An interesting survey from Pew: National vs. Religious Identity

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

Personally, I think both are rather silly.



http://pewresearch.org/pubs/2066/muslims-westerners-christians-jews-islamic-extremism-september-11

Across the nations surveyed, Christians and Muslims differ in the degree to which religion defines their identity. Among most of the Muslim publics polled, Muslims tend to identify with their religion, rather than their nationality. This is particularly true in Pakistan, where 94% think of themselves primarily as Muslim instead of Pakistani.

Lebanon and the Palestinian territories are exceptions to this pattern, however -- more Muslims in both countries identify first with their nationality rather than with their religion. And many Muslims refuse to choose between nation and religion, volunteering that they identify with both.

Throughout Europe, most Christians think of themselves primarily in terms of their national identity. Fully 90% of French Christians take this view. The clear exception is the U.S., where Christians are divided: 46% primarily identify as American and 46% as Christian. Seven-in-ten white evangelical Christians in the U.S. identify first with their religion.
Both of the major religious communities in Israel identify primarily with their religion. Nearly six-in-ten (57%) Jews identify first as Jews, while among the country's Muslim community 77% think of themselves first as Muslims.

[pampango]

1. They should have given a third choice: Nationality, Religion, Human Being

Also an interesting poll result on "Why the Lack of Prosperity in Muslim Nations?"

"One note of agreement between Westerners and Muslims is that both believe Muslim nations should be more economically prosperous than they are today. But they gauge the problem quite differently. Muslim publics have an aggrieved view of the West -- they blame Western policies for their own lack of prosperity. Across the Muslim publics surveyed, a median of 53% say U.S. and Western policies are one of the top two reasons why Muslim nations are not wealthier.

In contrast, few Americans or Western Europeans think the economic challenges facing Muslim countries are a result of Western policies. And although Westerners have become less likely over the last five years to say Islamic fundamentalism is a chief cause of economic problems in Muslim nations, they remain much more likely than Muslims to hold this view.

Still, even on this issue there is some consensus. Both Muslims and Westerners believe corrupt governments and inadequate education in Muslim nations are at least partly responsible for the lack of prosperity. And perhaps reflecting the Arab Spring, in several Muslim and Western nations, people are more likely than they were five years ago to say the dearth of prosperity stems from a lack of democracy."

[dmallind]

2. Yeah! We're more religiously obssessed than Palestinians and Indonesians! That we are also

more religiously obssessed than any other Christian-dominated nation is old news - but now we're kicking some Muslim ass obssession-wise.

[provis99]

3. whaddaya know? The religious countries are the worst ones.

I guess religion is even worse than nationalism.