Poll: Displays of Faith Fine



September 30, 2003

USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll results
1. Please say whether you approve or disapprove of each of the following.  
A. The use of federal funds to support social programs like day care and drug rehabilitation run by Islamic religious organizations
 
Approve
Disapprove
No opinion
2003 Sep 19-21
41
56
3
B. The use of federal funds to support social programs like day care and drug rehabilitation run by Christian religious organizations
 
Approve
Disapprove
No opinion
2003 Sep 19-21
64
34
2
C. The inscription “In God We Trust” on U.S. coins 
 
Approve
Disapprove
No opinion
2003 Sep 19-21
90
8
2
D. A non-denominational prayer as part of the official program at a public school ceremony such as a graduation or a sporting event
 
Approve
Disapprove
No opinion
2003 Sep 19-21
78
21
1
E. Display of a monument to the Ten Commandments in a public school or government building
 
Approve
Disapprove
No opinion
2003 Sep 19-21
70
29
1
F. Display of a monument with a verse from the Koran, the holy book of the Islamic religion, in a public school or government building 
 
Approve
Disapprove
No opinion
2003 Sep 19-21
33
64
3
2. Do you think religious leaders should – or should not – try to influence government policy on:
A. Abortion 
 
Yes, should
No, should not
No opinion
2003 Sep 19-21
38
60
2
B. Prayer in public schools
  Yes, should No, should not No opinion
2003 Sep 19-21
53
46
1
C. The death penalty
 
Yes, should
No, should not
No opinion
2003 Sep 19-21
45
52
3
3. If you walked into a public school classroom and the teacher’s desk had a Bible on it, would you consider that to be a good thing, or a bad thing?
 
Good thing
Bad thing
Doesn’t matter
No opinion
2003 Sep 19-21
71
18
9
2
4. Do you think a monument to the Ten Commandments in a courthouse sends a message that the justice system gives special consideration to Jews and Christians over those who belong to other religions, or does it not send that message?
  Yes, does No, does not No opinion
2003 Sep 19-21
25
73
2
5. In your opinion, which comes closer to your view of why some people file lawsuits opposing such things as prayer in public schools or displays of religious symbols in government buildings – they are trying to turn the United States into a godless society, or they are trying to protect themselves and others from having religion forced onto them?
  Turn into godless society Protect themselves No opinion
2003 Sep 19-21
31
62
7
6. Which comes closest to your opinion about displays of religion in public places or government buildings – it is acceptable to display only Christian symbols, it is acceptable to display Christian symbols as long as symbols of other religions are also displayed, or it is unacceptable to display any religious symbols at all?
 
Acceptable to display only Christian
Acceptable to display all religions
Unacceptable
No opinion
2003 Sep 19-21
10
58
29
3
7. Which comes closer to your view – government can promote the teachings of a religion without harming the rights of people who do not belong to that religion, or any time government promotes the teachings of a religion, it can harm the rights of people who do not belong to that religion?
 
Can promote without harming
Can harm anytime it promotes
No opinion
2003 Sep 19-21
40
54
6
Results are based on telephone interviews with 1,003 National Adults, aged 18+, conducted September 19-21, 2003. For results based on the total sample of National Adults, one can say with 95% confidence that the margin of sampling error is ±3 percentage points.
In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.