{"id":32867,"date":"2022-09-10T16:26:17","date_gmt":"2022-09-10T21:26:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/americans-have-mixed-feelings-about-sex-and-religion\/"},"modified":"2022-09-10T16:26:17","modified_gmt":"2022-09-10T21:26:17","slug":"americans-have-mixed-feelings-about-sex-and-religion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/americans-have-mixed-feelings-about-sex-and-religion\/","title":{"rendered":"Americans Have Mixed Feelings About Sex and Religion"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By Bob Smietana<\/em><\/p>\n

Americans love to fight about sex and religion.<\/p>\n

From shacking up and same-sex marriage to birth control and bathrooms, Americans disagree about what is right and wrong with sex\u2014often based on faith. Those disputes can end up in court, in highly divisive and controversial cases. This week, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear the case of a Colorado baker who refused to make a cake for a same-sex wedding.<\/p>\n

When faith and sexuality clash, which side should prevail?<\/p>\n

Americans can\u2019t decide.<\/p>\n

About half of Americans (48%) say religious freedom is more important in such conflicts when faith and sexuality clash, according to a new study from Nashville-based Lifeway Research. A quarter (24%) say sexual freedom is more important. A quarter (28%) aren\u2019t sure.<\/p>\n

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\u201cIt\u2019s clear Americans value religious liberty,\u201d said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. \u201cBut when it comes to sex, they aren\u2019t sure religion should have the final word. That\u2019s especially true for younger Americans and those who aren\u2019t religious.\u201d<\/p>\n

Religious beliefs, age matter<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Lifeway Research\u2019s study is based on new analysis of a survey of 1,000 Americans. Researchers wanted to get a big-picture look at how Americans view conflicts between religious views and sexuality, McConnell said.<\/p>\n

They found Americans\u2019 views are divided by geography, religious beliefs and demographics.<\/p>\n

Men (30 percent), those in the Northeast (33%), Hispanic Americans (31%), and those 18 to 44 (30%) are more likely to favor sexual freedom. So are nones, those with no religious affiliation, at 49 percent.<\/p>\n

Southerners (53%), those with evangelical beliefs (90%), Protestants (68%), African-Americans (58 percent) and those 55 and older (55%) are more\u00a0\u00a0 likely to favor religious freedom.<\/p>\n

Researchers also asked Americans to indicate if the freedom they selected is always more important or usually more important. One in 10 Americans say sexual freedom always matters most. Fourteen percent say sexual freedom usually matters most. Thirty-one percent say religious freedom always matters most, and 17% say religious freedom usually matters most.<\/p>\n

About a quarter (28%) are not sure.<\/p>\n

Americans with evangelical beliefs are more likely to say religious freedom always matters most (74%). So are those who attend religious services at least once a month (56%).<\/p>\n

Nones (22%) are more likely to say sexual freedom always matters most. So are those who attend services less than once a month (13%) and those from non-Christian faiths (15%).<\/p>\n

Faith versus hate <\/strong><\/h3>\n

One other major question for Lifeway Research: Do Americans think religious believers are motivated by hate or faith in disputes over sexuality?<\/p>\n

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About half say faith (49%) is the main motivation. One in five (20%) say hate. Almost a third aren\u2019t sure (31%).<\/p>\n

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See also  7 Encouraging Trends of Global Christianity in 2022<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Researchers found a range of responses, based on demographics and beliefs, to the question, \u201cWhat do you think motivates sincere religious believers who oppose sexual freedom?\u201d<\/p>\n