Interpreting scripture among adults who attend services monthly or yearly
% of adults who attend services monthly or yearly who say the holy scripture is…
Survey year | Word of God; should be taken literally | Word of God; not everything taken literally | Word of God; other/don't know | Not the word of God | Other/don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | 25% | 32% | 2% | 33% | 8% | 11,214 |
2007 | 25% | 32% | 3% | 30% | 11% | 11,431 |
Learn More: Word of God; should be taken literally, Word of God; not everything taken literally, Not the word of God
Interpreting scripture among adults who attend services monthly or yearly by religious group
% of adults who attend services monthly or yearly who say the holy scripture is…
Religious tradition | Word of God; should be taken literally | Word of God; not everything taken literally | Word of God; other/don't know | Not the word of God | Other/don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Buddhist | 3% | 12% | 1% | 67% | 18% | 105 |
Catholic | 21% | 36% | 2% | 33% | 8% | 2,747 |
Evangelical Protestant | 40% | 37% | 3% | 13% | 7% | 2,367 |
Hindu | 12% | 16% | < 1% | 60% | 13% | 111 |
Historically Black Protestant | 47% | 31% | 2% | 13% | 8% | 652 |
Jewish | 6% | 24% | 1% | 60% | 8% | 428 |
Mainline Protestant | 19% | 38% | 2% | 31% | 10% | 2,517 |
Orthodox Christian | 18% | 33% | 4% | 36% | 9% | 102 |
Unaffiliated (religious "nones") | 15% | 18% | 1% | 58% | 8% | 1,668 |
Learn More: Word of God; should be taken literally, Word of God; not everything taken literally, Not the word of God
Demographic✭Information
Age distribution among adults who attend services monthly or yearly by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who attend services monthly or yearly who are ages…
Interpreting scripture | 18-29 | 30-49 | 50-64 | 65+ | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 17% | 36% | 31% | 15% | 2,412 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 27% | 36% | 25% | 13% | 3,468 |
Word of God; other/don't know | 16% | 33% | 31% | 20% | 232 |
Not the word of God | 30% | 35% | 24% | 11% | 3,954 |
Other/don't know | 21% | 36% | 27% | 16% | 941 |
Generational cohort among adults who attend services monthly or yearly by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who attend services monthly or yearly who are…
Interpreting scripture | Younger Millennial | Older Millennial | Generation X | Baby Boomer | Silent | Greatest | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 11% | 13% | 30% | 36% | 10% | 1% | 2,412 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 18% | 15% | 29% | 29% | 8% | 1% | 3,468 |
Word of God; other/don't know | 12% | 7% | 30% | 37% | 14% | < 1% | 232 |
Not the word of God | 19% | 19% | 27% | 28% | 6% | 1% | 3,954 |
Other/don't know | 12% | 16% | 31% | 31% | 9% | 1% | 941 |
Gender composition among adults who attend services monthly or yearly by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who attend services monthly or yearly who are…
Interpreting scripture | Men | Women | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 45% | 55% | 2,447 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 46% | 54% | 3,532 |
Word of God; other/don't know | 43% | 57% | 243 |
Not the word of God | 54% | 46% | 4,020 |
Other/don't know | 50% | 50% | 972 |
Racial and ethnic composition among adults who attend services monthly or yearly by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who attend services monthly or yearly who identify as…
Interpreting scripture | White | Black | Asian | Latino | Other/Mixed | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 53% | 21% | 2% | 20% | 4% | 2,418 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 69% | 11% | 4% | 13% | 3% | 3,502 |
Word of God; other/don't know | 65% | 13% | 2% | 15% | 5% | 237 |
Not the word of God | 68% | 7% | 7% | 15% | 4% | 3,966 |
Other/don't know | 62% | 12% | 8% | 13% | 5% | 953 |
Immigrant status among adults who attend services monthly or yearly by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who attend services monthly or yearly who are…
Interpreting scripture | Immigrants | Second generation | Third generation or higher | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 18% | 9% | 74% | 2,399 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 12% | 11% | 78% | 3,500 |
Word of God; other/don't know | 16% | 5% | 80% | 237 |
Not the word of God | 16% | 13% | 71% | 3,978 |
Other/don't know | 17% | 10% | 73% | 952 |
Income distribution among adults who attend services monthly or yearly by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who attend services monthly or yearly who have a household income of…
Interpreting scripture | Less than $30,000 | $30,000-$49,999 | $50,000-$99,999 | $100,000 or more | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 51% | 22% | 18% | 10% | 2,131 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 29% | 21% | 29% | 22% | 3,176 |
Word of God; other/don't know | 39% | 20% | 23% | 18% | 193 |
Not the word of God | 24% | 18% | 29% | 28% | 3,645 |
