What Americans believe
In the United States, a new national survey by the Pew Research Center finds that nearly one-in-five Americans (18%) now say President Barack Obama is a Muslim, up from 11% in March 2009. Only about one-third of adults (34%) say Obama is a Christian, down sharply from 48% in 2009. Fully 43% say they do not know what Obama’s religion is.
To non-Americans, these findings are astonishing and deeply disturbing. If Americans cannot be clear about something as evident as the religious affiliation of their President, how can they make rational decisions on whether Saddam Hussein was involved in 9/11 or global warming is increased by human activity or healthcare reform will benefit most Americans or the war on drugs is succeeding.