Poll: Most believe divorce isn't sinful

KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
Americans, a new survey shows, believe in traditional marriage.
But they're also tolerant toward those who divorce.
A poll conducted for the PBS TV program "Religion & amp; Ethics NewsWeekly" found that 71 percent of Americans said they believe in the ideal of lifelong traditional marriage between a man and a woman. But only 22 percent of the 1,130 adults surveyed agreed that divorce is a sin. Fifty-two percent, in fact, said divorce can be the best solution when a couple can't work out their marital problems.
Reflecting perhaps what was preached to them growing up, a higher percentage of those characterized as religious conservatives believe divorce is sinful. But even they're a minority in their own pews -- 34 percent of evangelical Christians and 30 percent of those who identified themselves as traditional Roman Catholics.
The telephone survey's margin of error is 3 percentage points.
Its meaning?
Political science professor John Green, who helped analyze the results, was quoted by Religion News Service as saying it reflects a growing tolerance for those whose lives deviate from society's ideals.