lifeway research american beliefs about same-sex attraction
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American Beliefs about Same-Sex Attraction
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Methodology• A telephone survey was conducted between
April 10-12, 2008 among a representative sample of American Adults
• The sample size of 1,201 provides 95% confidence that the sampling error does not exceed +2.9% for the total sample
• Each finding broken out by demographic groups represents a portion of the total sample
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“Do you believe homosexual behavior is a sin?”
55%
39%
7%
45%
48%
79%
17%
4%
61%
31%
8%7%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Not sure
No
Yes
Beliefs by Religious Affiliation
All Americans
Catholic
Protestant
Born Again, Evangelical, or Fundamentalist*
*Self-identified subset of Protestants
Among those personally acquainted with someone who has same-sex attraction, 44% believe homosexual behavior is sin and 49% do not
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“What factors do you believe contribute to same-sex attraction?”Beliefs by Religious Affiliation
All Americans
Catholic
Protestant
Born Again, Evangelical, or Fundamentalist*
*Self-identified subset of Protestants
36%
25%
33%
53%
25%
22%
23%
20%
47%
53%
25%
60%
26%
31%
29%
14%
27%
25%
29%
14%11%
23%
26%
24%
13%
23%
38%
51%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Other or not sure
Lack of same sex parent rolemodeling
Lack of bonding with parent
Childhood abuse
Influenced at birth (but notinevitable)
Determined at birth (Inevitable)
Choice
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“Which do youthink contributes the most to same-sex attraction?”
Beliefs by Religious Affiliation
All Americans
Catholic
Protestant
Born Again, Evangelical, or Fundamentalist*
*Self-identified subset of Protestants
7%
5%
20%
42%
3%
3%
5%
5%
30%
41%
12%
48%
4%
8%
8%
13%
7%
6%
5%
14%14%
6%
6%
5%
15%
5%
24%
39%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Other or not sure
Lack of same sex parent rolemodeling
Lack of bonding with parent
Childhood abuse
Influenced at birth (but notinevitable)
Determined at birth (Inevitable)
Choice
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“If you were considering visiting or joining a church, would knowing that the church taught that homosexual behavior was sinful impact your decision?”
Beliefs by Religious Affiliation
All Americans
Catholic
Protestant
Born Again, Evangelical, or Fundamentalist*
*Self-identified subset of Protestants
50%
47%
27%
23%
21%
26%
3%
27%
33%
38%
2%3%
32%
29%
36%
3%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Not sure
It would have no impact
It would negatively impact it
It would positively impact it
49% of those who never attend church, mosque, synagogue or other place of worship indicated “It would negatively impact it”
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“Are you personally acquainted with someone who has same sex attraction?”
32%
68%
1%
32%
66%
66%
32%
2%
66%
32%
2%0%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Not sure
No
Yes
Beliefs by Religious Affiliation
All Americans
Catholic
Protestant
Born Again, Evangelical, or Fundamentalist*
*Self-identified subset of Protestants
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American Beliefs about Same-Sex Attraction