1 in 3 thinks Islam gets too much respect and Christianity too little

A THIRD of Scots believe Islam receives too much respect, while a quarter think too little is shown to Christianity, according to an Easter Sunday poll.

The survey also suggests the number of Roman Catholics receiving abuse may have been underestimated.

A total of 33 per cent of respondents claimed Islam gets too much respect and 15 per cent said it is not respected enough, while 11 per cent said Judaism is respected too much and 19 per cent believe it is not.

The poll data also shows that nearly half of Scots do not believe in the resurrection of Christ story.

The poll, for the Sunday Times, found that 47 per cent rejected the Biblical story of Jesus rising from the dead, 36 per cent believed in the resurrection, 24 per cent said they did not know while 4 per cent preferred not to say.

Panelbase interviewed 1,037 Scots between March 23 and March 28.

Anas Sarwar, the Glasgow Labour MSP who has received online threats, said: ‘Sadly it seems our society is becoming less tolerant and more divided. We should respect people of all faiths and none.’

Although Islamophobia has been condemned by Christian campaigners, some believe secularists have driven Christianity to the fringes of society and fear Christian victims of religious prejudice are not given as much attention.

Sir John Curtice, professor of politics at Strathclyde University, said there is little evidence of hostility to the role of Christianity in Scotland today.

He added: ‘Christianity is, perhaps, still regarded as part of Scotland’s cultural heritage even if not something that is widely practised.’

Even among those who are not religious, the findings show a quarter think that Christianity is given too much

‘Society is less tolerant’

respect, while among Scots in general, 25 per cent feel it is given too little.

One in five Catholics said they had experienced religious prejudice during the past five years – almost twice the level of those in the Church of Scotland.

Peter Kearney, a spokesman for the Catholic Church in Scotland, said: ‘The fact that twice as many Catholics have experienced prejudice or abuse is a sad indication of lingering anti-Catholicism.’

A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘Any form of racism, prejudice or bigotry is unacceptable.

‘We are resolved to do everything that it takes to ensure Scotland is a place where there is zero tolerance of racism.’