Moral Standards Inventory (Moral Leaders Version)

Epstein Moral Standards Inventory (EMSI) v. 2.1.1, ©2012-2021, AIBRT  

Thank you for taking part in this important project on morality. You have been invited to participate as an outstanding representative of a religion or cultural group that sets moral standards. The project is being directed by Dr. Robert Epstein, a distinguished American research psychologist. Its purpose is to raise consciousness about morality by allowing people worldwide to compare their morals with a variety of different moral standards.

In the survey you are about to complete, we will ask you to rate the morality of a number of human actions or feelings. You may do so informally, based on your own perspective, or formally, as an official representative of your institution, community, or church. You will be able to specify which option you are choosing.

After we verify your identity or affiliation, your responses will be used to allow members of the general public to compare their personal morals with the standard you have established. Please note: We will not use your name in any of our materials unless you give us permission to do so. Also, if you are uncomfortable answering certain questions, feel free to skip them.

The survey should take you about 15 minutes to complete. After you have submitted your responses, you will be able to print a summary of them for your records.

If you would like to receive a copy of a report that summarizes the results of this project when that report is made public, please indicate so below.

Again, thank you very much for your participation.

*Required response. *Your name:  Your institutional affiliation (if any):  Your title within that institution (if applicable):  Are you acting as an official representative of your institution, or are you reporting your personal opinions? Official representative  Personal opinions  If applicable, please identify an individual we can contact to confirm your position within your institution. Please include appropriate contact information: *Your primary religious affiliation: -Select- Agnosticism Atheism Babism Baha'i Buddhism Cao Dai Catholicism Christianity - Angelican Christianity - Assyrian Christianity - Baptist Christianity - Eastern Orthodox Christianity - Evangelical Christianity - Jehovah's Witness Christianity - Latter-Day Saints Christianity - Lutheran Christianity - Oriental Orthodoxy Christianity - Pentecostal Christianity - Protestant Christianity - Seventh-Day Adventists Christianity - Other Confucianism Hinduism Islam - Ahmadiyya Islam - Shi'ite Islam - Sufi Islam - Sunni Islam - Wahhabis Islam - Other Jainism Juche Judaism - Conservative Judaism - Chasidic (Hasidic) Judaism - Humanistic Judaism - Kabbalah Judaism - Karaite Judaism - Orthodox Judaism - Rabbinic Judaism - Reconstrutionist Judaism - Reform Judaism - Sephardic Judaism - Other Rastafarianism Scientology Shinto Sikhism Spiritualism Taoism Tenrikyo Unification Church Wiccan Zoroastrianism --NOT LISTED-- Other religion: *How fluent are you in English? Not very fluent   1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  Highly fluent *Email address:  Your website, or the website of your affiliated organization (one only please):  Mailing address:  Phone number:  *If we have some follow-up questions, may we contact you? Yes  No  What is the best way to contact you? Phone  Email  Who referred you to participate in this study?

*Your age: -Select- 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 or over

*Your location: Select UNITED STATES Algeria Afghanistan Angola Argentina Australia Austria Bangladesh Belgium Brazil Bolivia Cambodia Cameroon Canada Chile China Colombia Costa Rica Cote d'Ivoire Czech Republic Dem. Rep. of Congo Denmark Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt Ethiopia Fiji Finland France Germany Ghana Greece Guatemala Hungary India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy Japan Kenya Laos Lebanon Malaysia Mexico Morocco Mozambique Myanmar (Burma) Netherlands Nepal New Zealand Niger Nigeria North Korea Norway Paraguay Pakistan Palestine Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Romania Russia Saudi Arabia South Africa Singapore South Korea Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan (Rep. of China) Tanzania Thailand Turkey United Kingdom Uganda Ukraine Uruguay Uzbekistan Venezuela Vietnam Yemen --NOT LISTED--

Other location:

State (if applicable): -Select- Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

*Highest Degree: None High School Associates or some college Bachelors Masters Doctorate

*Race/Ethnicity: White Black Hispanic Asian American Indian Other

*Gender: Male Female Other

*Would you like us to email you a research report when it is completed?
Yes
No

*May we use your real name in reports or materials we issue about our study?
Yes
No

*Would you be interested in talking about your institution's moral standards on radio or television at some point in the future?
Yes
No

Okay, here is the survey itself....

For each of the following questions, select the answer that you believe best reflects the moral standards of your institution, or, if you do not represent an institution, the answer that best reflects your own moral standards. If you feel that the item is not a moral issue or that your answer would depend on the circumstances, click the appropriate box. If you're not sure how to respond, click "Not sure."


