GRAPHIC: LifeWay Research
When faith and sexuality conflict, which should prevail?
Americans are divided on the question, according to a LifeWay Research study released the day after the Supreme Court agreed to hear the case of a baker who cited his religious beliefs in refusing to create a wedding cake for a gay couple.
Almost half – 48 per cent – say religious freedom is more important in such cases. Almost a quarter (24 per cent) vote for sexual freedom and 28 per cent aren’t sure, according to the study, released on Tuesday.
In addition, 31 per cent say religious freedom is “always more important.”
“It’s clear Americans value religious liberty,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of the Nashville, Tennessee-based evangelical research firm. “But when it comes to sex, they aren’t sure religion should have the final word. That’s especially true for younger Americans and those who aren’t religious.”
Researchers also asked about what people think motivates religious believers who oppose sexual freedom. Almost half – 49 per cent – said faith is the motivator. A fifth – 20 per cent – said the motivator is hate. Another 31 per cent were not sure.
Respondents showed distinct differences on religious and sexual freedom depending on their gender, region and religious affiliation.
For example, men (30 per cent) were more likely than women (19 per cent) to say sexual freedom is more important than religious freedom when the two conflict. Southerners (53 per cent) and westerners (49 per cent) were more likely to choose “religious freedom” than those living in the northeast (38 per cent).
The nonreligious were more likely (49 per cent) to select sexual freedom than Christians (15 per cent) and those of other religions (28 per cent). Those with evangelical beliefs were far more likely (90 per cent) to opt for religious freedom than those without them (39 per cent).
The study of 1,000 people was conducted between 27th September and 1st October, 2016, and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.
