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 | 52% | 28% | 4% | 12% | 5% | 13,702 |
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 oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage by religious group
% of adults who oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage 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 | 36% | 38% | 3% | 16% | 7% | 2,547 |
Evangelical Protestant | 66% | 23% | 4% | 4% | 3% | 5,738 |
Historically Black Protestant | 70% | 19% | 2% | 4% | 5% | 994 |
Jehovah's Witness | 46% | 41% | 7% | 1% | 4% | 188 |
Jewish | 39% | 37% | 7% | 10% | 7% | 119 |
Mainline Protestant | 42% | 34% | 4% | 13% | 7% | 2,103 |
Mormon | 32% | 58% | 6% | 2% | 2% | 468 |
Muslim | 56% | 25% | 10% | 6% | 3% | 117 |
Unaffiliated (religious "nones") | 30% | 19% | 2% | 41% | 9% | 1,117 |
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 oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage who are ages…
Interpreting scripture | 18-29 | 30-49 | 50-64 | 65+ | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 11% | 32% | 32% | 25% | 6,622 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 19% | 34% | 27% | 21% | 4,000 |
Word of God; other/don't know | 10% | 30% | 30% | 31% | 529 |
Not the word of God | 17% | 31% | 29% | 23% | 1,557 |
Other/don't know | 11% | 32% | 31% | 26% | 687 |
Generational cohort among adults who oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage who are…
Interpreting scripture | Younger Millennial | Older Millennial | Generation X | Baby Boomer | Silent | Greatest | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 7% | 9% | 27% | 38% | 17% | 2% | 6,622 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 12% | 13% | 28% | 33% | 14% | 1% | 4,000 |
Word of God; other/don't know | 5% | 7% | 27% | 37% | 21% | 3% | 529 |
Not the word of God | 11% | 11% | 26% | 36% | 14% | 2% | 1,557 |
Other/don't know | 7% | 11% | 25% | 38% | 16% | 4% | 687 |
Gender composition among adults who oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage who are…
Interpreting scripture | Men | Women | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 46% | 54% | 6,782 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 53% | 47% | 4,073 |
Word of God; other/don't know | 48% | 52% | 554 |
Not the word of God | 73% | 27% | 1,584 |
Other/don't know | 61% | 39% | 709 |
Racial and ethnic composition among adults who oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage who identify as…
Interpreting scripture | White | Black | Asian | Latino | Other/Mixed | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 63% | 18% | 2% | 14% | 3% | 6,699 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 72% | 10% | 2% | 12% | 4% | 4,026 |
Word of God; other/don't know | 73% | 9% | 3% | 10% | 5% | 537 |
Not the word of God | 63% | 10% | 6% | 17% | 4% | 1,560 |
Other/don't know | 60% | 15% | 5% | 16% | 4% | 686 |
Immigrant status among adults who oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage who are…
Interpreting scripture | Immigrants | Second generation | Third generation or higher | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 14% | 6% | 79% | 6,681 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 13% | 8% | 80% | 4,033 |
Word of God; other/don't know | 14% | 7% | 79% | 542 |
Not the word of God | 18% | 12% | 71% | 1,560 |
Other/don't know | 22% | 5% | 73% | 696 |
Income distribution among adults who oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage 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 | 42% | 22% | 24% | 11% | 5,763 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 29% | 20% | 31% | 19% | 3,610 |
Word of God; other/don't know | 33% | 19% | 31% | 17% | 427 |
Not the word of God | 35% | 20% | 27% | 18% | 1,414 |
Other/don't know | 40% | 23% | 21% | 16% | 548 |
Educational distribution among adults who oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage who have completed…
Interpreting scripture | High school or less | Some college | College | Post-graduate degree | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 54% | 30% | 12% | 5% | 6,732 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 39% | 33% | 18% | 10% | 4,056 |
Word of God; other/don't know | 41% | 34% | 16% | 9% | 546 |
Not the word of God | 52% | 27% | 11% | 9% | 1,573 |
