Here’s what religous people actually think about same-sex marriage
A survey of 40,000 Americans had revealed which religious groups are more or less likely to support same sex-marriage.
The top three most supportive groups are Unitarian Christians, Buddhists and Jews. They are also the only three groups who are more supportive than non-religious people.
The least supportive are Mormons, white Evangelical Protestants and Jehovah’s Witnesses. 94% of Unitarians are supportive, compared with only 12% of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
More of the religious groups surveyed have a majority of members who are supportive than do not.
According to the Public Religion Research Institute, who carried out the analysis, this is very different to attitudes ten years ago, when the first US state legalised same-sex marriage. Then, Protestants and Catholics were the most supportive groups – and support by Protestants has remained consistent, but they are now among the least supportive groups in comparison.
The only non-Christian group who are less supportive than the general population are Muslims.
Catholic support is at around 60%, despite the Catholic church officially being opposed to same-sex marriage.
The issue of religious objections to same-sex marriage has been a divisive one in America, with the ‘religious freedom’ bills in states like Indiana hitting the headlines.
