Widespread disagreement over what is legal and not legal regarding religion, morality, and public life
(Original release date: December 6, 2007) Study results released today from Ellison Research (Phoenix, Arizona) show Americans rarely agree about what is legal or not legal when it comes to religion and morality in the public arena.
The study presented a number of scenarios to people, and asked whether each one is currently legal, not legal, or a grey area still being decided in the courts. The scenarios included things such as nativity displays on city property, public school teachers wearing religious symbols, and displays of the Ten Commandments inside court buildings.
The findings are from a study independently designed and conducted by Ellison Research among a representative sample of 1,007 American adults. The sample is balanced by gender, age, income, race, and geography.
Out of nine different scenarios, only three show a majority of Americans agreeing about the legality:
- A public school teacher wearing a religious symbol such as a cross or a Star of David during class time (58% believe this is legal, 22% feel this is not legal, and 20% call it a grey area still being decided)
- Religious groups renting public property, such as a public school gym or a library room, for meetings if non-religious groups are allowed to do so (72% legal, 9% not legal, 19% a grey area)
- A landlord refusing to rent an apartment to a homosexual couple (9% legal, 77% not legal, 13% a grey area)
The other six scenarios show widespread disagreement. Thirty-eight percent of all Americans believe the display of a nativity scene on city property (such as a city hall) during Christmas is legal, while 32% say this is currently not legal, and 30% feel it’s a grey area still being decided in the courts. Similarly, 26% feel the display of a scene honoring Islam on city property during Ramadan is legal, while 39% believe this is not legal, and 35% feel it’s a grey area.
Half believe a public school teacher permitting a “moment of silence” for prayer or contemplation for all students during class time is currently legal, while 29% say this is not legal, and 22% see it as a grey area. The numbers are very similar for voluntary student-led prayers at public school events, such as football games or graduation ceremonies (49% call this legal, 27% feel it is not legal, and 24% see it as a grey area).
Only 26% believe it is legal to display a copy of the Ten Commandments inside a court building, while 45% feel this is not legal, and 30% feel this is a grey area.
Finally, just 26% believe it is currently legal for a religious club in a high school or university to determine for itself who can be in their membership, even if certain types of people are excluded. Forty-eight percent feel this is not legal, and 26% see it as a grey area still being decided.
The study shows very little difference in opinion according to things such as demographics (income, race, etc.), region of the country, religious beliefs, or political perspectives. In general, people who are very religious, those who are entirely irreligious, liberals, conservatives, and other types of Americans are about equally confused and/or in disagreement on these issues.
Ron Sellers, president of Ellison Research, noted that the attention given to some of these issues is probably contributing to the confusion. “Some of the scenarios we presented to people in the research have gotten a lot of attention recently,” Sellers noted. “Many of these scenarios represent controversial issues. You have one side strongly insisting that city hall displaying a nativity scene is a good thing, and another side loudly promoting their view that it’s not. People apparently are getting confused as to just where many of these things stand.”
Sellers also found it interesting that there weren’t individual types of people who feel more sure of what’s legal or not legal in today’s world. “It’s not as though liberals are all in agreement that a particular scenario is legal while conservatives believe it to be illegal, for example. Highly religious people didn’t insist it’s legal to display a nativity scene on city property while the irreligious disagreed. People from all political perspectives, religious beliefs, parts of the country, and demographic groups do not have an understanding of what’s legal and not legal when it comes to religion and public life.”
STUDY DETAILS:
The study was conducted by Ellison Research, a marketing research company located in Phoenix, Arizona. The sample of 1,007 adults is accurate to within ±3.1 percentage points at the 95 percent confidence level with a 50 percent response distribution.
The study was conducted in all 50 states. Respondents’ age, household income, geography, racial or ethnic background, and gender were carefully tracked to ensure appropriate representation and accuracy.
Perceptions of whether certain situations are legal in the U.S. today…
| Situations | Believe This Is Legal |
Believe This Is not Legal |
Believe It’s a Grey Area Still Being Decided |
The display of a nativity scene on city property, such as a city hall, during Christmas |
38% | 32% | 30% |
The display of a scene honoring Islam on city property, such as a city hall, during Ramadan (a Muslim holiday) |
26 | 39 | 35 |
A public school teacher wearing a religious symbol such as a cross or a Star of David during class time |
58 |
22 |
20 |
The display of a copy of the Ten Commandments inside a court building |
26 | 45 | 30 |
A landlord refusing to rent an apartment to a homosexual couple |
9 | 77 | 13 |
A public school teacher permitting a “moment of silence” for prayer or contemplation for all students during class time |
50 | 29 | 22 |
Religious groups renting public property, such as a public school gym or a library room, for meetings if non-religious groups are allowed to do so |
72 | 9 | 19 |
Voluntary student-led prayers at public school events, such as football games or graduation ceremonies |
49 | 27 | 24 |
A religious club in a high school or university determining for itself who can be in their membership, even if certain types of people are excluded |
26 | 48 | 26 |
Perceptions of what is legal, by age …
| Situations | Age <35 |
Age 35 – 54 |
Age 55+ |
The display of a nativity scene on city property, such as a city hall, during Christmas |
48% | 39% | 30% |
The display of a scene honoring Islam on city property, such as a city hall, during Ramadan (a Muslim holiday) |
40 | 23 | 20 |
A public school teacher wearing a religious symbol such as a cross or a Star of David during class time |
62 | 58 | 56 |
The display of a copy of the Ten Commandments inside a court building |
34 | 27 | 20 |
A landlord refusing to rent an apartment to a homosexual couple |
14 | 9 | 7 |
A public school teacher permitting a “moment of silence” for prayer or contemplation for all students during class time |
56 | 46 | 50 |
Religious groups renting public property, such as a public school gym or a library room, for meetings if non-religious groups are allowed to do so |
72 | 71 | 74 |
Voluntary student-led prayers at public school events, such as football games or graduation ceremonies |
63 | 47 | 42 |
A religious club in a high school or university determining for itself who can be in their membership, even if certain types of people are excluded |
29 | 25 | 24 |
*Numbers may not add to exactly 100% due to rounding.
