Research conducted earlier this month by Public Religion Research Institute in partnership with Religion News Service provides a unique look into an important topic.
The second survey question asked, “If you had to grade America’s places of worship on how they are handling the issue of homosexuality – would you give them an A, a B, a C, a D, or an F?
- A: 5%
- B: 11%
- C: 30%
- D: 18 %
- F: 24%
- Don’t Know: 12%
The third survey question asked, “If you had to grade your own place of worship on how it is handling the issue of homosexuality – would you give it an A, a B, a C, a D, or an F?
- A: 28%
- B: 17%
- C: 18%
- D: 6%
- F: 11%
- Don’t Know: 8%
- Don’t Attend: 12%
So What?
If most people felt that places of worship deserved an A or a B, then this issue would not continue to capture the news cycle. This survey points out an important disconnect: while only 16% of respondents gave America’s places of worship either an A or a B, 45% gave their own place of worship one of these grades. In other words, the results suggest that most acknowledge there is considerable room for improvement, but far fewer think their own fellowship is the problem.
- Why do you believe people are unwilling to see themselves or their place of worship as a part of the problem?
- How would you grade all American places of worship? your own place of worship? To what do you attribute any difference in those two grades?
- How can your own place of worship do better in handling the issue of homosexuality?
Food for thought: The survey found that 72% of respondents “believe messages about the issue of homosexuality coming from places of worship contribute to negative views of gay and lesbian people.”