A Western Approach to IslamIslam is a very recognizable religion and one of the most practiced in the world. It is a religion that brings hope, meaning to life, and ultimately peace to those who follow its teachings. The Western world views Islam as a violent and threatening religion that produces terrorists and radicals. If such a religion brings so much meaning to the lives of those who practice it, why does the West view it with so much suspicion? My research included reading books published by authors who attempt to explain the teachings of Islam to a predominantly Christian audience. I also read verses from the Quran, the holy book of Islam. While trying to answer the question of what makes people perceive this religion as violent, I realized that I should do some field work and talk to real Muslims. To do this, I went to a mosque in Carmichael. While people tend to think of Islam as a religion specific to the Arab world of the Middle East, it is actually a global religion with an estimated population of around 1.6 billion. It is concentrated in regions such as North Africa, the Middle East and southern Asia. While Muslims constitute a religious minority in countries like India, they also constitute a majority in countries like Indonesia. There is also a large Muslim population in North America, with over 2.6 million Muslims in the United States alone, according to the 2010 census. I would not describe myself as very religious, although my exposure to various Christian beliefs are limited. All the different Christian denominations have focused on Christ as God or part of God. Exploring Islam, I thought, would be completely foreign. It would also be much easier to learn about such a subject without being in the middle of a paper…without American domination” (Mousavian 2008 p. 1). My research led me to the conclusion that the conflict between Muslim groups and Western societies is purely political, but tinged with misinterpretations of the Quran by Islamic radicals. The false justifications these groups make about the Quran explicitly commanding Muslims to attack anyone of a different religion are driven by the political ambitions and lust for power of a few key instigators. It is because of these few radical groups and their own misinterpretation of the Quran that leads Westerners to view Muslims with distrust and suspicion. It is absolutely necessary to practice religious tolerance and recognize that the problem lies with a few groups of disgruntled individuals. Islam is a religion that preaches peace among those who follow its advice and tolerance towards people of other religions..