FEATURE/Views On Homosexuality and Religion Revealed in Odyssey Channel Poll.NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE FEATURES)--Sept. 17, 1998-- Is Homosexuality homosexuality, a term created by 19th cent. theorists to describe a sexual and emotional interest in members of one's own sex. Today a person is often said to have a homosexual or a heterosexual orientation, a description intended to defuse some of the long-standing Morally Wrong? Is Homosexuality a Biological Trait trait (trat) 1. any genetically determined characteristic; also, the condition prevailing in the heterozygous state of a recessive disorder, as the sickle cell trait. 2. a distinctive behavior pattern. ? Is Homosexuality a Sin? The Odyssey Channel The Odyssey Channel was Australia's award-winning documentary channel that was previously available on Optus Vision. It was one of the few channels on Subscription TV in Australia that had a large amount of Australian content available. , cable's interfaith in·ter·faith adj. Of, relating to, or involving persons of different religious faiths: an interfaith marriage; an interfaith forum. network, commissioned a poll for its News Odyssey Odyssey (ŏd`ĭsē): see Homer. Odyssey Homer’s long, narrative poem centered on Odysseus. [Gk. Lit.: Odyssey] See : Epic Odyssey special, Windows of Hope, Closets of Despair: Faith Communities Confront Sexuality which will premiere on Odyssey on Thursday Thursday: see week. , September 24 at 9:00pm, ET/6:00pm, PT. This one-hour special looks at the controversial issue of homosexuality and how the faith communities are wrestling wrestling, sport in which two unarmed opponents grapple with one another. The object is to secure a fall, i.e., cause the opponent to lose balance and fall to the floor, and ultimately to pin the supine opponent's shoulders to the floor, through the use of body with one of the most divisive di·vi·sive adj. Creating dissension or discord. di·vi  sive·ly adv.di·vi issues of our time. News Odyssey anchor Demetria Kalodimos and investigative reporter William Turpie traveled around the country to speak with a range of individuals and faith groups who are dealing with this issue. The New Odyssey poll on "religious groups and homosexuality" reveals that most Americans want a hands-off approach by faith groups when it comes to the controversial issue of homosexuality. Overall, the poll reflected what the pollsters describe as "Americans' desire to live and let live, but in a similar vein to the military's don't ask/don't tell approach." While a majority believes homosexuality is morally wrong and not the same as a heterosexual heterosexual /het·ero·sex·u·al/ (-sek´shoo-al) 1. pertaining to, characteristic of, or directed toward the opposite sex. 2. one who is sexually attracted to persons of the opposite sex. relationship in the eyes of God, Americans do not want their religious groups to change homosexuals into heterosexuals. They also do not want their faith groups to take formal positioning on the issue of homosexual homosexual /ho·mo·sex·u·al/ (-sek´shoo-al) 1. pertaining to, characteristic of, or directed toward the same sex. 2. one who is sexually attracted to persons of the same sex. rights. The majority of Americans would welcome homosexuals as church members, let gay people teach Sunday School Sunday school, institution for instruction in religion and morals, usually conducted in churches as part of the church organization but sometimes maintained by other religious or philanthropic bodies. In England during the 18th cent. and worship in a congregation CONGREGATION. A society of a number of persons who compose an ecclesiastical body. In the ecclesiastical law this term is used to designate certain bureaux at Rome, where ecclesiastical matters are attended to. led by gay clergy. The majority, however, oppose ordaining gay clergy and instituting rituals to bless bless tr.v. blessed or blest , bless·ing, bless·es 1. To make holy by religious rite; sanctify. 2. To make the sign of the cross over so as to sanctify. 3. To invoke divine favor upon. gay marriages. The poll also shows that most Americans do not believe that homosexuals can be "transformed" into heterosexuals and do not want their faith groups to try to covert COVERT, BARON. A wife; so called, from her being under the cover or protection of her husband, baron or lord. homosexuals. Whatever reservations heterosexual Americans may have about homosexuality, they do not worry that homosexual people are trying to recruit others to their lifestyle. The poll was conducted by Blum & Weprin Associates on July 20-22. 52% of respondents In the context of marketing research, a representative sample drawn from a larger population of people from whom information is collected and used to develop or confirm marketing strategy. were female and 48% were male. 23% of the respondents reside in the Northeast, 24% reside in the Midwest, 32% reside in the South and 21% reside in the West. Margin of error of poll results +/- 4%. Windows of Hope, Closets of Fear: Faith Communities Confront Sexuality is a News Odyssey special. News Odyssey airs weekly on the channel and reports on faith behind the headlines with hard news and feature stories every Thursday at 9:00pm, ET/6:00pm, PT. It is co-produced by United Methodist Communications and Odyssey Productions, Ltd. The Odyssey Channel is jointly owned by VISN VISN Veterans Integrated Service Network VISN Virtual Integrated Sky Network (Loral Orion) VISN Visual Interactive Support Network Management Corp., a subsidiary of the National Interfaith Cable Coalition, Inc. (NICC See NIC. ) and Liberty Media Corp. (LBTYA), a subsidiary of Tele-Communications, Inc. (TCOMA). NICC is a consortium of nearly 70 Protestant, Jewish, Catholic, Eastern Orthodox orthodox, adj in medical practice, conventional, relating to currently accepted majority standards. See also medicine, conventional; hypothesis; and model, medical. , Evangelical and Pentecostal faith groups and traditions. The 24-hour channel is available to more than 30 million homes through 1,500 cable systems, the Primestar direct-to-home satellite service (Channel 84), and C-Band dish owners across the country. Odyssey prohibits on-air fund solicitation solicitation In criminal law, the act of asking, inducing, or directing someone to commit a crime. The person soliciting another becomes an accomplice to the crime. The term also refers to the act of obtaining bribes, as well as to the crime of a prostitute who offers sexual , the attempt to convert viewers to a different faith, and the maligning of other faiths. POLL RESULTS
The following were the results of questions asked of 752 adults
in all 50 states:
1) Which of the following comes closest to your views on
homosexuality?
