A recent study found that Americans who adhere to a religious faith are more likely to be pro-life.
Lifeway Research published a report in May showing the connection of a person’s religious beliefs and practice in his/her views on abortion. Those who are active in church are more likely to be pro-life than the non-religious who sees pro-choice as a moral right of a person.
This survey clearly demonstrates evangelical beliefs and practices, especially church attendance, translate into pro-life views. —Adam W. Greenway, president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Among those surveyed, 29% said their personal religious faith influenced their opinions on abortion. Sixty-four percent of Americans with evangelical beliefs oppose abortion while 70% of non-religious are pro-choice. More than half (53%) of those who attend church weekly are more pro-life versus 19% who identified as pro-choice.
“This survey clearly demonstrates evangelical beliefs and practices, especially church attendance, translate into pro-life views,” explained Adam W. Greenway, president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. “This underscores the truth that the ultimate solution to this moral problem, like all moral problems, is spiritual transformation of the gospel of Jesus Christ among individuals that will eventually translate into societal changes.”
However, the increase in church attendance didn’t necessarily equate to Americans hearing more about abortion during Sunday service. Among those who attend religious services a few times a year or more, 36% revealed that abortion is not mentioned during worship. Meantime, 24% said they hear about the topic a few times a year, while only 3% said abortion is talked about in church on a weekly basis.
The majority of churchgoers, regardless of their stand on abortion, 46% feel that the church speaks about the issue at the right amount. Few of them, 16%, want to hear much more about abortion and 12% want much less.
In another study, the Pew Research Center found that among religious groups, white Evangelicals are most opposed to abortion. “Nearly three-quarters say that abortion should be against the law in all cases without exception (21%) or that it should be illegal in most cases (53%). White evangelicals are also far more likely than U.S. adults who identify with other religious groups to say that life begins at conception and that the fetus is thus a person with rights; 86% of White evangelicals express this view.”
With these sentiments, it’s not surprising that 73% of white Evangelicals say their religion is a great factor in shaping their views on abortion.
Pew noted that majorities across religious groups see abortion can be legal in some cases, and sometimes illegal. If the life of the pregnant woman is at risk, 51% of white Evangelicals support abortion, 69% of Catholics and 87% of the religiously unaffiliated. If pregnancy is a result of rape, 40% of white Evangelicals agree with abortion, 66% of Catholics and 87% of the religiously unaffiliated.
The research establishes that abortion is never a black and white issue. There are alot of gray areas before people can fully support or not an abortion.
