Survey Reveals Evangelical Convictions

May 05, 2004 03:34 PM EDT

Ninety-three percent of American evangelicals support a constitutional amendment to protect marriage, according to a survey conducted by Coral Ridge Ministries that saw 116,000 respondents.

Based on the February findings of the 2004 Spiritual State of the Nation Survey, over 90 percent of respondents said they would support a "constitutional amendment to protect marriage," if the U.S. Supreme Court legalized homosexual marriage. The results of the informal write-in survey, which represent the beliefs of pro-family evangelicals, will be sent to media elites and governmental leaders to inform them of the often abated conservative voice.

Of the respondents, 99 percent agree that “pastors and others [should] be allowed to publicly speak out against sexual sins, including homosexuality, without fear of being charged with a ‘hate-crime.’”

"The results of this survey are a window into the deeply held moral convictions of thousands of Americans,” said Dr. D. James Kennedy, President of Coral Ridge Ministries.

Coral Ridge Ministries also released results of a separate survey on Homosexual Agenda in which 3,600 people unanimously indicated they "support immediate passage of a Federal Marriage Amendment to the Constitution legally defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman."

The Nation Survey also revealed the views of American evangelicals on other issues as well. Nearly ninety percent support a ban on partial-birth abortion. Despite recent debate separation of church and state, which includes omitting prayer from public schools which are state-run institutions, ninety-four percent favor school prayer. They also want creationism taught in schools, represented by 81 percent of the pool of evangelicals.

“This is the 15th year in which I have reported on America’s spiritual condition by way of a nationwide survey,” said Dr. Kennedy. “However, this may be the most significant one yet, as vital spiritual issues have been forced to the front of public life.”

About 95 percent of evangelicals strongly favor "efforts to persuade advertisers and television networks to clean up 'trash TV'" and 94 percent who do not trust the national media.

Regarding the government arena, 7 out of 10 American evangelicals trust President Bush and 78 percent support the war on terror.

The 2004 Spiritual State of the Nation Survey results have been sent to Congress, the White House, the Supreme Court, and members of the national media while the results of the Homosexual Attitudes survey are being released to the media and have been sent to President George W. Bush.