Truth and Feelings

Ventura, CA) - Americans unanimously denounced the September 11 terrorist attacks as a textbook example of evil, suggesting that there is a foundational belief in an absolute standard of right and wrong. Subsequent research, however, has shown that in the aftermath of the attacks, a minority of Americans believes in the existence of absolute moral truth. Even more surprising, the data from a pair of nationwide studies conducted by the Barna Research Group of Ventura, California showed that less than one out of three born again Christians adopt the notion of absolute moral truth. The surveys also found that few Americans turn to their faith as the primary guide for their moral and ethical decisions.

In two national surveys conducted by Barna Research, one among adults and one among teenagers, people were asked if they believe that there are moral absolutes that are unchanging or that moral truth is relative to the circumstances. By a 3-to-1 margin (64% vs. 22%) adults said truth is always relative to the person and their situation. The perspective was even more lopsided among teenagers, 83% of whom said moral truth depends on the circumstances, and only 6% of whom said moral truth is absolute.

The gap between teen and adult views was not surprising, however, when the adult views are considered by generation. While six out of ten people 36 and older embraced moral relativism, 75% of the adults 18 to 35 did so. Thus, it appears that relativism is gaining ground, largely because relativism appears to have taken root with the generation that preceded today's teens.

The Barna study also showed that there is a racial component to this issue, as well. Among whites, 60% endorse relativism, compared to 26% who adopt absolutism. Among non-whites, however, 74% support relativism and just 15% believe in absolute morality. (Fifteen percent of Hispanic adults and only 10% of African-American adults contended that moral truth is absolute.)

Not surprisingly, born again Christians were more likely than non-born again individuals to accept moral absolutes. Among adults, 32% of those who were born again said they believe in moral absolutes, compared to just half as many (15%) among the non-born again contingent. Among teenagers, there was still a 2-to-1 ratio evident, but the numbers were much less impressive: only 9% of born again teens believe in moral absolutes versus 4% of the non-born again teens. more

Survey Question: Think about the choices you face everyday. People make their decisions in different ways. When you are faced with a moral or ethical choice, which ONE of the following best describes how you, yourself, decide what to do? (IF "PRINCIPLES OR STANDARDS" ASK: What is the basis or source of those principles and standards that you take into consideration? In other words, where do those standards and principles come from - what would you turn to in order to discover the appropriate principles?

Adults (N=1010)

	All	ages 18-35	ages 36-55	ages 56+	born again	non born-again
whatever will make the most people happy or create the least conflict	7%	8%	6%	5%	4%	8%
whatever you think your family or friends would expect you to do	5	5	5	4	4	5
follow a set of specific principles or standards you believe in, that serve as guidelines for your behavior: the law	1	1	1	1	1	1
follow a set of specific principles or standards you believe in, that serve as guidelines for your behavior: the Bible	13	7	18	17	26	5
follow a set of specific principles or standards you believe in, that serve as guidelines for your behavior: values taught by your parents	15	13	16	15	13	16
follow a set of specific principles or standards you believe in, that serve as guidelines for your behavior: other religious input	6	3	8	8	8	4
follow a set of specific principles or standards you believe in, that serve as guidelines for your behavior: lessons from past experience	6	5	7	6	5	7
what you believe most other people would do in that situation	2	1	2	2	2	1
whatever feels right or comfortable in that situation	30	37	25	26	24	34
whatever will produce the most positive outcome for you, personally	10	15	6	9	9	11