a) Morally wrong because it is a sin condemned by the Bible
(47%)
b) Morally wrong for reasons other than the Bible
(16%)
c) Not morally wrong (27%)
d) Not sure/refused to answer (10%)
2) Do you think a lifetime monogamous relationship between two
people of the same sex is equal in the eyes of God to a lifetime
monogamous relationship between a man and a woman?
a) Yes (24%)
b) No (60%)
c) Don't believe in God (1%)
d) Not sure/refused to answer (15%)
3) Do you think homosexuality is...
a) A biological trait that a person is born with (37%)
b) A product of one's upbringing and environment (39%)
c) Not sure/refused to answer (23%)
4) Do you think that even if homosexuals cannot change how they
feel, they should live a heterosexual life?
a) Yes, live a heterosexual life (25%)
b) No (55%)
c) Not sure/refused to answer (19%)
5) Would you feel uncomfortable working alongside someone who is
a homosexual?
a) Yes (16%)
b) No (81%)
c) Not sure/refused to answer (3%)
6) Do you have friends or co-workers who you know are gay or
lesbian?
a) Yes (61%)
b) No (38%)
c) Not sure/refused to answer (1%)
7) If you found out that a family member was gay, would you feel
differently toward them?
a) Yes (21%)
b) No (74%)
c) Not sure/refused to answer (7%)
8) Do you think that religious groups should attempt to change
someone away from a homosexual orientation?
a) Yes (27%)
b) No (66%)
c) Not sure/refused to answer (7%)
9) Do you think Sunday school teachers who are gay or lesbian
should be allowed to teach children?
a) Yes (52%)
b) No (39%)
c) Not sure/refused to answer (10%)
10) Do you believe that homosexuality is a sin? If yes, which of the
following comes closer to your view:
a) Not a sin (42%)
b) It is more important to love the sinner than to hate the sin
of homosexuality (29%)
c) It is more important to hate the sin of homosexuality than to
love the sinner (8%)
d) Equally important to hate the sin/love the sinner (4%)
e) Not sure/refused to answer (17%)
11) Do you think that your national faith group or denomination is
open to accepting gays and lesbians as full participating
members?
a) Yes (39%)
b) No (42%)
c) Not sure/refused to answer (18%)
12) Would you like for your faith group or denomination to take a
position in favor of homosexuality rights, against homosexual
rights, or not take a position on this issue?
a) For (12%)
b) Against (21%)
c) No position (59%)
d) Not sure/refused to answer (8%)
13) Currently, do you think a gay couple would be welcome to
worship in your church or synagogue?
a) Yes (54%)
b) No (30%)
c) Not sure/refused to answer (17%)
14) Do you think your faith group or denomination should ordain
gay or lesbian clergy?
a) Yes (23%)
b) No (64%)
c) Not sure/refuse to answer (13%)
15) Would you like your faith group to have a ritual for your
clergy to use to bless gay partnerships
a) Yes (19%)
b) No (69%)
c) Not sure/refused to answer (12%)
16) Do you think it is common for homosexuals to try to recruit
other people into their lifestyle?
a) Yes (18%)
b) No (72%)
c) Not sure/refused to answer (10%)
17) What religion are you?
a) Protestant (including Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran,
Presbyterian, Non-Denominational, Episcopal, Latter Day
Saints, Pentecostal and other Protestant denominations -- go to
question 12) (56%)
b) Catholic (27%)
c) Jewish (3%)
d) None (11%)
e) Other non-Christian (2%)
f) Not sure/refused to answer (1%)
18) If you are Protestant, are you....
a) Mainline (43%)
b) Evangelical (13%)
c) Pentecostal (18%)
d) Not sure/refused to answer (26%)
19) Within your faith tradition, would you consider yourself...
a) Conservative (32%)
b) Middle of the road (39%)
c) Progressive (22%)
d) Not sure/refused to answer (7%)
20) Do you consider yourself to be affiliated with a particular
church or synagogue congregation?
a) Yes (65%)
b) No (33%)
c) Not sure/refused to answer (10%)
21) In general, how often do you attend church or synagogue?
a) Not at all (11%)
b) Only on holidays (15%)
c) Once or twice a month (26%)
d) Once a week (33%)
e) More than once a week (13%)
f) Not sure/refused to answer (2%)
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