Morality Survey

Dear e-Skeptic readers:

Thank you for your participation in nominating what you consider to be the most pressing moral issues of our time. From the hundreds of suggestions we have culled out the most frequent moral issues in each of three categories: Personal, Social, and Political. This survey is the second step in the design of a research project that will culminate in a national survey.

These moral issues are reflected in the following set of questions. Please answer the following questions as accurately and honestly as you can. Your survey will remain anonymous. Please be sure to answer each question.

Thank you,

Michael Shermer

A. General Attitudes About Morality

1. I believe that moral principles are:

   
Relative 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Absolute

2. I believe that moral principles are largely determined by:

   
Genetics 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Environment

3. Right and wrong are never a matter of black and white; there are many shades of gray.

   
Disagree 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Agree

4. I believe that people are:

   
Inherently good 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Inherently bad

5. I believe that without God:

   
Morals still apply 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Anything goes

6. I believe that most human behaviors are largely determined by:

   
Genetics 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Environment

7. I believe that people are:

   
Mostly altruistic 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Mostly selfish

8. I believe that moral principles are:

   
God-given 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Not God-given

9. I believe that Gays and Lesbians:

   
Choose to be that way 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Are born that way

10. I believe that physical and mental differences in ability between races are largely determined by::

   
Genetics 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Environment

B. Moral Issues--Personal

1. On the issue of abortion I am:

   
Pro-Choice 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Pro-Life

2. On the issue of birth control I:

   
Strongly support it 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Strongly oppose it

3. On the issue of cloning human beings, I believe it is:

   
Always wrong 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Never wrong

4. On the issue of stem cell research, I believe it is:

   
Always wrong 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Never wrong

5. On the issue of euthanasia/assisted suicide I:

   
Strongly support it 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Strongly oppose it

6. On the issue of homosexuality, I believe it is:

   
Always wrong 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Never wrong

7. On the issue of adultery, I believe it is

   
Always wrong 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Never wrong

8. On the issue of pre-marital sex, I believe it is:

   
Always wrong 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Never wrong

9. On the issue of freedom of speech and expression, I:

   
Strongly support it 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Strongly oppose it

10. I believe that reading or watching pornography is:

   
Always wrong 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Never wrong

11. I believe that divorce is:

   
Always wrong 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Never wrong

C. Moral Issues--Social

1. On the issue of separation of church and state I believe in:

   
Complete separation 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Complete integration

2. On the issue of gun control I am:

   
Against it 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 For it

3. On the issue of biodiversity and protecting the environment I believe we:

   
Need to do more 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Are doing too much

4. On the issue of the death penalty for persons convicted of murder I am:

   
Against it 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 For it

5. On the issue of corporate corruption I believe the government should:

   
Regulate corporations more 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Regulate corporations less

6. On the issue of marijuana legalization I am:

   
Against it 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 For it

7. On the issue of who pays for healthcare I believe the government should:

   
Pay less 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Pay more

8. On the issue of the income gap between the rich and the poor I believe we:

   
Are doing too much 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Need to do more

D. Moral Issues--Political

1. The United States has a moral right to initiate war against potential enemy states:

   
Disagree 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Agree

2. The United States has a moral obligation to protect its citizens against terrorism:

   
Disagree 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Agree

3. The United States has a moral obligation to ensure increased human rights around the world:

   
Disagree 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Agree

4. The United States has a moral obligation to provide aid to the developing world:

   
Disagree 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Agree

5. On the issue of person freedoms versus national security I believe we:

   
Need more personal freedoms 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Need more security & regulations

6. On the issue of political corruption and election finances I believe the government should:

   
Regulate politicians & elections more 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Regulate politicians & elections less

7. On the issue of welfare I believe we:

   
Are doing too much 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Need to do more

8. On the issue of affirmative action/equal opportunity I believe we:

   
Are doing too much 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Need to do more

 

   

 

 
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