According to a new research report, more than half of Americans believe “abortion is a sin.”
The finding is part of the 2018 State of American Theology Report, which surveyed 3,000 Americans on their religious beliefs. 52% of respondents said they agreed with the statement “Abortion is a sin.”
This represents a slight increase from the last State of American Theology Report, conducted in 2016, in which 49% agreed it is a sin.
The study was conducted by LifeWay Research and was sponsored by Ligonier Ministries. Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr., a teaching fellow for Ligonier Ministries and president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, told PR Newswire about the findings:
These survey results may surprise some people, but pro-life beliefs have definitely been gaining ground in recent years. Pastors and local churches have played a big part in this by teaching about the sanctity of human life. Ultrasound images plainly show the humanity of the child in the womb, and they are provoking the consciences of Americans. Christians are playing a lead role in providing counsel and practical care for those in need.
While 52% of the 3,000 respondents agreed that abortion is a sin, among respondents who regularly attend church, that number jumped to 75%.
The age group most likely to agree with the statement was 18-34-year-olds. This is consistent with other polling that has found Millennials are more pro-life than their parents’ generation and are opposed to abortion even when they self-identify as “pro-choice.”
Having grown up with ultrasound images of human beings in the womb, young people can see that abortion ends a human life. For those who are religious, that generally means they see abortion as a sin.
While abortion advocates have frequently claimed that religious Americans “shame” women considering elective abortion due to their belief that it is a sin, the pro-life movement has, for decades, created ways to help pregnant women, such as pregnancy resource centers. These centers are open to people of all faiths (or not faith at all). Women can receive free resources and support there.
