Barna Research: 61% Think Gambling's Morally Acceptable

Gambling: Morally Acceptable?

Gambling: Morally Acceptable?
Barna Research released national survey results on issues related to morality in a press release, Morality Continues to Decay (November 3, 2003). Particularly alarming is the extent to which Christians approve of traditionally immoral behavior. Several excerpts from this shocking survey have been placed below:

Of the ten moral behaviors evaluated, a majority of Americans believed that each of three activities were "morally acceptable." Those included gambling (61%), co-habitation (60%), and sexual fantasies (59%). Nearly half of the adult population felt that two other behaviors were morally acceptable: having an abortion (45%) and having a sexual relationship with someone of the opposite sex other than their spouse (42%). About one-third of the population gave the stamp of approval to pornography (38%), profanity (36%), drunkenness (35%) and homosexual sex (30%). The activity that garnered the least support was using non-prescription drugs (17%).

…This is reflective of a nation where morality is generally defined according to one’s feelings. In a postmodern society, where people do not acknowledge any moral absolutes, if a person feels justified in engaging in a specific behavior then they do not make a connection with the immoral nature of that action. Yet, deep inside, they sense that something is wrong in our society. They simply have not been able to put two and two together to recognize their personal liability regarding the moral condition of our nation.

The survey also discusses other topics relating to the moral decay of our nation.

Click, Morality Continues to Decay to see the full-text Barna Research press release.

George Barna, "Morality Continues to Decay," Barna Research Press Release online, press release, 3 November 2003, <http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdate&BarnaUpdateID=152> (21 November 2003).

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