Sources of guidance on right and wrong among adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services
% of adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services who say they look to…most for guidance on right and wrong
Survey year | Religion | Philosophy/reason | Common sense | Science | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | 30% | 12% | 45% | 12% | 2% | 13,339 |
2007 | 28% | 9% | 53% | 7% | 3% | 14,306 |
Learn More: Religion, Philosophy/reason, Common sense, Science
Sources of guidance on right and wrong among adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services by religious group
% of adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services who say they look to…most for guidance on right and wrong
Religious tradition | Religion | Philosophy/reason | Common sense | Science | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Buddhist | 12% | 27% | 45% | 14% | 2% | 134 |
Catholic | 30% | 9% | 46% | 14% | 2% | 2,884 |
Evangelical Protestant | 52% | 7% | 34% | 5% | 2% | 2,210 |
Hindu | 9% | 23% | 44% | 25% | < 1% | 103 |
Historically Black Protestant | 46% | 5% | 42% | 4% | 2% | 1,326 |
Jehovah's Witness | 83% | 1% | 11% | 3% | 2% | 109 |
Jewish | 17% | 17% | 45% | 19% | 2% | 442 |
Mainline Protestant | 27% | 13% | 50% | 8% | 2% | 1,908 |
Mormon | 48% | 7% | 28% | 13% | 4% | 119 |
Muslim | 39% | 8% | 36% | 14% | 3% | 163 |
Unaffiliated (religious "nones") | 8% | 19% | 53% | 19% | 2% | 3,419 |
Learn More: Religion, Philosophy/reason, Common sense, Science
Demographic✭Information
Age distribution among adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services by sources of guidance on right and wrong
% of adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services who are ages…
Sources of guidance on right and wrong | 18-29 | 30-49 | 50-64 | 65+ | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Religion | 22% | 35% | 27% | 16% | 3,598 |
Philosophy/reason | 35% | 34% | 21% | 11% | 1,780 |
Common sense | 28% | 34% | 24% | 13% | 5,758 |
Science | 31% | 38% | 20% | 11% | 1,668 |
Don't know | 17% | 26% | 28% | 29% | 298 |
Generational cohort among adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services by sources of guidance on right and wrong
% of adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services who are…
Sources of guidance on right and wrong | Younger Millennial | Older Millennial | Generation X | Baby Boomer | Silent | Greatest | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Religion | 14% | 14% | 29% | 31% | 10% | 1% | 3,598 |
Philosophy/reason | 23% | 20% | 26% | 24% | 6% | < 1% | 1,780 |
Common sense | 18% | 17% | 27% | 28% | 8% | 1% | 5,758 |
Science | 20% | 20% | 30% | 23% | 7% | 1% | 1,668 |
Don't know | 8% | 12% | 23% | 34% | 23% | 1% | 298 |
Gender composition among adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services by sources of guidance on right and wrong
% of adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services who are…
Sources of guidance on right and wrong | Men | Women | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|
Religion | 36% | 64% | 3,679 |
Philosophy/reason | 46% | 54% | 1,799 |
Common sense | 41% | 59% | 5,851 |
Science | 50% | 50% | 1,696 |
Don't know | 44% | 56% | 314 |
Racial and ethnic composition among adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services by sources of guidance on right and wrong
% of adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services who identify as…
Sources of guidance on right and wrong | White | Black | Asian | Latino | Other/Mixed | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Religion | 37% | 28% | 3% | 27% | 4% | 3,641 |
Philosophy/reason | 59% | 12% | 7% | 19% | 3% | 1,789 |
Common sense | 53% | 18% | 5% | 19% | 4% | 5,799 |
Science | 52% | 9% | 8% | 28% | 4% | 1,675 |
Don't know | 50% | 15% | 3% | 28% | 3% | 306 |
Immigrant status among adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services by sources of guidance on right and wrong
% of adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services who are…
Sources of guidance on right and wrong | Immigrants | Second generation | Third generation or higher | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Religion | 27% | 9% | 65% | 3,604 |
Philosophy/reason | 20% | 15% | 65% | 1,776 |
Common sense | 18% | 11% | 70% | 5,744 |
Science | 32% | 13% | 55% | 1,672 |
Don't know | 27% | 7% | 65% | 305 |
Income distribution among adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services by sources of guidance on right and wrong
% of adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services who have a household income of…
Sources of guidance on right and wrong | Less than $30,000 | $30,000-$49,999 | $50,000-$99,999 | $100,000 or more | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Religion | 54% | 20% | 17% | 9% | 3,186 |
Philosophy/reason | 36% | 18% | 25% | 21% | 1,638 |
Common sense | 45% | 19% | 22% | 14% | 5,190 |
Science | 38% | 18% | 22% | 21% | 1,509 |
Don't know | 48% | 17% | 17% | 17% | 242 |
