Differences of opinion on the issue of gay marriage in the U.S. are often explained away along religious lines: nonreligious folk support its legalization while the pious are against it. But that explanation glosses over some real differences in the way religious groups perceive the issue. As it turns out, certain religious groups show starkly contrasting levels of support for same-sex marriage, according to a report released today.
According to the Public Religion Research Institute, America is evenly divided on the issue of gay marriage: 47 percent favor its legalization while another 47 percent oppose it, as can be seen in the institute’s chart above. But strong preferences manifest themselves among religious groups. Unsurprisingly, about seven in 10 of those who aren’t affiliated with any religion or who are affiliated with one other than Christianity support same-sex marriage.
What is surprising is that a slim majority of Catholics and a similar-size majority of white mainline Protestants support gay marriage too. In contrast, 60 percent of black Protestants and 76 percent of white evangelicals are against its legalization.
Full Story from the Atlantic Wire
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