Today the polling company YouGov have released their findings from a survey on British attitudes towards Islam. Headline figures include the following stats: 58% associate Islam with extremism; 40% do not believe Muslims have a positive impact on society; and 70% believe it is a religion that represses women. Astoundingly some 50% link it with terrorism.

It shouldn’t take us much thinking time to realise how incorrect these perceptions are. Even on the issue of repressing women it is far too simplistic to assert that ‘Islam limits the rights of females’. It is true that some conservative elements within the religion do so – and in some instances to an extreme degree. But then we have sections of the Christian faith that will not countenance women in leadership or teaching positions in church. Even the Church of England – hardly a bastion of extremism – is struggling to get its plans for female bishops through. And let’s not even mention those churches that still insist on women covering their heads for prayer. But the actions of a minority should surely not colour our view of the majority either in Islam or Christianity.

The gap between perception and reality does need to be addressed, however, if we are to live side by side in a plural society. And this plurality is a fact in today’s post-Christendom Britain no matter what some people say. Even if we ever were, we’re not a ‘Christian nation’ today and, therefore, learning to live with our Muslim, Hindu, pagan or atheist neighbours is essential. The first step towards doing so is having a clearer understanding of their faith and lifestyle and accepting them as they are.

In this respect (and probably in many others) we have a lot to learn from Christians who live in countries that were never part of the Christendom system. Take India as an example. I was there some six years ago and was invited to a baby dedication service held in the open air on a roof-top terrace of the couple’s home. While the service was held we could hear in the near distance the local mosque calling people to prayer. For me, a Baptist born and raised up in a small Anglesey village where the most exotic influence was the local Methodist chapel, this was a very unusual experience. To my hosts it was daily life – yet the church there was growing at a significant rate and one person even gave his life to Jesus during that particular event. Having a loudhailer blasting ‘Allah akbar’ a few streets away made little difference.

The above statistics would suggest that there is some fear in British people when it comes to Islam and the Muslim community living in the country. Fear is often bred by ignorance and it is obvious that the level of ignorance is high. Maybe as church it is time to tackle this gap in our understanding and learn more about the different faiths that share our society. It would certainly dispel fear and would also be an expression of love towards those different communities. And who knows what effect love could have – on us and them!