'Catholic guilt' is a myth - but puritanism is alive and well, says study

The Telegraph UK ^ | 27 Feb 2013 | John Bingham

[Alex Murphy]

The findings emerge from research into the notion of guilt by academics at the Religion and Society Programme, an academic unit based at Lancaster University which organises the regular Westminster Faith Debates.

The research included a YouGov poll of more than 4,000 people of various religious persuasions, including atheists, who were asked whether they would feel guilty if they used contraception, had an affair or sex before marriage and other issues.

Only 12 per cent of practising Catholics and nine per cent of nominal Catholics polled said they would feel any guilt about using contraception, despite the Church’s strong stance on the issue. By contrast, a quarter of Muslims said they would feel ashamed of using contraception.

A total of 57 per cent of Catholics said they would feel guilty about having extramarital sex, only one per cent higher than the general population.

By contrast almost nine out of 10 Baptists and Pentecostals said they would feel guilty about adultery as did seven out of 10 Jews and Muslims polled. Anglicans were also slightly more inclined to feel shame about infidelity than Catholics.

Only 19 per cent of Catholics said they would feel guilty about sex before marriage, compared with 50 per cent of Baptists, almost two thirds of Muslims and more than three quarters of Pentecostal protestants.

When asked if they would feel guilty about using pornography the response rate among Catholics, Anglicans and Jews was the same at around 30 per cent but far less than all other religious groups.

Meanwhile only 15 per cent of non-religious people said they would feel guilty about pornography, a figure which is even lower among men.

[Alex Murphy]

The research included a YouGov poll of more than 4,000 people of various religious persuasions, including atheists, who were asked whether they would feel guilty if they used contraception, had an affair or sex before marriage and other issues.

Only 12 per cent of practising Catholics and nine per cent of nominal Catholics polled said they would feel any guilt about using contraception, despite the Church’s strong stance on the issue. By contrast, a quarter of Muslims said they would feel ashamed of using contraception. A total of 57 per cent of Catholics said they would feel guilty about having extramarital sex, only one per cent higher than the general population.

By contrast almost nine out of 10 Baptists and Pentecostals said they would feel guilty about adultery as did seven out of 10 Jews and Muslims polled. Anglicans were also slightly more inclined to feel shame about infidelity than Catholics. Only 19 per cent of Catholics said they would feel guilty about sex before marriage, compared with 50 per cent of Baptists, almost two thirds of Muslims and more than three quarters of Pentecostal protestants.

[circlecity]

So, having a Christian conscience is “Puritanism”? Count me in.

[GeronL]

The Puritans were actually awesome.

The Plymouth Colony had more rights for women than England did at the time.

[D-fendr]

Prof Linda Woodhead, professor of the sociology of religion at Lancaster University, who commissioned the study, said it showed a widening gap between the Catholic faithful and the hierarchy on issues of personal morality that could prove “disastrous” for the Church. “It does show that people have distanced themselves completely from the Catholic Church’s teaching,” she said.

Catholic, disastrous; guilt, puritanical. A self-fulfilling progressive agenda perhaps? Let's look at the source:

Professor Linda Woodhead
Affiliations: Centre for Gender and Women's Studies, UNESCO Chair in Gender Research Group

Let's look at the survey process:

The research included a YouGov poll of more than 4,000 people of various religious persuasions, including atheists …

And who is YouGov?:

YouGov is an international internet-based market research firm founded in the UK in May 2000… YouGov's methodology is to obtain responses from an invited group of internet users, and then to weight these responses in line with demographic information.

I don't think I'd bet much on the accuracy here. It does serve the purpose to divide and oppose Christians.

[circlecity]

"The Puritans were actually awesome."

If you are into Puritan theology check out "The Puritan Board" website. It is a Christian message board (not unlike FR) but the focus is on Puritan theology and there are some real heavyweight theologians who post there. An awesome site.

[lupie]

If you are into Puritan theology check out "The Puritan Board" website. It is a Christian message board (not unlike FR) but the focus is on Puritan theology and there are some real heavyweight theologians who post there. An awesome site.

Thanks for the link. It looks very interesting and deep on first glance. A good place to learn.