Other/don't know | 34% | 21% | 26% | 20% | 811 |
Educational distribution among adults who attend services monthly or yearly by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who attend services monthly or yearly who have completed…
Interpreting scripture | High school or less | Some college | College | Post-graduate degree | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 61% | 28% | 8% | 3% | 2,436 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 39% | 36% | 16% | 9% | 3,521 |
Word of God; other/don't know | 47% | 36% | 12% | 5% | 238 |
Not the word of God | 26% | 32% | 24% | 18% | 4,004 |
Other/don't know | 33% | 40% | 15% | 12% | 966 |
Marital status among adults who attend services monthly or yearly by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who attend services monthly or yearly who are…
Interpreting scripture | Married | Living with a partner | Divorced/separated | Widowed | Never married | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 45% | 8% | 18% | 7% | 22% | 2,441 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 47% | 7% | 13% | 5% | 28% | 3,523 |
Word of God; other/don't know | 46% | 3% | 15% | 11% | 25% | 239 |
Not the word of God | 46% | 10% | 10% | 3% | 30% | 4,007 |
Other/don't know | 44% | 10% | 13% | 7% | 26% | 959 |
Parent of children under 18 among adults who attend services monthly or yearly by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who attend services monthly or yearly who are…
Interpreting scripture | Parents | Non-parents | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 33% | 67% | 2,439 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 32% | 68% | 3,522 |
Word of God; other/don't know | 29% | 71% | 242 |
Not the word of God | 29% | 71% | 4,005 |
Other/don't know | 31% | 69% | 965 |
Beliefs✭and✭Practices
Belief in God among adults who attend services monthly or yearly by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who attend services monthly or yearly who say they…
Interpreting scripture | Believe in God; absolutely certain | Believe in God; fairly certain | Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | Believe in God; don't know | Do not believe in God | Other/don't know if they believe in God | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 85% | 13% | 1% | 1% | < 1% | < 1% | 2,447 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 71% | 25% | 2% | < 1% | < 1% | < 1% | 3,532 |
Word of God; other/don't know | 85% | 12% | < 1% | < 1% | 1% | 1% | 243 |
Not the word of God | 35% | 34% | 13% | 1% | 13% | 4% | 4,020 |
Other/don't know | 61% | 27% | 5% | 2% | 2% | 3% | 972 |
Importance of religion in one's life among adults who attend services monthly or yearly by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who attend services monthly or yearly who say religion is…
Interpreting scripture | Very important | Somewhat important | Not too important | Not at all important | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 74% | 23% | 2% | 1% | < 1% | 2,447 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 47% | 46% | 5% | 1% | < 1% | 3,532 |
Word of God; other/don't know | 77% | 20% | 2% | 1% | 1% | 243 |
Not the word of God | 20% | 47% | 24% | 8% | < 1% | 4,020 |
Other/don't know | 43% | 43% | 10% | 2% | 1% | 972 |
Frequency of prayer among adults who attend services monthly or yearly by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who attend services monthly or yearly who pray…
Interpreting scripture | At least daily | Weekly | Monthly | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 70% | 19% | 6% | 5% | 1% | 2,447 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 54% | 27% | 10% | 9% | < 1% | 3,532 |
Word of God; other/don't know | 70% | 17% | 7% | 4% | 2% | 243 |
Not the word of God | 31% | 20% | 13% | 35% | 1% | 4,020 |
Other/don't know | 49% | 20% | 9% | 18% | 3% | 972 |
Frequency of participation in prayer, scripture study or religious education groups among adults who attend services monthly or yearly by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who attend services monthly or yearly who attend prayer group…
Interpreting scripture | At least once a week | Once or twice a month | Several times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 15% | 19% | 19% | 46% | 1% | 2,447 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 7% | 12% | 15% | 66% | < 1% | 3,532 |
Word of God; other/don't know | 10% | 14% | 16% | 58% | 2% | 243 |
Not the word of God | 3% | 6% | 9% | 81% | < 1% | 4,020 |
Other/don't know | 5% | 11% | 11% | 70% | 1% | 972 |
Frequency of meditation among adults who attend services monthly or yearly by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who attend services monthly or yearly who meditate…
Interpreting scripture | At least once a week | Once or twice a month | Several times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 39% | 9% | 4% | 45% | 2% | 2,447 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 31% | 10% | 6% | 53% | 1% | 3,532 |
Word of God; other/don't know | 42% | 4% | 4% | 46% | 4% | 243 |
