---
title: "Views of Islam Remain Sharply Divided"
description: "Roughly four-in-ten Americans (39%) say they have a favorable impression of Islam, while about as many (37%) say they have an unfavorable view. The balance of opinion has not changed substantially in the past year (39% favorable in July 2003). But there are significant differences of opinion among religious groups, with white Evangelical Protestants having […]"
date: "2004-09-09"
authors:
  - name: "Benjamin Wormald"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2004/09/09/views-of-islam-remain-sharply-divided-2-2/"
---

# Views of Islam Remain Sharply Divided

Roughly four-in-ten Americans (39%) say they have a favorable impression of Islam, while about as many (37%) say they have an unfavorable view. The balance of opinion has not changed substantially in the past year (39% favorable in July 2003). But there are significant differences of opinion among religious groups, with white Evangelical Protestants having a much more negative view of Islam than white Catholics, Mainline Protestants or secular Americans.

### CONTACT

**Mary Schultz** Communications Manager 202.419.4556 [mschultz@pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/religion](mailto:mschultz@pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/religion)

In a new poll, conducted by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life and the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, Americans were asked if Islam is more likely to encourage violence; how many Muslims are anti-American; and whether the Islamic religion is more likely to encourage violence among its believers.

The results of the poll, released Thursday, September 09, 2004, can be found online at [pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/religion/publications/surveys/islam.pdf](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2004/09/islam1.pdf)