Australians’ divergent opinions about Islam and Muslims

Using data from a random stratified sample of people over 18 years of age residing in Australia, this article examines participants’ opinions of the Islamic faith independently of their opinions of Muslim people. Earlier studies have not made the nuanced distinction between opinions about Islam as a religion and opinions about Muslims as people. Theoretical approaches suggest that there is a difference in the opinions non-Muslims have of Muslims and their religion. The non-Muslim Australians we surveyed have very different opinions about the religion of Islam than they do about Muslims, with significantly higher levels of favourablity towards Muslims than towards their religion. Our findings in this latter respect are somewhat at odds with the body of international literature, which suggests it is Muslims, with their cultures, lifestyles and values, that non-Muslims perceive to be problematic. We explain the implications of our findings for government and researchers.