Societal Inputs, Religious Outputs, and Young Adults: A Cross-Cohort Analysis of Attitudes Toward Same-Sex Relations and Civil Liberties for Gays and Lesbians

Background Within an open systems theorization, the degree to which religious identity and attendance at religious services influence attitudes toward same-sex relations and civil liberties for gays and lesbians will be shaped by how religious groups respond to societal inputs over time. In recent decades, while some Christian denominations in the United States have remained resolute in their condemnatory stance on these issues, the religious outputs of others have become more tolerant. A cross-cohort examination of the influence of religious identity and attendance at religious services on such attitudes can help uncover effects of this interplay over time. Purpose The present study tests the significance of religious identity and attendance at religious services on attitudes toward same-sex relations and civil liberties for gays and lesbians, comparing young adults across the Baby Boomer, Generation X, and Millennial cohorts. The uniqueness of the study is twofold: (1) Cross-cohort analyses are used to compare young adults within a single study rather than examining each cohort in isolation, and (2) the analyses are contextualized within an open systems framework. Methods Data from the General Social Survey are used to examine the significance of religious identity and attendance at religious services on the attitudes of young adults (ages 20-37) toward moral acceptance of same-sex relations and civil liberties of gays and lesbians. Multiple linear regression analyses are used to test for significant differences across three birth cohorts, controlling for relevant sociodemographics. Results The analyses demonstrate cross-cohort change in the significance of religious identity on attitudes about the morality of same-sex relations and the civil liberties of gays and lesbians, while attendance at services is consistently a strong predictor across the generations. Of particular interest, among Millennial young adults, unlike previous generations, the evangelical Protestant identity does not affect attitudes about civil liberties for gays and lesbians. Conclusions and Implications The findings suggest the importance of examining the interplay of religious outputs and societal inputs and how these dynamics influence public opinion over time. This study reveals a need for increased research into how societal inputs have shifted the output of religious organizations, not just toward gays and lesbians, but also other sexual and gender minorities.