Not the word of God | 31% | 12% | 7% | 50% | 1% | 4,020 |
Other/don't know | 34% | 12% | 6% | 46% | 2% | 972 |
Frequency of feeling spiritual peace and wellbeing among adults who attend services monthly or yearly by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who attend services monthly or yearly who feel a sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing…
Interpreting scripture | At least once a week | Once or twice a month | Several times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 64% | 16% | 10% | 9% | 1% | 2,447 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 51% | 22% | 14% | 12% | 1% | 3,532 |
Word of God; other/don't know | 57% | 18% | 11% | 9% | 5% | 243 |
Not the word of God | 44% | 20% | 15% | 20% | 1% | 4,020 |
Other/don't know | 52% | 17% | 12% | 15% | 4% | 972 |
Frequency of feeling wonder about the universe among adults who attend services monthly or yearly by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who attend services monthly or yearly who feel a sense of wonder about the universe…
Interpreting scripture | At least once a week | Once or twice a month | Several times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 39% | 14% | 14% | 30% | 2% | 2,447 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 39% | 17% | 16% | 28% | 1% | 3,532 |
Word of God; other/don't know | 37% | 14% | 16% | 29% | 5% | 243 |
Not the word of God | 47% | 18% | 15% | 19% | 1% | 4,020 |
Other/don't know | 42% | 16% | 15% | 24% | 2% | 972 |
Sources of guidance on right and wrong among adults who attend services monthly or yearly by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who attend services monthly or yearly who say they look to…most for guidance on right and wrong
Interpreting scripture | Religion | Philosophy/reason | Common sense | Science | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 44% | 6% | 41% | 7% | 2% | 2,447 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 26% | 10% | 56% | 7% | 2% | 3,532 |
Word of God; other/don't know | 41% | 2% | 42% | 4% | 11% | 243 |
Not the word of God | 8% | 19% | 57% | 14% | 2% | 4,020 |
Other/don't know | 18% | 14% | 54% | 8% | 6% | 972 |
Belief in absolute standards for right and wrong among adults who attend services monthly or yearly by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who attend services monthly or yearly who say…
Interpreting scripture | There are clear standards for what is right and wrong | Right or wrong depends on the situation | Neither/both equally | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 37% | 61% | 1% | 1% | 2,447 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 31% | 68% | 1% | < 1% | 3,532 |
Word of God; other/don't know | 32% | 59% | 4% | 4% | 243 |
Not the word of God | 21% | 77% | 1% | 1% | 4,020 |
Other/don't know | 26% | 69% | 3% | 2% | 972 |
Frequency of reading scripture among adults who attend services monthly or yearly by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who attend services monthly or yearly who read scripture…
Interpreting scripture | At least once a week | Once or twice a month | Several times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 40% | 20% | 12% | 27% | < 1% | 2,447 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 21% | 17% | 16% | 45% | < 1% | 3,532 |
Word of God; other/don't know | 40% | 13% | 14% | 32% | 1% | 243 |
Not the word of God | 9% | 9% | 13% | 68% | < 1% | 4,020 |
Other/don't know | 18% | 17% | 12% | 50% | 2% | 972 |
Belief in Heaven among adults who attend services monthly or yearly by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who attend services monthly or yearly who …in heaven
Interpreting scripture | Believe | Don't believe | Other/don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 93% | 4% | 3% | 2,447 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 91% | 6% | 3% | 3,532 |
Word of God; other/don't know | 86% | 5% | 8% | 243 |
Not the word of God | 54% | 37% | 9% | 4,020 |
Other/don't know | 69% | 14% | 17% | 972 |
Belief in Hell among adults who attend services monthly or yearly by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who attend services monthly or yearly who …in hell
Interpreting scripture | Believe | Don't believe | Other/don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 81% | 12% | 6% | 2,447 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 70% | 24% | 6% | 3,532 |
Word of God; other/don't know | 73% | 13% | 14% | 243 |
Not the word of God | 33% | 59% | 8% | 4,020 |
Other/don't know | 49% | 30% | 20% | 972 |
Social✭and✭Political✭Views
Party affiliation among adults who attend services monthly or yearly by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who attend services monthly or yearly who identify as…
Interpreting scripture | Republican/lean Rep. | No lean | Democrat/lean Dem. | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 38% | 19% | 43% | 2,447 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 45% | 14% | 41% | 3,532 |
Word of God; other/don't know | 34% | 31% | 35% | 243 |
