Share of Americans saying it is not necessary to believe in God in order to be moral has increased since 2002 | Pew Research Center

December 13, 2019

5. Gender, family and marriage, same-sex marriage and religion

Share of Americans saying it is not necessary to believe in God in order to be moral has increased since 2002

Share of Americans saying it is not necessary to believe in God in order to be moral has increased since 2002

Download

Share of Americans saying it is not necessary to believe in God in order to be moral has increased since 2002

1…9 10 11 121314

Infographic Gallery

5. Gender, family and marriage, same-sex marriage and religion
Nearly twice as many men as women say obstacles to women’s advancement ‘are largely gone’
Since 2002, growing differences between Republicans and Democrats on whether Islam is more likely than other religions to encourage violence
Sizable partisan gap in views of Islam and violence
Wide racial difference among Democrats on whether belief in God is necessary to be moral
Liberal Democrats overwhelmingly say morality is not linked to belief in God
Majority of Americans say belief in God is not necessary in order to be moral
Black Democrats far less likely than white Democrats to say legalizing same-sex marriage is a good thing
Majority of young Republicans say same-sex marriage being legal is a good thing for society
Views on importance of marriage and children vary more by ideology than gender
Republicans divided on whether people should prioritize marriage and children
Growing share of Democrats say it’s harder for women to advance; Republicans’ views largely unchanged
Among Republicans, wide gender gap in views of barriers to women’s progress
Share of Americans saying it is not necessary to believe in God in order to be moral has increased since 2002
Younger, college-educated adults say legalization of same-sex marriage is a good thing for society