What is the most disliked religion in the Western World

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You pretty much have to be living under a rock to not know it's Islam.

I still think there are more people lining up to defend Muslims' rights to build mosques than there are people who are prepared to defend the religious character (pfft!) of Scientology.

Wow, I almost managed to type those last five words without laughing!

Scientology isn't even a religion, so it doesn't count in my opinion. It would be like listing Sith or Q.

I voted Judaism, because of how other religions have vilified and prosecuted Jews, I was sort of split on picking Islam as they are also depicted as evil by western culture. Anyhow the poll is going to be unfairly stilted towards Islam given that most of the votes are American in origin

In non-Western parts of the world Judaism will not win any popularity contests.

ruveyn

Almost all religion start out as rackets or cults. Jesus Christ, after all, was an "end of the world" style cult leader who told his followers to shun their families and give up all their possessions.

Not much difference.

I vote scientology.

You have a point. A religion is a cult that has outlived its founder or guru.

ruveyn

Islam gets a bad rap in much of Europe as well. Over in the Netherlands, for example, the vociferously anti-Islam politican Geert Wilders continues to gain support and may be a future prime minister. The Swiss voted to ban minarets and their largest party is blatantly xenophobic and especially anti-Islam.

In terms of amount of concentrated hatred, Islam wins. In terms of having the worst overall consensus, Scientology wins.

What would WBC be considered? I ask because a lot of people would say they're not even Christians, much less Baptists, so I'm not quite sure where they should be classified. They may only be the one church, but I can hardly think of a more hated group in general, let alone a religion.

Scientology isn't that hated. Most people don't even know what it is or just thinks it's some kooky new age alien thing Tom Cruise believes in.

It's Islam without a doubt.

Surely a "religion" that no one but its followers accepts as a religion has got a better claim to "most disliked" that a religion which is accepted to be a religion, notwithstanding the rough ride it gets within the body politic.

Jacoby has a good point though. Derision is not the same as dislike.

There are two reasons for the dislike:

1. The violence that Muslims inflict on non-Muslims for "insults" to Islam. Think of the riots that broke out because of the Mohammed cartoons. Think of the murder to Theo van Gogh.

2. Muslims are likely to push Shariah on the non-Muslim population if they ever acquire enough political muscle. Some Christians used to do this: For example Sabbath "Blue Laws" and Prohibition of Alcohol.

Most people do not particularly like it when religious fanatics of any stripe try to lay a trip on them.

ruveyn

Islam and Scientology.

Though I don't like Catholicism much either.

Reviling religion topic

The dislike<--------->revulsion is a continuum, or a spectrum. Another spectrum would have different words such as like/dislike, love/hate, accept/reject, etc.

I have a revulsion towards them for myself , but I do not advocate a ban. ideally, keep them private/personal.

You will notice that Catholics do not riot when the Pope is disrespected publically.

And a group of dedicated Catholics has not hijacked a commercial airline flight and crashed the plane into a tall building.

ruveyn

Probably islam, scientology and fundamentalist christianity.