Imagine answering the phone and the person on the other end asks you to answer questions on religious faith for the Pew Research Center Values Study. Recently, 3008 adult Americans agreed to answer the questions, and Jerry Coyne has posted the results. Coyne thinks the results are good news; however, while the results don’t seem too surprising, the questions are.
If you haven’t already refused to take part in the survey, imagine answering yes or no to these questions:
- Prayer is an important part of my daily life
- All will be called before God at Judgment Day
- I never doubt the existence of God
- School boards have the right to fire homosexual teachers
- Ban dangerous books from public school libraries
- I have old-fashioned values about family and marriage
- Clear guidelines on good or evil that apply to everyone
- Women should return to their traditional roles in society
- Women get fewer opportunities than men for good jobs
If this survey were conducted in Canada, I would agree to take part. Here are my answers:
- No
- No
- No
- No
- Define “dangerous books.”
- Define “old-fashioned values”
- No
- In 19th century England, working class women stayed at home, looked after the children and did piecework to supplement the family income. Is this what you mean by “traditional roles”?
- This one doesn’t fit with the other eight.
Now, it’s your turn.
Note: Questions and answers updated at 9:02