Dr Phillip Lewis, a Christian who studied Islam in Pakistan for six years, was speaking after reports three mothers who are sisters from Bradford took their nine children, one as young as three, to Syria to join Islamic State with their brother.
The inter-faith advisor for the Bishop of Bradford also said "kneejerk" reactions from Muslims saying extremism does not represent Islam are no longer good enough, and that the people leaving for IS pose "serious questions" to mainstream British Muslims.
He also said Christians and the Church should look to disassociate themselves from British foreign policy which has caused grievances amongst Muslims, for example the lack of rebuilding in Libya after the ousting of Colonel Gaddafi in 2011, and that it is wrong to "write off people" going to fight with IS.
Dr Lewis, who is also the Principal of the Bradford Churches for Dialogue and Diversity interfaith group, told Premier's News Hour: "I don't think it'll do anymore to come out with the familiar kneejerk reaction 'this has nothing to do with Islam'. I think the question the Muslim communities have to ask is: why are an increasing number, of often able young people, being attracted to Isis? [Islamic State]"
"Why are they not able to connect with the aspirations of a section of young British Muslims. Why are they being attracted to this particular narrative? What does it say about what passes for religious formation in the mosques and Muslim centres in this country.
"[But] we can't just write off sections of our community. That's part of the problem: British Muslims have to be seen as part of us, not some sort of religiously alien beings as it were."
Listen to Premier's Antony Bushfield speaking to Dr Phillip Lewis on the News Hour: