighborhood when Saddam fell. She said the neighbors started throwing rocks at her house and gave them 10 minutes to leave or die. They fled to Jordan where they languished in a refugee camp for 7 years before making their way to the US. The other one's father was a pilot in Saddams air-force. Her father then worked for the Americans for several years and her family was also forced out.

Somali's are my favorites. They have the best sense of humor as a group of all the Muslims I have interacted with.

I also worked with the International Rescue Committee settling refugees from Iraq, Afghanistan, Somolia, Burma and Bhutan.

Most Muslims just want to raise their kids in safety and live peacefully.

[hrmjustin]

34. I know a large number of Muslims.

I went to school with many and many of my neighbors are muslims.

[Cleita]

37. In my lifetime quite a few although where I live now none.

I don't know if it's because they are keeping a low profile in this area, but when I lived in LA, I worked alongside of them. My apartment building was owned by a Persian so we had many Persian families living in it, who were mostly Muslim but also B'Hai.

I find the hatred of all Muslims very racist because, like most religions, it's the fundamentalists that are the assholes. We created the atmosphere for them to get out of hand with destabilizing the area with our OIL wars of aggression. If the USA were so destablized you can be sure radical Christians like The Church of the Aryan nation would be committing similar atrocities because they can.

[JaneyVee]

41. A lot.

[bullwinkle428]

42. I knew many when I was in college in the 1980s. Have a known a couple

in the workplace, but they haven't been here in many years. None that I personally know and hang out with at the present time, as there are very few in the area where I live.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

43. about 40...along with Sikhs and Buddhists and all sorts of others

one of the beauties of working for an international company...

sP

[greymattermom]

44. Quite a few

I'm a scientist. There are lots of muslims in medical research. My stereotype for muslims would be smart, serious, geeky.

[RockaFowler]

46. Actually quite a few

My family comes from Egypt. My father's 2 older sisters married Muslim men. All of their children are Muslim (my cousins). Oh and I have Baptists, Jews (myself included), Atheists, Buddhists, Catholics, and Jehovah Witnesses in my family too. We are a regular melting pot!!

[closeupready]

48. Wow. That must make for some pretty lively family reunions, lol.

[RockaFowler]

50. Oh yeah!!

[shanti]

49. One, once, that I knew

now none.

[liberal N proud]

51. As I do not inquire others as to their faith or beliefs, I don't know

I also don't know how many Catholics, Jews or Baptist that I know.

Live and let live!

[randome]

62. Muslim is not a religion.

[hr][font color="blue"][center]“If you're not committed to anything, you're just taking up space.”
Gregory Peck, Mirage (1965)[/center][/font][hr]

[liberal N proud]

66. I don't think that I implied that it was

But still, I don't inquire as to another's beliefs.

[Douglas Carpenter]

52. I worked in the Middle East for 25 years, so what can I say?

[jwirr]

53. None. I am old and do not get around much anymore.

[Brickbat]

54. None, as far as I know. There are very few in my area.

[SheilaT]

55. Several.

Back about 15 years ago I was in a carpool and one of the young ladies I was driving was Muslim. As a consequence I always knew when their religious holidays were, and I got to see how really lovely that religion can be.

One thing I learned, is that during Ramadan, they are supposed to give to charity at least some of the money they might otherwise have spent on food. What a lovely tradition!

The family in question was very secular. Didn't dress any differently from anyone else.

At that time, in the Kansas City area, because my husband was very involved in peace in the Middle East groups (he's Jewish by the way), we were well acquainted with other Muslim families, and once were privileged to be invited to someone's home for Eid, the celebration that marks the end of Ramadan.

While I am not myself at all religious in a conventional sense, I have a great respect for those who do believe and who quietly practice their faith. Some years back, while visiting a friend in Australia, it became fairly clear that his mother would in this country be a fundamentalist Christian. But there, there wasn't the same sort of organized fundamentalism, so instead she simply had this very strong Bible-based faith, and while she was willing to talk about it, I did not get the sense that she thought any less of me because I didn't share her beliefs And that's the way it should be for all of us, wherever we are in terms of religiosity or belief.

Added on edit: Many people get their knowledge of all sorts of things from TV and movies, which is dangerous because all too often those nice people making TV shows and movies get things wrong.

