Interpreting scripture among liberals by state (2014) Switch to: State among liberals by interpretation of scripture

% of liberals who say the holy scripture is…

StateWord of God; should be taken literallyWord of God; not everything taken literallyWord of God; other/don't knowNot the word of GodOther/don't knowSample size
Arizona12%22%< 1%50%16%139
California16%16%1%60%7%1,114
Colorado12%20%4%60%4%141
Connecticut16%21%< 1%55%8%109
District of Columbia10%13%1%71%5%123
Florida21%20%2%50%6%476
Georgia28%19%2%46%6%190
Illinois17%23%1%54%5%352
Indiana28%17%3%47%5%124
Maryland20%19%4%53%4%188
Massachusetts8%13%1%70%8%262
Michigan20%23%1%46%11%247
Minnesota10%13%2%63%12%153
Missouri20%30%2%39%9%141
New Jersey10%22%1%60%7%227
New York16%14%< 1%65%5%604
North Carolina20%17%3%49%10%235
Ohio14%30%1%44%10%222
Oregon14%21%1%59%5%133
Pennsylvania21%15%< 1%58%5%321
Tennessee33%18%4%42%3%122
Texas32%19%1%40%8%502
Vermont4%7%1%80%7%120
Virginia30%14%< 1%50%6%177
Washington7%17%1%71%4%223
Wisconsin12%19%1%66%3%121
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.

Learn More: Word of God; should be taken literally, Word of God; not everything taken literally, Not the word of God