Not the word of God | 27% | 15% | 58% | 4,020 |
Other/don't know | 29% | 26% | 45% | 972 |
Political ideology among adults who attend services monthly or yearly by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who attend services monthly or yearly who are…
Interpreting scripture | Conservative | Moderate | Liberal | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 45% | 30% | 18% | 7% | 2,447 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 37% | 40% | 19% | 4% | 3,532 |
Word of God; other/don't know | 43% | 27% | 16% | 14% | 243 |
Not the word of God | 19% | 41% | 35% | 4% | 4,020 |
Other/don't know | 26% | 41% | 23% | 11% | 972 |
Views about size of government among adults who attend services monthly or yearly by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who attend services monthly or yearly who would rather have…
Interpreting scripture | Smaller government; fewer services | Bigger government; more services | Depends | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 42% | 53% | 2% | 3% | 2,447 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 57% | 40% | 2% | 2% | 3,532 |
Word of God; other/don't know | 48% | 39% | 6% | 7% | 243 |
Not the word of God | 49% | 45% | 3% | 3% | 4,020 |
Other/don't know | 45% | 39% | 8% | 8% | 972 |
Views about government aid to the poor among adults who attend services monthly or yearly by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who attend services monthly or yearly who say government aid to the poor…
Interpreting scripture | Does more harm than good | Does more good than harm | Neither/both equally | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 48% | 46% | 3% | 2% | 2,447 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 50% | 47% | 3% | 1% | 3,532 |
Word of God; other/don't know | 45% | 41% | 8% | 6% | 243 |
Not the word of God | 37% | 59% | 3% | 1% | 4,020 |
Other/don't know | 41% | 46% | 8% | 5% | 972 |
Views about abortion among adults who attend services monthly or yearly by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who attend services monthly or yearly who say abortion should be…
Interpreting scripture | Legal in all/most cases | Illegal in all/most cases | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 40% | 55% | 5% | 2,447 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 57% | 40% | 3% | 3,532 |
Word of God; other/don't know | 38% | 47% | 15% | 243 |
Not the word of God | 77% | 21% | 2% | 4,020 |
Other/don't know | 59% | 32% | 9% | 972 |
Views about homosexuality among adults who attend services monthly or yearly by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who attend services monthly or yearly who say homosexuality…
Interpreting scripture | Should be accepted | Should be discouraged | Neither/both equally | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 51% | 42% | 4% | 4% | 2,447 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 71% | 22% | 4% | 3% | 3,532 |
Word of God; other/don't know | 51% | 32% | 7% | 10% | 243 |
Not the word of God | 85% | 11% | 2% | 1% | 4,020 |
Other/don't know | 66% | 19% | 9% | 6% | 972 |
Views about same-sex marriage among adults who attend services monthly or yearly by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who attend services monthly or yearly who …same-sex marriage
Interpreting scripture | Strongly favor/favor | Oppose/strongly oppose | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 37% | 53% | 9% | 2,447 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 61% | 32% | 7% | 3,532 |
Word of God; other/don't know | 38% | 39% | 23% | 243 |
Not the word of God | 80% | 15% | 5% | 4,020 |
Other/don't know | 57% | 28% | 15% | 972 |
Views about environmental regulation among adults who attend services monthly or yearly by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who attend services monthly or yearly who say…
Interpreting scripture | Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy | Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost | Neither/both equally | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 48% | 48% | 2% | 3% | 2,447 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 40% | 58% | 1% | 2% | 3,532 |
Word of God; other/don't know | 42% | 47% | 3% | 9% | 243 |
Not the word of God | 27% | 70% | 2% | 1% | 4,020 |
Other/don't know | 30% | 57% | 6% | 6% | 972 |
Views about human evolution among adults who attend services monthly or yearly by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who attend services monthly or yearly who say humans…
Interpreting scripture | Evolved; due to natural processes | Evolved; due to God's design | Evolved; don't know how | Always existed in present form | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 16% | 27% | 3% | 50% | 5% | 2,447 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 25% | 40% | 3% | 30% | 2% | 3,532 |
Word of God; other/don't know | 14% | 26% | 7% | 35% | 18% | 243 |
Not the word of God | 59% | 22% | 4% | 13% | 2% | 4,020 |
Other/don't know | 30% | 28% | 13% | 22% | 7% | 972 |