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 | 31% | 25% | 3% | 34% | 7% | 2,020 |
2007 | 31% | 26% | 3% | 29% | 11% | 1,694 |
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 in Florida by religious group
% of adults in Florida 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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Catholic | 24% | 33% | 4% | 30% | 8% | 428 |
Evangelical Protestant | 56% | 28% | 5% | 7% | 4% | 461 |
Historically Black Protestant | 60% | 25% | 2% | 7% | 6% | 130 |
Mainline Protestant | 23% | 29% | 2% | 33% | 13% | 338 |
Unaffiliated (religious "nones") | 13% | 13% | 2% | 67% | 5% | 446 |
Learn More: Word of God; should be taken literally, Word of God; not everything taken literally, Not the word of God
Switch Display To: religious group among adults in Florida by interpretation of scripture
Demographic✭Information
Age distribution among adults in Florida by interpretation of scripture
% of adults in Florida who are ages…
Interpreting scripture | 18-29 | 30-49 | 50-64 | 65+ | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 13% | 32% | 30% | 25% | 553 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 26% | 30% | 21% | 23% | 513 |
Not the word of God | 23% | 32% | 25% | 19% | 719 |
Other/don't know | 16% | 31% | 24% | 29% | 135 |
Switch Display To: interpretation of scripture among adults in Florida by age group
Generational cohort among adults in Florida by interpretation of scripture
% of adults in Florida who are…
Interpreting scripture | Younger Millennial | Older Millennial | Generation X | Baby Boomer | Silent | Greatest | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 9% | 9% | 27% | 36% | 18% | 2% | 553 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 17% | 12% | 26% | 28% | 15% | 2% | 513 |
Not the word of God | 15% | 13% | 27% | 32% | 11% | 2% | 719 |
Other/don't know | 8% | 16% | 23% | 34% | 13% | 6% | 135 |
Switch Display To: interpretation of scripture among adults in Florida by generational group
Gender composition among adults in Florida by interpretation of scripture
% of adults in Florida who are…
Interpreting scripture | Men | Women | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 45% | 55% | 562 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 42% | 58% | 524 |
Not the word of God | 58% | 42% | 731 |
Other/don't know | 51% | 49% | 142 |
Switch Display To: interpretation of scripture among adults in Florida by gender
Racial and ethnic composition among adults in Florida by interpretation of scripture
% of adults in Florida who identify as…
Interpreting scripture | White | Black | Asian | Latino | Other/Mixed | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 51% | 23% | 1% | 23% | 3% | 558 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 61% | 13% | 1% | 21% | 3% | 517 |
Not the word of God | 71% | 5% | 1% | 19% | 3% | 721 |
Other/don't know | 51% | 16% | 2% | 29% | 3% | 140 |
Switch Display To: interpretation of scripture among adults in Florida by race/ethnicity
Immigrant status among adults in Florida by interpretation of scripture
% of adults in Florida who are…
Interpreting scripture | Immigrants | Second generation | Third generation or higher | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 24% | 9% | 67% | 548 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 22% | 12% | 66% | 518 |
Not the word of God | 18% | 16% | 66% | 721 |
Other/don't know | 33% | 15% | 52% | 138 |
Switch Display To: interpretation of scripture among adults in Florida by immigrant status
Income distribution among adults in Florida by interpretation of scripture
% of adults in Florida 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 | 50% | 23% | 17% | 10% | 475 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 33% | 24% | 26% | 17% | 461 |
Not the word of God | 28% | 21% | 30% | 22% | 637 |
Other/don't know | 42% | 22% | 22% | 15% | 108 |
Switch Display To: interpretation of scripture among adults in Florida by household income
Educational distribution among adults in Florida by interpretation of scripture
% of adults in Florida who have completed…
Interpreting scripture | High school or less | Some college | College | Post-graduate degree | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 57% | 28% | 11% | 4% | 557 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 38% | 37% | 15% | 10% | 522 |
Not the word of God | 33% | 31% | 19% | 16% | 728 |
Other/don't know | 42% | 36% | 17% | 6% | 136 |
Switch Display To: interpretation of scripture among adults in Florida by educational group
Marital status among adults in Florida by interpretation of scripture
% of adults in Florida who are…
Interpreting scripture | Married | Living with a partner | Divorced/separated | Widowed | Never married | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 49% | 6% | 17% | 7% | 20% | 559 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 45% | 6% | 14% | 9% | 26% | 522 |
Not the word of God | 44% | 10% | 14% | 5% | 27% | 730 |
Other/don't know | 43% | 9% | 21% | 9% | 19% | 141 |
Switch Display To: interpretation of scripture among adults in Florida by marital status