[closeupready]

58. Thanks! As to your last statement about TV getting things wrong,

I agree. I also think the mainstream media frequently gets it wrong ON PURPOSE because some have a hidden agenda.

[Iggo]

56. No idea.

Probably not a lot.

Then again, I don't know how many Jews, Christians, Buddhists, Hindus or Satanists I know, either. I'm pretty sure I only know the one Wiccan, though...lol.

[MFM008]

57. none

Dont get out much..

[mmonk]

59. Probably 10 to a dozen or so.

[randome]

61. I think there is inadvertent conflation going on.

When Maher spoke about Islamic extremists (I haven't watched the video and I can't now while I'm at work), do you think he is automatically condemning the religion?

It's Muslim culture that's the problem. No one really cares about anyone else's religion. But Muslims, in general, like Israel, tends to conflate religion with statehood, which makes all manner of confusion easy to come by.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]“If you're not committed to anything, you're just taking up space.”
Gregory Peck, Mirage (1965)[/center][/font][hr]

[closeupready]

67. Maher is smart, but I suspect he's courting controversy,

which I feel - in these bigoted times - is irresponsible.

[randome]

84. His support for Israel is hard to understand, too. Doesn't seem consistent to me.

[hr][font color="blue"][center]A 90% chance of rain means the same as a 10% chance:
It might rain and it might not.[/center][/font][hr]

[closeupready]

89. Well apparently, his mother was Jewish, though he was raised Catholic.

I have no idea whether he is or ever was an observant Jew (Orthodox Judaism dictates that he is indeed, since it is the mother's faith that matters), and if so, then perhaps as they say, 'the personal is political.'

[liberal_at_heart]

63. My husband has a Muslim friend. It was really interesting to watch him go through Rammadan.

It really took dedication. I could tell it was hard on him, but he did it. I respect him for that, and he has always been very courteous to me. He has never disrespected me in all the times I have seen him. I also knew a girl in middle school and high school who was Muslim. She was so intelligent. I never would have made it through high school chemistry without her.

[randome]

64. You just did the same thing. The OP is about Muslims and you automatically talk about religion.

Because to most they are inseparable, aren't they? Therein lies the confusion. And the problem.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]"There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in."
Leonard Cohen, Anthem (1992)[/center][/font][hr]

[logosoco]

73. Now i am confused? Unless you mean the actual name of the religion is Islam?

But I was under the impression that a Muslim is one who follows Islam? So how is saying Muslim is not a religion accurate? It is followers of a belief system, which, to me, means a religion. I don't want to be making a problem but I am confused> But I am also not religious (pretty much an atheist but don't like saying that because I don't want to scare people, or have them think I believe in a devil!) , so maybe I am just lumping it all in the same basket?

[gollygee]

75. You're right

The word "Muslim" is the participle of the verb for which "Islam" is the infinitive. The verb means "to be whole" and "Muslim" means "someone who adheres to Islam."

[logosoco]

80. These days anything remotely to do with religion confuses me.

And I'm from mid western America, I have no culture

[randome]

83. You're not the only one who's confused. Most people don't know the meaning of the word 'Muslim'.

They think it means someone who lives in the Eastern hemisphere and dresses in robes and scarves. Just like Israel, Muslims try to conflate ethnicity with nationality and religion. It has always been a guarantee for confusion and turmoil and it always will be.

To think that it is illegal in many Muslim countries to turn to a different religion is hard to understand in the 21st century.

That's why I see no difference between Israel and Muslim countries. They are backward-thinking cultures, both of them, to think they are entitled to land or to dictate one's religion.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]"There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in."
Leonard Cohen, Anthem (1992)[/center][/font][hr

[LeftinOH]

65. Presently, none. Have worked with three in the past...

And it went like this:

One was in big-box retail. I was in management, and the muslim gentleman was from Iran (originally). He would not take any orders from a woman in management. He had to be told what needed to be done from a male supervisor.

One was in an office environment. The muslim gentleman was (originally) from Tunisia. He often took "prayer breaks"..and utilized his prayer carpet to do it. A trifle irritating for those of us who didn't get prayer breaks. He also made it clear that he didn't care for the "skimpy" clothing that some of the women wore. Though he was fond of going to strip-joints.