1. Polygamy (multiple spouses) is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral      Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


2. Arranged marriage is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances      Not sure


3. Divorce is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


4. Adultery is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


5. Abortion is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


6. Abortion after a rape is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


7. Self-harm (cutting, burning, etc.) is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


8. Suicide is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


9. Assisted suicide is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


10. Violence in self-defense is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


11. Murder is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


12. Wrath (anger) is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


13. Harming an animal for sport or entertainment is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


14. Training animals for circuses is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


15. Staging animal fights is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


16. Eating meat is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


17. Eating beef (cow meat) is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


18. Eating pork (pig meat) is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


19. Killing an insect is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


20. Violence against a helpless adult is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


21. Violence against an innocent adult is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


22. Violence against certain religious or ethnic groups that you believe are evil is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


23. Wife beating is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


24. Torture is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


25. Bullying is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


26. Physical discipline of a child by his or her parent is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


27. Physical discipline of a child by teacher or other authority figure is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


28. Kidnapping is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


29. Infanticide (killing human babies) is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


30. Rape is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


31. Cannibalism is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


32. Smoking cigarettes is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


33. Using marijuana is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


34. Drinking caffeinated beverages is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


35. Drinking alcohol is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


36. Using illegal drugs is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


37. Using drugs for spiritual or religious purposes is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


38. Gambling is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


39. An unmarried adult female accompanying an unrelated adult male is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


40. Physical contact between unmarried adults is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


41. Public displays of affection are:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


42. Lust is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


43. Sexually suggestive dancing is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


44. Dancing in general is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


45. Public nudity is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


46. Pornography is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


47. Sex before marriage is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


48. Sex betweeen an adult and a child is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


49. Anal sex (sodomy) is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


50. Oral sex is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


51. Male promiscuity (a male having casual sexual relations) is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


52. Female promiscuity (a female having casual sexual relations) is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


53. Group sex (an orgy) is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


54. Prostitution is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


55. Incest (sex with a close relative) is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


56. Bestiality (sex with animals) is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


57. Masturbation is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


58. Homosexuality is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


59. Same-sex marriage is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


60. Piercings are:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


61. Tattoos are:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


62. Idolatry (worshipping idols) is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


63. Polytheism (worshipping multiple gods) is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


64. Blaspheming (cursing God) is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


65. Atheism (denial of God's existence) is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


66. Agnosticism (doubting God's existence) is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


67. Gluttony (extreme overeating) is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


68. Sloth (extreme laziness) is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


69. Hatred is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


70. Pride is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


71. Wealth is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


72. Greed is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


73. Not giving to charity is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


74. Materialism is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


75. Theft is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


76. Envy (jealousy) is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


77. Gossip is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


78. Lying is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


79. Swearing (cursing, cussing) is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


80. Cheating on a test is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


81. Cheating in sports is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


82. Cheating on your taxes is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


83. Breaking the law is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


84. Bribery (acccepting or offering) is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


85. Damaging the environment is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


86. War is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


87. The right to own firearms is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


88. The death penalty for committing a crime is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


89. The death penalty applied to minors is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


90. Taking possession of someone's home or land against his or her will is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


91. Imprisoning an innocent person is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


92. Slavery is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


93. Racial segregation is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


94. Discrimination (based on race, nationality, religion, age, or gender) is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


95. Deporting illegal immigrants is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


96. Child labor is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


97. Allowing children to serve as soldiers is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


98. Allowing women to serve as soldiers is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


99. Owning animals is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


100. Women being subservient to men is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


101. Forcing one's wife to have sex is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


102. Surgery is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


103. Plastic surgery (cosmetic) is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


104. Medical treatment is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


105. Using animals in medical research is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


106. Embryonic stem cell research or treatment is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


107. Vaccinations are:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


108. Organ donation is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


109. Selling one's organs is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


110. Blood donation is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


111. Selling one's blood is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


112. Egg or sperm cell donation is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


113. Selling egg or sperm cells is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


114. Birth control (to prevent conception) is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


115. Voluntary sterilization (vasectomy or tubal ligation) is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


116. Sex change is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


117. Prenatal scanning (to establish gender or detect deformities) is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


118. Cloning of humans is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


119. Cloning of non-humans is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


120. Euthanasia is:
Always moral 1  2  3  4  5  Always immoral     Not a moral issue     Depends on circumstances     Not sure


Are there other human actions or emotions not listed above which you would consider to be moral or immoral? Please list them here, along with your rating for each item (where 1=Always moral and 5=Always immoral):


Please list any suggestions you may have for improving this test:


Please provide names and, if possible, contact information for other moral leaders whom you believe we should approach to add new standards to our data base:


When, eventually, we begin to collect data from the general public, would you be interested in collaborating with us on analyzing data or on scholarly efforts related to the Moral Standards Project?
Yes  No 

To submit your responses, click the SUBMIT button below. Please review the accuracy of your answers carefully before submitting.

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