While "straight" and "gay" adults hold similar views on sharing their faith with others and how people get to heaven, they vary significantly on other spiritual issues, according to the latest Barna Group study.

Heterosexuals are more likely to describe their faith as "very important" than homosexuals (72% to 60%), more likely to describe themselves as Christians (85% to 70%) and more likely to hold an orthodox, biblical perception of God (71% to 43%).

Meanwhile, heterosexuals were found to be twice as likely to be in church, read the Bible or pray to God during a typical week (31% to 15%).

Research group leader George Barna said that while the study indicated that millions of gay people had an interest in matters of faith, it was "not in the local church," and did not appear to be focused on "the traditional tools and traditions that represent the comfort zone of most churched Christians.

"Gay adults clearly have a different way of interpreting the Bible in a number of central theological teachings and principles-but, in many cases, to nearly the same degree that the heterosexual Christian population has rejected those same teachings and principles.

"Although there are clearly some substantial differences in the religious beliefs and practices of the straight and gay populations, there may be less of a spiritual gap ... than many Americans would assume."

Source: The Barna Group

Read the full report at http://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/13-culture/282-spiritual-profile-of-homosexual-adults-provides-surprising-insights

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