In another office environment, the muslim gentleman was an American who to converted to Islam when he was in prison. He had at least two illigitimate children and "struggled" to support them. "Supporting" those children couldn't have been too taxing, as he didn't buy Christmas presents (due to his religion).. or any other gifts, for that matter. Ever.

I was not impressed. At all.

[Nye Bevan]

68. 4 (nt)

[Warpy]

70. I've had many Muslim coworkers in hospitals

Hospitals even here in the wild west are mini UNs. They've all been reasonable, rational people trying to do a good job and supportive friends on the job.

I did go to high school with one guy who turned wacky when he went home to the West Bank. If he lived through it, he's a grandpa trying to keep the hate going with his grandchildren. However, he was one out of dozens who didn't hate anybody.

I live in a neighborhood with a visible Muslim population because this is where the immigrants live when they first get here. I watch the progress from the abaya to the hijab and finally to no head covering for the more daring of the women.

I'm glad to say I've never witnessed anybody hard assing them, nor have I seen anybody trying to trash the mosque, also fairly near me. This is a tough part of a very poor state and people have more pressing concerns than what religion somebody else is.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

71. My optomotrist is Palestinian, my Urologist is Pakistani,

The guy who sold me my new car a few months ago is Egyptian. All Muslims. All nice people who had interesting conversations with me about our country's dealings with Muslim nations.

[haele]

72. About 20. Maybe more.

There's a large muslim population in our city, a couple of the kidlet's HS friends were muslim, three of Laz's eight doctors are muslim (including one woman doctor who shares a practice with her husband and daughter, and does not cover up), a few live in our neighborhood and a few more work in our neighborhood.

About half of the muslims we know don't look or act like the stereotype; western dress and tastes, friendly and polite dealings with members of the opposite sex when they were doing business. You wouldn't know their religion at all unless you were discussing resturant food (and they mentioned keeping halal) or came upon them in a break when they were in prayer.

Haele

[hack89]

74. None - I don't think suburban Rhode Island has many Muslims at all. nt

[Siwsan]

76. My boss, for one

And any number of the physicians I deal with, on a daily basis.

[samsingh]

77. many - and it isn't all wonderful and boy all people are basically the same

[liberal_at_heart]

92. That's the whole point. You can't stereotype any group as all good or all bad.

As with any group of people there are good and bad. And just like with any religion, there are good and bad things about each religion. It is not a bad thing to try and change what is bad about a religion but that does not mean the entire religion is bad.

[Blue_In_AK]

78. I know my son-in-law

and quite a few members of his extended family and some of his friends. I also have a few Facebook friends who are Muslim. I would say 20 or 25 total.

There aren't a whole lot of Muslims in Anchorage, maybe 2,000 total, and many of them are refugees. They mostly live on the other side of town from me. A mosque is currently being built here.

[Taitertots]

79. Too many to count. Hint: I live in Dearborn

[The Straight Story]

81. Does not matter one little bit

Go ahead, try this in an argument "My best friend is black/gay/muslim/etc" and people will laugh at you.

Funny how if you don't personally know someone in a group and want to talk about issues people ask 'well, do you know any x/y/z' and when you mention that you do they ridicule that as relevant.

[closeupready]

82. And yet, gay people coming out of the closet is credited with helping

change minds of people generally about ... gay people.

Yet, with muslims, you guys claim, it doesn't matter.

[MineralMan]

86. Maybe a dozen, along with more whom I know on a casual basis.

But I live in a city, St. Paul, MN, where there are many Muslims.

[whathehell]

87. I know two.

although one is more of an acquaintance.

[City Lights]

88. Currently, one family of four.

Their son is friends with my son. I knew more in years past through my place of employment, but lost touch with them over the years.

[phylny]

90. I know two personally,

and in my area I'm sure no one's ever met someone who's Muslim, let alone someone Jewish.

[JI7]

91. a lot

[Aerows]

93. None that I know of. n/t

[whistler162]

94. At least one but I only know his religion

because of his last name and his bio on my former companies website. He was one of the board members for the company I worked for and helped him out with PC support a few times over the years. Other than that I have no idea because I don't ask about a persons religion when I deal with them.