Educational distribution among adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services by sources of guidance on right and wrong
% of adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services who have completed…
Sources of guidance on right and wrong | High school or less | Some college | College | Post-graduate degree | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Religion | 55% | 28% | 10% | 8% | 3,648 |
Philosophy/reason | 29% | 30% | 23% | 18% | 1,793 |
Common sense | 48% | 28% | 14% | 9% | 5,825 |
Science | 39% | 23% | 20% | 18% | 1,682 |
Don't know | 47% | 24% | 15% | 14% | 312 |
Marital status among adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services by sources of guidance on right and wrong
% of adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services who are…
Sources of guidance on right and wrong | Married | Living with a partner | Divorced/separated | Widowed | Never married | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Religion | 41% | 7% | 17% | 8% | 27% | 3,660 |
Philosophy/reason | 38% | 11% | 13% | 3% | 34% | 1,793 |
Common sense | 38% | 10% | 14% | 6% | 32% | 5,835 |
Science | 41% | 9% | 12% | 3% | 34% | 1,683 |
Don't know | 37% | 4% | 20% | 14% | 26% | 308 |
Parent of children under 18 among adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services by sources of guidance on right and wrong
% of adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services who are…
Sources of guidance on right and wrong | Parents | Non-parents | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|
Religion | 32% | 68% | 3,661 |
Philosophy/reason | 28% | 72% | 1,796 |
Common sense | 31% | 69% | 5,836 |
Science | 32% | 68% | 1,691 |
Don't know | 23% | 77% | 311 |
Beliefs✭and✭Practices
Belief in God among adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services by sources of guidance on right and wrong
% of adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services who say they…
Sources of guidance on right and wrong | Believe in God; absolutely certain | Believe in God; fairly certain | Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | Believe in God; don't know | Do not believe in God | Other/don't know if they believe in God | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Religion | 83% | 14% | 1% | 1% | 1% | < 1% | 3,679 |
Philosophy/reason | 39% | 27% | 11% | 1% | 20% | 3% | 1,799 |
Common sense | 54% | 24% | 7% | 1% | 12% | 2% | 5,851 |
Science | 33% | 27% | 9% | 1% | 28% | 2% | 1,696 |
Don't know | 60% | 21% | 4% | 3% | 7% | 5% | 314 |
Importance of religion in one's life among adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services by sources of guidance on right and wrong
% of adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services who say religion is…
Sources of guidance on right and wrong | Very important | Somewhat important | Not too important | Not at all important | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Religion | 86% | 12% | 1% | 1% | < 1% | 3,679 |
Philosophy/reason | 31% | 30% | 18% | 20% | 1% | 1,799 |
Common sense | 41% | 31% | 14% | 13% | < 1% | 5,851 |
Science | 30% | 26% | 17% | 26% | < 1% | 1,696 |
Don't know | 58% | 20% | 7% | 11% | 5% | 314 |
Attendance at religious services among adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services by sources of guidance on right and wrong
% of adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services who attend religious services…
Sources of guidance on right and wrong | At least once a week | Once or twice a month/a few times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Religion | 61% | 28% | 10% | 1% | 3,679 |
Philosophy/reason | 18% | 39% | 43% | < 1% | 1,799 |
Common sense | 22% | 40% | 38% | < 1% | 5,851 |
Science | 17% | 37% | 46% | < 1% | 1,696 |
Don't know | 33% | 32% | 30% | 4% | 314 |
Frequency of prayer among adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services by sources of guidance on right and wrong
% of adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services who pray…
Sources of guidance on right and wrong | At least daily | Weekly | Monthly | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Religion | 80% | 12% | 3% | 5% | 1% | 3,679 |
Philosophy/reason | 36% | 19% | 8% | 38% | < 1% | 1,799 |
Common sense | 46% | 17% | 7% | 29% | 1% | 5,851 |
Science | 31% | 17% | 7% | 46% | < 1% | 1,696 |
Don't know | 58% | 14% | 4% | 20% | 3% | 314 |
Frequency of participation in prayer, scripture study or religious education groups among adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services by sources of guidance on right and wrong
% of adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services who attend prayer group…
Sources of guidance on right and wrong | At least once a week | Once or twice a month | Several times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Religion | 45% | 14% | 9% | 31% | 1% | 3,679 |
Philosophy/reason | 13% | 8% | 8% | 71% | 1% | 1,799 |
Common sense | 15% | 8% | 8% | 69% | < 1% | 5,851 |
