Most Say America is in Moral Decline

CBN News

CBNNews.com - Most Americans say the country is in a moral decline and the media is to blame.

A new survey by the Culture and Media Institute finds that people believe it will be hard to change America's moral decline unless the entertainment and news media stop promoting "secular values and undermining orthodox faith."

About 74 percent of all Americans believe the nation is in moral decline and that a "culture war" is happening in the country. Sixty-four percent say the news and entertainment media are a major influence in that decline.

The survey finds Americans are largely split into three camps: the faithful, the secular progressives, and the independents.

While more than half of Americans say they believe biblical principles are authoritative, only 36 percent, including those considered faithful, say people should live by God's Word. Forty-five percent say they take a pragmatic approach to life, combining God's principles with their own. Fifteen percent said they would ignore God's principles when they conflict with their own.

On sexual issues, 90 percent of those considered faithful, said that sex among teens is "always wrong," while only 33 percent of progressives think so. Fifty-four percent of secular progressives say that it "depends on the situation," and 11 percent said it is "never wrong." Of those considered independent, three percent said teen sex is "never wrong," while 65 percent say that it is "always wrong."

Still, all three groups considered the media a bad influence on America's morality.