[ileus]

95. 25 or so...

Get in good with them and next thing you know they'll be writing you checks for 100-5000 dollars.

[madinmaryland]

96. During my career in New York City and Washington DC, I have worked with quite a few Muslims.

I can't say they were close friends, but I they were all very professional in their jobs that we worked on together.

I was really interested in a conversation with one colleague who I had walked in on during his prayers. I had apologized for interrupting him, but he commented that he didn't even realize I was there as he was almost in a trance-like state.

[AnalystInParadise]

97. Close friends?

5........... coworkers? about 15. Acquaintances from working in the Middle East for a decade? Several dozen. Even knowing all of these people, I still find Bill Maher to be far more articulate and knowledgeable on the subject than Ben Affleck.

[customerserviceguy]

98. None that I know of

but I often deal with them in my work, as we have a fair sized number of them in the greater NYC area. One man last week wanted to pre-pay an estimate of his bill, as he was going on the hajj to Saudi Arabia. Clearly, he felt comfortable telling me this, and I was glad to wish him a safe and pleasant trip.

[Marr]

99. About ten. Only a couple are devout.

And one of those two is probably the nicest guy I know.

[GeorgeGist]

100. Most people here ...

are on the internet.

[drm604]

101. One that I know of.

A former coworker. But I don't quiz everyone I know as to their religion, so there may be others.

[ZombieHorde]

102. Zero.

I live in Montana.

[KentuckyWoman]

103. I didn't know I was supposed to keep track.

Who keeps a list of what religion their friends or acquaintences might be.

[closeupready]

104. Who celebrates Ramadan? If your friends do, bingo.

You'd know it. If they do and didn't tell you, they don't consider you real friends.

[MH1]

105. A few coworkers, but no one I'm close with - that I know of.

I once had a coworker that I worked more closely with, who was from Pakistan. He was a bit of a jerk. I didn't take that as representative of all Muslims from Pakistan, though.

There are some people involved with some political campaigns that I've been involved with, who I believe are Muslim. It's not a high priority for me to ascertain, though.

[Historic NY]

106. Never asked it wasn't important...

we interact outside religion.

[TorchTheWitch]

107. I wouldn't know

anymore than how many Catholics, Jews, Baptists, Mormons or any other religion someone is. I don't care what someone's religion or lack thereof is.

I also don't watch tv and never have nor will spend money for the "privilege". I've always been mystified why anyone would pay to watch tv ever since cable tv first came out.

[LawDeeDah]

108. I know some Christians and the ones who scream the loudest

about how right they are and how wrong everyone else is, drowning in their own hypocrisy, can't be much worse/better than other religions

[kestrel91316]

109. I have no idea. Probably a minimum of 25. I live in an area with a large

Middle Eastern population: it includes Jews, Muslims, and even some Christians.

I don't keep track, and if I did I would have trouble knowing sure without specifically asking people because most of them look the same as other Middle Easterners who have come to call SoCal home.

I have had a couple of female clients who have come in wearing hijab over the years (younger women) and even one older woman in full Pakistani dress (not sure what they call the pants, overdress, scarf combo there). Her family didn't want to feed their cat Prescription Diet A/D because it has pork in it and they don't let pork into their home so we had to work around that.

BFD. I don't care if they worship the Flying Spaghetti Monster. I just want them to act like they love their cats and follow medical advice and pay their bills.

[DebJ]

110. One good friend at the moment; I used to work with four other Muslims.

They were the most devout, hard-working, polite people I have ever known.

Loved everyone.

Closest to a true 'Christian' of any people I've ever known.

[kentauros]

111. I don't know as I don't ask them.

The two I have talked to where we discussed such subjects didn't happen often in our conversations. It wasn't important.

I suspect I am surrounded by far more than you might guess. I live in Houston, now considered the most diverse city in the nation, and our Middle Eastern population is quite large (I don't know size of the Malaysian community, though.) I certainly see plenty of women in hijabs (and they usually choose beautiful prints and designs.)

So, some of my information has come from personal contact, and the rest from good informational sites, such as this one. Or from reading that Muslim mystic, Rumi, because I'm far more interested in their culture than in their religion