Parent of children under 18 among adults in Florida by interpretation of scripture
% of adults in Florida who are…
Interpreting scripture | Parents | Non-parents | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 27% | 73% | 561 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 33% | 67% | 521 |
Not the word of God | 21% | 79% | 729 |
Other/don't know | 28% | 72% | 140 |
Switch Display To: interpretation of scripture among adults in Florida by parental status
Beliefs✭and✭Practices
Belief in God among adults in Florida by interpretation of scripture
% of adults in Florida 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 | 88% | 9% | 2% | 1% | < 1% | < 1% | 562 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 78% | 18% | 2% | 1% | 1% | < 1% | 524 |
Not the word of God | 30% | 28% | 10% | < 1% | 27% | 5% | 731 |
Other/don't know | 67% | 19% | 4% | 4% | 2% | 4% | 142 |
Switch Display To: interpretation of scripture among adults in Florida by belief in God
Importance of religion in one's life among adults in Florida by interpretation of scripture
% of adults in Florida 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 | 83% | 12% | 3% | 2% | < 1% | 562 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 59% | 32% | 7% | 3% | < 1% | 524 |
Not the word of God | 17% | 31% | 23% | 28% | 1% | 731 |
Other/don't know | 56% | 32% | 5% | 4% | 3% | 142 |
Attendance at religious services among adults in Florida by interpretation of scripture
% of adults in Florida who attend religious services…
Interpreting scripture | At least once a week | Once or twice a month/a few times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 60% | 27% | 13% | 1% | 562 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 43% | 40% | 17% | < 1% | 524 |
Not the word of God | 8% | 32% | 59% | 1% | 731 |
Other/don't know | 25% | 41% | 30% | 4% | 142 |
Switch Display To: interpretation of scripture among adults in Florida by religious attendance
Frequency of prayer among adults in Florida by interpretation of scripture
% of adults in Florida who pray…
Interpreting scripture | At least daily | Weekly | Monthly | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 81% | 11% | 3% | 4% | < 1% | 562 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 62% | 22% | 7% | 9% | < 1% | 524 |
Not the word of God | 28% | 12% | 8% | 51% | 1% | 731 |
Other/don't know | 51% | 22% | 4% | 15% | 9% | 142 |
Switch Display To: interpretation of scripture among adults in Florida by frequency of prayer
Frequency of participation in prayer, scripture study or religious education groups among adults in Florida by interpretation of scripture
% of adults in Florida 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 | 47% | 12% | 9% | 31% | 1% | 562 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 26% | 9% | 13% | 52% | < 1% | 524 |
Not the word of God | 4% | 2% | 4% | 89% | < 1% | 731 |
Other/don't know | 17% | 4% | 6% | 70% | 2% | 142 |
Frequency of meditation among adults in Florida by interpretation of scripture
% of adults in Florida 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 | 55% | 6% | 2% | 35% | 2% | 562 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 44% | 8% | 4% | 42% | 2% | 524 |
Not the word of God | 29% | 10% | 4% | 56% | 1% | 731 |
Other/don't know | 41% | 15% | 4% | 38% | 2% | 142 |
Frequency of feeling spiritual peace and wellbeing among adults in Florida by interpretation of scripture
% of adults in Florida 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 | 77% | 10% | 6% | 7% | < 1% | 562 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 66% | 15% | 9% | 10% | < 1% | 524 |
Not the word of God | 45% | 14% | 11% | 28% | 2% | 731 |
Other/don't know | 67% | 13% | 8% | 12% | 1% | 142 |
Frequency of feeling wonder about the universe among adults in Florida by interpretation of scripture
% of adults in Florida 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 | 49% | 14% | 10% | 24% | 3% | 562 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 46% | 15% | 12% | 27% | 1% | 524 |
Not the word of God | 45% | 16% | 15% | 23% | 1% | 731 |
Other/don't know | 47% | 16% | 9% | 25% | 4% | 142 |
Sources of guidance on right and wrong among adults in Florida by interpretation of scripture
% of adults in Florida 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 | 60% | 4% | 31% | 4% | 1% | 562 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 32% | 12% | 48% | 6% | 2% | 524 |
Not the word of God | 5% | 16% | 63% | 14% | 2% | 731 |
Other/don't know | 19% | 13% | 53% | 9% | 6% | 142 |
Belief in absolute standards for right and wrong among adults in Florida by interpretation of scripture
% of adults in Florida 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 | 42% | 56% | 1% | 1% | 562 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 36% | 62% | 1% | 1% | 524 |
Not the word of God | 20% | 78% | 1% | < 1% | 731 |
Other/don't know | 29% | 64% | 5% | 2% | 142 |
Frequency of reading scripture among adults in Florida by interpretation of scripture
