Reply #1: some interesting findings in this study that might seem counter-intuitive to what some might expect

[Douglas Carpenter]

Respondents who say they attend religious services more than once a week are significantly more likely to have a favorable view of Muslims. Mogahed said people who are more religious generally consider prejudice a moral evil and often have respect for the devout of other faiths.

Researchers also found a link between prejudice against Jews and Muslims. Americans who acknowledged "a great deal" of bias toward Jews were much more likely to feel the same about Muslims. The survey results could not explain why the two prejudices are linked. Mogahed said bias against both groups should be tracked and studied together to understand the dynamic.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100121/ap_on_re/us_rel_muslims_prejudice

I've always had a suspicion that a lot of the hateful rhetoric directed against Muslims is actually coming from closet anti-Semites or other bigots who feel socially constrained from publicly expressing anti-Semitism or other forms of bigotry, but more free to openly express their general bigotry against a more marginalized group such as Muslims.