The public image of sex in America bears virtually no relationship to the truth." So conclude researchers at the University of Chicago after a landmark study. "Sex in America: A Definitive Survey," by Robert Michael, John Gagnon, Edward Laumann, and Gina Kolata (Boston: Little, Brown and Co., 1994) details a carefully controlled study of 3,432 respondents selected randomly from the general population. The study provided both good news and bad news for church leaders.

GOOD NEWS

Religious conservatives enjoy sex.

The notion that people holding fervent religious convictions cannot enjoy sex simply did not stand up. The researchers concluded, "Despite the popular image of straitlaced conservative Protestants, there is at least circumstantial evidence that the image may be a myth, at least as it pertains to sexual intercourse."

 Researchers discovered to their surprise that the one group of adult females most likely to experience orgasm during intercourse with their primary partner was conservative ...