The majority of Britons view Islam positively as a religion of peace despite the adverse publicity following recent failed car bombing in London and at Glasgow airport, according to a new survey.
The poll, conducted by the public theology think-tank, Theos, also found that the attempted attacks had given religion in general and Islam in particular a bad name. Overall, the personal view of 60 per cent of respondents was fundamentally a religion of peace. In Scotland, the figure was 69 per cent. However, recent events and the customary labeling of the perpetrators as Islamic or Islamist terrorists in many sections of the media, the survey found negative public perceptions about Islam and religion in general. Some 71 per cent said that they agreed the failed car bombings had given Islam a bad name, while a majority of 54 per cent also thought they had damaged the reputation of religion in general.