Those concerned about Islamophobia in America can take heart from The American Mosque, the latest study by University of Kentucky professor Ihsan Bagby conducted under the auspices of my friends at the Hartford Institute for Religion Research. Since Bagby's last study in 2000, the mosque count has risen 74 percent, from 1,209 to 2,106. The majority of mosque leaders are moderates who take a flexible approach to the interpretation of Islamic law. Overwhelmingly, they favor integration of Muslims into American society. And post-9/11, the proportion of mosque leaders who think that American society is hostile to Islam has dropped by more than half, from 54 percent to 25 percent. All told, Muslims seem to be getting more and more comfortable in their skins in America.
One caveat, however. Although the study, based on questionnaires filled out by the mosque leaders, does not claim to provide a precise estimate of the American Muslim population, Bagby uses it to call into question the most accurate estimates that do exist. As he writes:
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