Science | 11% | 8% | 7% | 74% | < 1% | 1,696 |
Don't know | 24% | 11% | 8% | 54% | 4% | 314 |
Frequency of meditation among adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services by sources of guidance on right and wrong
% of adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services who meditate…
Sources of guidance on right and wrong | At least once a week | Once or twice a month | Several times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Religion | 54% | 8% | 3% | 32% | 2% | 3,679 |
Philosophy/reason | 41% | 11% | 5% | 43% | < 1% | 1,799 |
Common sense | 34% | 9% | 5% | 51% | 1% | 5,851 |
Science | 30% | 11% | 6% | 52% | 1% | 1,696 |
Don't know | 45% | 8% | 3% | 36% | 8% | 314 |
Frequency of feeling spiritual peace and wellbeing among adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services by sources of guidance on right and wrong
% of adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services who feel a sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing…
Sources of guidance on right and wrong | At least once a week | Once or twice a month | Several times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Religion | 74% | 12% | 6% | 7% | 1% | 3,679 |
Philosophy/reason | 51% | 19% | 11% | 18% | 1% | 1,799 |
Common sense | 50% | 17% | 12% | 20% | 1% | 5,851 |
Science | 45% | 15% | 12% | 26% | 2% | 1,696 |
Don't know | 60% | 11% | 6% | 15% | 8% | 314 |
Frequency of feeling wonder about the universe among adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services by sources of guidance on right and wrong
% of adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services who feel a sense of wonder about the universe…
Sources of guidance on right and wrong | At least once a week | Once or twice a month | Several times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Religion | 47% | 15% | 11% | 24% | 2% | 3,679 |
Philosophy/reason | 57% | 17% | 11% | 15% | 1% | 1,799 |
Common sense | 41% | 16% | 13% | 28% | 1% | 5,851 |
Science | 46% | 16% | 14% | 23% | 1% | 1,696 |
Don't know | 47% | 9% | 16% | 18% | 11% | 314 |
Belief in absolute standards for right and wrong among adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services by sources of guidance on right and wrong
% of adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services who say…
Sources of guidance on right and wrong | There are clear standards for what is right and wrong | Right or wrong depends on the situation | Neither/both equally | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Religion | 33% | 64% | 1% | 1% | 3,679 |
Philosophy/reason | 19% | 79% | 1% | 1% | 1,799 |
Common sense | 19% | 80% | 1% | 1% | 5,851 |
Science | 19% | 80% | 1% | 1% | 1,696 |
Don't know | 20% | 69% | 2% | 9% | 314 |
Frequency of reading scripture among adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services by sources of guidance on right and wrong
% of adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services who read scripture…
Sources of guidance on right and wrong | At least once a week | Once or twice a month | Several times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Religion | 62% | 12% | 6% | 20% | 1% | 3,679 |
Philosophy/reason | 19% | 12% | 9% | 60% | < 1% | 1,799 |
Common sense | 22% | 10% | 9% | 57% | 1% | 5,851 |
Science | 14% | 9% | 9% | 68% | < 1% | 1,696 |
Don't know | 31% | 13% | 7% | 44% | 5% | 314 |
Interpreting scripture among adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services by sources of guidance on right and wrong
% of adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services who say the holy scripture is…
Sources of guidance on right and wrong | Word of God; should be taken literally | Word of God; not everything taken literally | Word of God; other/don't know | Not the word of God | Other/don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Religion | 58% | 27% | 3% | 8% | 5% | 3,679 |
Philosophy/reason | 15% | 19% | < 1% | 60% | 5% | 1,799 |
Common sense | 26% | 25% | 2% | 41% | 7% | 5,851 |
Science | 21% | 16% | 1% | 57% | 5% | 1,696 |
Don't know | 26% | 18% | 12% | 28% | 17% | 314 |
Belief in Heaven among adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services by sources of guidance on right and wrong
% of adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services who …in heaven
Sources of guidance on right and wrong | Believe | Don't believe | Other/don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Religion | 90% | 6% | 4% | 3,679 |
Philosophy/reason | 52% | 40% | 8% | 1,799 |
Common sense | 70% | 24% | 6% | 5,851 |
Science | 51% | 43% | 6% | 1,696 |
Don't know | 67% | 19% | 14% | 314 |
Belief in Hell among adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services by sources of guidance on right and wrong
% of adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services who …in hell
Sources of guidance on right and wrong | Believe | Don't believe | Other/don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Religion | 77% | 17% | 6% | 3,679 |