% of adults in Florida 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 | 62% | 12% | 7% | 17% | 1% | 562 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 38% | 15% | 11% | 36% | < 1% | 524 |
Not the word of God | 9% | 7% | 9% | 75% | < 1% | 731 |
Other/don't know | 28% | 6% | 8% | 52% | 5% | 142 |
Belief in Heaven among adults in Florida by interpretation of scripture
% of adults in Florida who …in heaven
Interpreting scripture | Believe | Don't believe | Other/don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 91% | 6% | 3% | 562 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 84% | 10% | 6% | 524 |
Not the word of God | 41% | 49% | 10% | 731 |
Other/don't know | 65% | 16% | 19% | 142 |
Switch Display To: interpretation of scripture among adults in Florida by belief in heaven
Belief in Hell among adults in Florida by interpretation of scripture
% of adults in Florida who …in hell
Interpreting scripture | Believe | Don't believe | Other/don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 82% | 12% | 6% | 562 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 66% | 27% | 7% | 524 |
Not the word of God | 28% | 65% | 7% | 731 |
Other/don't know | 47% | 35% | 18% | 142 |
Switch Display To: interpretation of scripture among adults in Florida by belief in hell
Social✭and✭Political✭Views
Party affiliation among adults in Florida by interpretation of scripture
% of adults in Florida who identify as…
Interpreting scripture | Republican/lean Rep. | No lean | Democrat/lean Dem. | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 39% | 20% | 40% | 562 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 45% | 14% | 41% | 524 |
Not the word of God | 31% | 18% | 52% | 731 |
Other/don't know | 32% | 24% | 45% | 142 |
Switch Display To: interpretation of scripture among adults in Florida by political party
Political ideology among adults in Florida by interpretation of scripture
% of adults in Florida who are…
Interpreting scripture | Conservative | Moderate | Liberal | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 53% | 21% | 17% | 9% | 562 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 40% | 37% | 19% | 4% | 524 |
Not the word of God | 21% | 36% | 36% | 7% | 731 |
Other/don't know | 29% | 37% | 22% | 13% | 142 |
Switch Display To: interpretation of scripture among adults in Florida by political ideology
Views about size of government among adults in Florida by interpretation of scripture
% of adults in Florida 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 | 44% | 50% | 3% | 3% | 562 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 55% | 40% | 2% | 3% | 524 |
Not the word of God | 45% | 47% | 3% | 4% | 731 |
Other/don't know | 42% | 41% | 8% | 9% | 142 |
Views about government aid to the poor among adults in Florida by interpretation of scripture
% of adults in Florida 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 | 47% | 47% | 4% | 2% | 562 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 52% | 43% | 4% | 1% | 524 |
Not the word of God | 41% | 55% | 2% | 1% | 731 |
Other/don't know | 39% | 47% | 10% | 4% | 142 |
Views about abortion among adults in Florida by interpretation of scripture
% of adults in Florida 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 | 37% | 58% | 5% | 562 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 53% | 44% | 3% | 524 |
Not the word of God | 78% | 19% | 3% | 731 |
Other/don't know | 56% | 29% | 15% | 142 |
Switch Display To: interpretation of scripture among adults in Florida by views about abortion
Views about homosexuality among adults in Florida by interpretation of scripture
% of adults in Florida 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 | 42% | 49% | 4% | 5% | 562 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 67% | 26% | 5% | 2% | 524 |
Not the word of God | 84% | 11% | 2% | 3% | 731 |
Other/don't know | 57% | 27% | 10% | 6% | 142 |
Views about same-sex marriage among adults in Florida by interpretation of scripture
% of adults in Florida who …same-sex marriage
Interpreting scripture | Strongly favor/favor | Oppose/strongly oppose | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 30% | 63% | 7% | 562 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 51% | 40% | 9% | 524 |
Not the word of God | 77% | 15% | 8% | 731 |
Other/don't know | 47% | 38% | 16% | 142 |
Views about environmental regulation among adults in Florida by interpretation of scripture
% of adults in Florida 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 | 49% | 46% | 1% | 4% | 562 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 41% | 56% | 2% | 1% | 524 |
Not the word of God | 26% | 70% | 2% | 3% | 731 |
Other/don't know | 37% | 51% | 5% | 8% | 142 |
Views about human evolution among adults in Florida by interpretation of scripture
% of adults in Florida 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 | 13% | 28% | 1% | 53% | 5% | 562 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 19% | 35% | 4% | 39% | 4% | 524 |
Not the word of God | 62% | 18% | 4% | 13% | 2% | 731 |
Other/don't know | 23% | 29% | 11% | 27% | 10% | 142 |