The majority of Americans approve of the display of a Ten Commandments monument in a public building but disapprove of a similar display featuring a verse from the Quran, Islam’s holy book, a new USA Today/CNN/Gallup Poll shows.
The poll, taken Sept. 19–21 and reported Sept. 30 in USA Today, found that 70 percent of U.S. adults approve of the display of a monument to the Ten Commandments in a public school or government building while 29 percent disapprove and 1 percent had no opinion.
The percentages were practically reversed concerning the possibility of a monument with a verse from the Quran being put on display in a government building or a public school.
In that case, 64 percent of those polled disapproved of display of a Quranic verse, while 33 percent approved and 3 percent offered no opinion.
A similar disparity in views emerged from answers to questions about the government funding of faith-based social programs such as those providing day care or drug rehabilitation.
Asked about the use of federal funds for such programs if they are run by “Christian religious organizations,” 64 percent approved, 34 percent disapproved and 2 percent had no opinion.
But responses to a similar question regarding use of federal funds for social programs run by “Islamic religious organizations” revealed that 56 percent of those polled disapproved, 41 percent approved and 3 percent had no
opinion.
In general, public displays of religion met approval with those contacted for the survey. For example, 90 percent approved of the inscription “In God We Trust” on American coins and 78 percent approved of a non-denominational prayer as part of an official program at a public school’s sporting event or graduation.
Views reflected by the poll were more mixed about the possibility that the government may be harming people’s rights when it promotes religion.
Fifty-four percent of respondents said they lean toward the view that “any time government promotes the teachings of a religion, it can harm the rights of people who do not belong to that religion.”
On the other hand, 40 percent of respondents said they would more than likely agree with the view that the “government can promote the teachings of a religion without harming the rights of people who do not belong to that religion.”
Six percent offered no opinion on that question. The survey results were based on telephone interviews of 1,003 adults ages 18 and older and had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points. (RNS)
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