WASHINGTON -- Church leaders are not addressing Islam even though 73 percent of Americans are struggling to comprehend the faith's beliefs and teachings, according to an ABC News/Beliefnet poll.
Meanwhile, 33 percent of Americans said they have an unfavorable opinion of Islam compared to 24 percent in January. A growing percentage of Americans also thinks Islam doesn't teach respect for other faiths, according to the poll.
Among white Protestants, 48 percent of non-evangelicals had a favorable view of Islam compared to 31 percent of evangelicals. Twenty-three percent of non-evangelicals had unfavorable opinions of the religion compared to 45 percent of evangelicals.
The poll, conducted by telephone Oct. 11-15, featured a random national sample of 1,018 adults.