Philosophy/reason | 35% | 58% | 7% | 1,799 |
Common sense | 53% | 40% | 7% | 5,851 |
Science | 40% | 54% | 6% | 1,696 |
Don't know | 49% | 32% | 19% | 314 |
Social✭and✭Political✭Views
Party affiliation among adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services by sources of guidance on right and wrong
% of adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services who identify as…
Sources of guidance on right and wrong | Republican/lean Rep. | No lean | Democrat/lean Dem. | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Religion | 22% | 21% | 56% | 3,679 |
Philosophy/reason | 12% | 13% | 75% | 1,799 |
Common sense | 16% | 18% | 66% | 5,851 |
Science | 13% | 16% | 71% | 1,696 |
Don't know | 14% | 26% | 61% | 314 |
Political ideology among adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services by sources of guidance on right and wrong
% of adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services who are…
Sources of guidance on right and wrong | Conservative | Moderate | Liberal | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Religion | 35% | 32% | 24% | 9% | 3,679 |
Philosophy/reason | 12% | 29% | 56% | 3% | 1,799 |
Common sense | 20% | 35% | 38% | 7% | 5,851 |
Science | 18% | 27% | 51% | 4% | 1,696 |
Don't know | 18% | 30% | 35% | 16% | 314 |
Views about government aid to the poor among adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services by sources of guidance on right and wrong
% of adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services who say government aid to the poor…
Sources of guidance on right and wrong | Does more harm than good | Does more good than harm | Neither/both equally | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Religion | 27% | 68% | 3% | 2% | 3,679 |
Philosophy/reason | 16% | 81% | 2% | 1% | 1,799 |
Common sense | 27% | 69% | 3% | 2% | 5,851 |
Science | 23% | 74% | 2% | 1% | 1,696 |
Don't know | 15% | 65% | 11% | 9% | 314 |
Views about abortion among adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services by sources of guidance on right and wrong
% of adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services who say abortion should be…
Sources of guidance on right and wrong | Legal in all/most cases | Illegal in all/most cases | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Religion | 40% | 56% | 4% | 3,679 |
Philosophy/reason | 75% | 23% | 2% | 1,799 |
Common sense | 66% | 31% | 3% | 5,851 |
Science | 70% | 27% | 3% | 1,696 |
Don't know | 54% | 29% | 17% | 314 |
Views about homosexuality among adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services by sources of guidance on right and wrong
% of adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services who say homosexuality…
Sources of guidance on right and wrong | Should be accepted | Should be discouraged | Neither/both equally | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Religion | 50% | 43% | 4% | 4% | 3,679 |
Philosophy/reason | 87% | 10% | 2% | 1% | 1,799 |
Common sense | 77% | 18% | 3% | 3% | 5,851 |
Science | 84% | 14% | 1% | 1% | 1,696 |
Don't know | 62% | 23% | 7% | 9% | 314 |
Views about same-sex marriage among adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services by sources of guidance on right and wrong
% of adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services who …same-sex marriage
Sources of guidance on right and wrong | Strongly favor/favor | Oppose/strongly oppose | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Religion | 39% | 53% | 8% | 3,679 |
Philosophy/reason | 84% | 13% | 3% | 1,799 |
Common sense | 69% | 24% | 7% | 5,851 |
Science | 77% | 19% | 4% | 1,696 |
Don't know | 54% | 28% | 18% | 314 |
Views about environmental regulation among adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services by sources of guidance on right and wrong
% of adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services who say…
Sources of guidance on right and wrong | Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy | Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost | Neither/both equally | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Religion | 32% | 63% | 1% | 4% | 3,679 |
Philosophy/reason | 16% | 81% | 1% | 1% | 1,799 |
Common sense | 28% | 68% | 1% | 3% | 5,851 |
Science | 20% | 77% | 1% | 2% | 1,696 |
Don't know | 18% | 63% | 5% | 14% | 314 |
Views about human evolution among adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services by sources of guidance on right and wrong
% of adults who would rather have a bigger government with more services who say humans…
Sources of guidance on right and wrong | Evolved; due to natural processes | Evolved; due to God's design | Evolved; don't know how | Always existed in present form | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Religion | 15% | 31% | 3% | 47% | 5% | 3,679 |
Philosophy/reason | 59% | 21% | 3% | 16% | 1% | 1,799 |
Common sense | 42% | 24% | 3% | 28% | 3% | 5,851 |
Science | 62% | 16% | 2% | 18% | 2% | 1,696 |
Don't know | 25% | 20% | 14% | 20% | 21% | 314 |