I've noted before that the stridency and anti-gay hysteria of the anti-gay Christian Right is likely to increase as the generational shifts make it more and more evident that the Christianists are losing the larger culture war against LGBT Americans. The other trend is that the Public Religion Research Institute found via a new study is that as the Christian Right becomes more strident in its anti-gay jihad, Millennials by a 7 out of 10 majority agree that religious groups are alienating young people from religion and Christianity. In short, those who wear their religion on their sleeves incessantly and make a mockery of the true Gospel message are turning those between 18 and 29 to reject religion - or at least organized religion - because of its obvious hate and mockery of true the supposed true Christian message as enunciated by Christ according to the Gospels. One can only hope that those who hold themselves out as the protectors of Christianity will lead to its death -or at least the virulent form promoted by the Christianists. Here are some of the survey findings:
The Millennial generation (age 18 to 29) is transforming the landscape on gay and lesbian issues in American religion, politics and society, the Millennials, Religion & Gay and Lesbian Issues Survey finds. There is at least a 20-point generation gap between Millennials and seniors (age 65 and older) on every public policy measure in the survey concerning rights for gay and lesbian people - a trend that persist even among conservative political and religious groups such as Republicans and white evangelical Protestants.
The generation gap in support for same-sex marriage is striking and persists even among conservative political and religious groups.
Nearly half (49%) of Republican Millennials favor allowing gay and lesbian people to marry, compared to only 19% of Republican seniors and less than one-third (31%) of all Republicans. Forty-four percent of white evangelical Millennials favor allowing gay and lesbian people to marry, compared to only 12% of evangelical seniors and 19% of evangelicals overall.
There is broad acceptance of same-sex relationships in society and Americans are comfortable with gay and lesbian people in a variety of public professions.
Nearly two-thirds (64%) of Americans agree that gay and lesbian relationships should be accepted by society, including majorities of all major religious groups except white evangelicals.
Americans are comfortable with gay and lesbian people serving in a variety of public roles in society, including as a law enforcement officer (75%), a doctor (71%), a judge (70%), a high school teacher (63%), an elementary school teacher (61%), and a clergy person (56%).
Most Americans believe it is difficult to live openly as a gay or lesbian person, but twice as many Americans believe more gay and lesbian people “coming out” is a good thing rather than a bad thing for American society.
More than 6-in-10 Americans believe that negative messages from America’s places of worship contribute either a lot (23%) or a little (40%) to higher rates of suicide among gay and lesbian youth.
Among religious groups, 73% of non-Christian affiliated, 64% of Catholics, 60% of black Protestants, 59% of white mainline Protestants, and 51% of white evangelical Protestants say places of worship contribute either a lot or a little to higher rates of suicide among gay and lesbian youth.
The full report can be found here. Over all, the results are very bad news for professional Christians and purveyors of hate like Maggie Gallagher, Tony Perkins and Benedict XVI.
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