Living>Religion & Ethics
from the November 26, 2003 edition

Questions of right and wrong

In a new survey released this month on moral behaviors, Barna Research found that a majority of Americans find gambling, cohabitation, and sexual fantasies to be "morally acceptable." But moral perspectives appear to vary hugely according to respondents' faith commitments. Acceptance of the 10 behaviors in the survey increased significantly with respect to a similar poll two years ago, says researcher George Barna. Fewer adults said they found abortion, sexual activity with someone other than a spouse, and gay sex to be acceptable at that time.

Percentage of adults by religion who consider a behavior to be "morally acceptable"
gambling 61% 27% 45% 69% 75%
cohabitation 60 12 49 70 87
sexual fantasies 59 15 49 71 78
abortion 45 4 33 45 71
adultery 42 7 35 47 69
pornography 38 5 28 49 70
profanity 36 7 29 46 68
drunkeness 35 8 24 44 61
homosexual sex 30 5 20 41 55
non-prescription drugs 17 6 11 25 38
SOURCE: THE BARNA RESEACH GROUP STAFF



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(Mary Knox Merrill/Staff)
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