Religious tradition among adults in California by interpretation of scripture (2014) Switch to: Interpreting scripture among adults in California by religious group

% of adults in California who are…

Interpreting scriptureBuddhistCatholicEvangelical ProtestantHinduHistorically Black ProtestantJehovah's WitnessJewishMainline ProtestantMormonMuslimOrthodox ChristianOther ChristianOther FaithsOther World ReligionsUnaffiliated (religious "nones")Don't knowSample size
Word of God; should be taken literally< 1%34%40%1%4%2%< 1%8%2%1%< 1%< 1%< 1%< 1%6%< 1%822
Word of God; not everything taken literally1%37%26%1%3%2%2%12%3%1%1%< 1%< 1%< 1%9%< 1%855
Not the word of God3%18%3%3%1%< 1%3%8%< 1%1%< 1%1%3%1%53%1%1,621
Other/don't know1%27%15%2%4%< 1%1%13%< 1%< 1%< 1%1%4%2%25%2%310
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: Catholic, Evangelical Protestant, Jewish, Mainline Protestant, Unaffiliated (religious "nones")