The present study examines the association between sexual morality, religion, and attitudes toward the practice of abortion in Turkey. Drawing upon data from the 2008-2010 European Value Survey in the case of Turkey, several hypotheses were tested concerning the role of liberal sexual relations and many aspects of religion on abortion attitudes. Findings reveal that support of liberal sexual relations demonstrates the strongest justification for abortion. As a religious determinant, prayer practice indicates the most robust opposition to the practice of abortion. Additional religious factors, personal religious identity, and personal faith were also found to be significantly associated with antiabortion attitudes. The findings are discussed and have implications for future research on attitudes toward abortion.

Previous studies have indicated that traditional gender beliefs and religiosity have a negative impact on liberal sexual relations in Western societies. The present research utilized data from the 2011 World Value Survey (WVS) of Turkey (N=1,605) to examine the relationship between traditional gender roles, religion, and attitudes toward homosexuality and pre-marital sex, representatives of liberal sexual morality. Guided by a theoretical framework that synthesizes traditional gender roles and religious perspectives, several hypotheses were created and tested. Results from logistic regression models reveal that even though both the gender roles and religiosity are significant factors that play an important role in negative attitudes toward homosexuality and pre-marital sex in Turkey, traditional gender roles seem to be the strongest factor of conservative attitudes toward sexual relations. The theoretical implications of the current research were discussed for future studies.