Homosexuality, Religion, and Science: Moral Authority and the Persistence of Negative Attitudes*

Abstract

The liberalization of attitudes toward homosexuality in the United States over the past 30 years is well documented. Despite these changes, substantial resistance to equality for gay men and lesbians remains. Previous studies indicate that beliefs about the etiology of homosexuality are central to this discussion. Those who believe homosexuality is innate are more favorable, while those who believe it is the result of a choice are more negative. Moreover, experimental research indicates that those with negative views actually become more opposed when a natural explanation is proposed. This study highlights the importance of perceived sources of epistemic and moral authority for understanding views of homosexuality. Using stances on culturally controversial issues involving “science and religion” as indicators of where individuals place authority, we outline the connection between perceptions of moral authority and attributions about homosexuality. Analyses of a national survey of American adults show that, net of controls, one’s stance on moral authority is the strongest predictor of attributions about whether homosexuality is chosen or innate.

Male and Female He Created Them: Gender Traditionalism, Masculine Images of God, and Attitudes toward Same-Sex Unions

“…Those who perceive God to be masculine (as is most common in the United States), alternatively, are signaling an underlying belief that there is a masculine-gendered nature to all of reality and that there are strict roles into which men and women must fit (Gallagher 2003). Whitehead (2012) provides quantitative evidence of this association, that those who believe God is masculine also hold very traditional views of gender roles. Individuals who ascribe to a masculine image of God are much more likely to espouse traditional gender ideologies compared to those who do not view God as masculine.…”

“…Prior research points to the importance of gender traditionalism and religion when predicting attitudes toward gays and lesbians. Individuals with traditional gender beliefs view homosexuality negatively because they see it as an attack on the traditional family and the proper roles for men and women in society and Hill 2005;Froese, Bader, and Smith 2008;Hill, Moulton, and Burdette 2004;Sherkat, de Vries, and Creek 2010;Sherkat et al 2011;Whitehead and Baker 2012;Whitley 2009). Finally, individuals who exhibit higher levels of religious practice are likely to hold unfavorable views of homosexuality (Andersen and Fetner 2008;Burdette, Ellison, and Hill 2005;Hill, Moulton, and Burdette 2004;Olson, Cadge, and Harrison 2006;Sherkat, de Vries, and Creek 2010;Whitehead 2010Whitehead , 2014Whitley 2009).…”

Religion and Public Opinion Toward Same‐Sex Relations, Marriage, and Adoption: Does the Type of Practice Matter?

“…Although gay and lesbian romantic and family relationships in the United States remain a perennial topic of debate, acceptance of such relationships has risen steadily over the past few decades (Baunach 2012;Doan et al 2014;Rosenfeld 2007). Research on the social correlates of attitudes toward same-sex relationships consistently finds that people who are more opposed to such relationships tend to be older; male; politically conservative; southern; African American; more rural; less educated; less exposed to diversity; hold to the belief that homosexuality is a choice, not innate; gender traditionalists; and, most consistently, tend to be more religiously devout and/or conservative by a variety of measures (Adamczyk and Pitt 2009;Baunach 2012;Becker 2012;Burdette et al 2005;Doan et al 2014;Haider-Markel and Joslyn 2008;Merino 2013;Olson et al 2006;Perry 2013aPerry , 2013bPerry , 2015Sherkat et al 2010Sherkat et al , 2011Whitehead 2010Whitehead , 2014bWhitehead and Baker 2012). Moreover, recent research suggests that traditionally strong predictors of opposition to same-sex intimacy-e.g., being African American, attributing homosexuality to choice, political conservatism-are greatly moderated by religious factors as well (Baunach 2012;Perry 2015;Sherkat et al 2010Sherkat et al , 2011Whitehead 2010Whitehead , 2014aWhitehead , 2014b.…”

Multiracial Church Attendance and Support for Same‐Sex Romantic and Family Relationships

“…Frequent church attendance tends to predict higher levels of intolerance toward non‐traditional romantic and family relationships. Those who attend church more often are more likely to oppose interracial dating or marriage in general (Herman and Campbell ; Johnson and Jacobson ; Rokeach ; Yancey , ); they are less willing to interracially date themselves (Herman and Campbell ; Perry Forthcominga; Yancey ); they are more likely to view same‐sex romance as both wrong and a choice (Finlay and Walther ; Herek and Capitanio ; VanderStoep and Green ; Whitehead ; Whitehead and Baker ); and they are more likely to oppose same‐sex marriage and civil unions (Olson, Cadge, and Harrison ; Perry ; Sherkat, Mattias de Vries, and Creek ; Whitehead ).…”