1.0Drishtikonehttps://www.patheos.com/blogs/drishtikoneDesh Kapoorhttps://www.patheos.com/blogs/drishtikone/author/drishtikone/rich600338<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="rRx6jNzrpD"><a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/drishtikone/2008/05/what-do-billion-muslims-think/">What do a Billion Muslims think?</a></blockquote><iframe sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" src="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/drishtikone/2008/05/what-do-billion-muslims-think/embed/#?secret=rRx6jNzrpD" width="600" height="338" title="“What do a Billion Muslims think?” — Drishtikone" data-secret="rRx6jNzrpD" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" class="wp-embedded-content"></iframe><script type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */ /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(d,l){"use strict";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&"undefined"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!/[^a-zA-Z0-9]/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),c=new RegExp("^https?:$","i"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display="none";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute("style"),"height"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):"link"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute("src")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener("message",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll("iframe.wp-embedded-content"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute("data-secret"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+="#?secret="+t,e.setAttribute("data-secret",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:"ready",secret:t},"*")},!1)))}(window,document); /* ]]> */ </script> Since Muslims behave or tend to associate with each other (and expand) with a Pan-religious mindset, it probably makes sense to have a global poll that could understand the thoughts and aspirations of many amongst them. Most of the Muslims point to the several "hurts and insults" to their religious brethren that sometimes makes some members act in an extremist mould. A Gallup Poll of the Muslim World surveyed a representative sample of 90 percent of the world's 1.3 billion Muslims, the most comprehensive study ever done. The findings are explored in the new book "Who Speaks for Islam?" by John Esposito, Islamic studies professor at Georgetown University; and Dalia Mogahed, executive director of the Gallup Center for Muslim Studies in Washington. This was an ambitious six-year project that involved hour-long, face-to-face interviews with residents in nearly 40 nations, Gallup has looked the perspectives of Muslim men and women – urban and rural, educated and illiterate, young and old. Below are some interesting findings listed under major categories. On Islam & Democracy • Large majorities cite the equal importance of democracy and Islam to the quality of life and progress of the Muslim world. They see no contradiction between democratic values and religious principles. • Political freedoms are among the things they admire most about the West. • Substantial majorities in nearly all nations say that if drafting a new constitution, they would guarantee freedom of speech. • Most want neither theocracy nor secular democracy but a third model in which religious principles and democratic values coexist. They want their own democratic model that draws on Islamic law as a source. • Significant majorities say religious leaders should play no direct role in drafting a constitution, writing legislation, determining foreign policy, or deciding how women dress in public.http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e375/deshkapoor/A1BILLION_G1.gif