Other/don't know | 46% | 34% | 13% | 8% | 704 |
Marital status among adults who oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage who are…
Interpreting scripture | Married | Living with a partner | Divorced/separated | Widowed | Never married | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 57% | 3% | 14% | 10% | 16% | 6,754 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 57% | 4% | 12% | 6% | 20% | 4,063 |
Word of God; other/don't know | 65% | 1% | 11% | 11% | 12% | 549 |
Not the word of God | 49% | 7% | 15% | 8% | 22% | 1,577 |
Other/don't know | 48% | 6% | 16% | 10% | 19% | 698 |
Parent of children under 18 among adults who oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage who are…
Interpreting scripture | Parents | Non-parents | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 29% | 71% | 6,760 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 32% | 68% | 4,055 |
Word of God; other/don't know | 28% | 72% | 548 |
Not the word of God | 26% | 74% | 1,579 |
Other/don't know | 27% | 73% | 702 |
Beliefs✭and✭Practices
Belief in God among adults who oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage 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 | 91% | 7% | 1% | < 1% | < 1% | < 1% | 6,782 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 84% | 14% | 1% | < 1% | < 1% | < 1% | 4,073 |
Word of God; other/don't know | 89% | 7% | 1% | 2% | < 1% | 1% | 554 |
Not the word of God | 42% | 28% | 12% | 1% | 13% | 4% | 1,584 |
Other/don't know | 70% | 19% | 3% | 3% | 2% | 4% | 709 |
Importance of religion in one's life among adults who oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage 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 | 89% | 9% | 1% | 1% | < 1% | 6,782 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 74% | 22% | 3% | 1% | < 1% | 4,073 |
Word of God; other/don't know | 84% | 12% | 1% | 1% | 2% | 554 |
Not the word of God | 28% | 34% | 20% | 17% | 1% | 1,584 |
Other/don't know | 60% | 26% | 7% | 5% | 2% | 709 |
Attendance at religious services among adults who oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage 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 | 68% | 22% | 10% | < 1% | 6,782 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 55% | 31% | 13% | < 1% | 4,073 |
Word of God; other/don't know | 65% | 20% | 15% | 1% | 554 |
Not the word of God | 16% | 36% | 48% | < 1% | 1,584 |
Other/don't know | 36% | 39% | 23% | 2% | 709 |
Frequency of prayer among adults who oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage who pray…
Interpreting scripture | At least daily | Weekly | Monthly | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 84% | 10% | 2% | 3% | 1% | 6,782 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 73% | 16% | 5% | 6% | 1% | 4,073 |
Word of God; other/don't know | 84% | 10% | 1% | 2% | 2% | 554 |
Not the word of God | 33% | 17% | 10% | 40% | < 1% | 1,584 |
Other/don't know | 62% | 14% | 6% | 14% | 4% | 709 |
Frequency of participation in prayer, scripture study or religious education groups among adults who oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage 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 | 53% | 13% | 9% | 25% | 1% | 6,782 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 36% | 12% | 11% | 41% | 1% | 4,073 |
Word of God; other/don't know | 48% | 10% | 8% | 33% | 1% | 554 |
Not the word of God | 9% | 5% | 7% | 79% | < 1% | 1,584 |
Other/don't know | 26% | 10% | 9% | 54% | 1% | 709 |
Frequency of meditation among adults who oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage 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 | 56% | 6% | 3% | 32% | 2% | 6,782 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 45% | 7% | 4% | 42% | 1% | 4,073 |
Word of God; other/don't know | 49% | 6% | 3% | 35% | 6% | 554 |
Not the word of God | 32% | 8% | 5% | 54% | 1% | 1,584 |
Other/don't know | 42% | 8% | 4% | 43% | 4% | 709 |
Frequency of feeling spiritual peace and wellbeing among adults who oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage 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 | 79% | 9% | 5% | 6% | 1% | 6,782 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 67% | 15% | 8% | 9% | 1% | 4,073 |
Word of God; other/don't know | 77% | 8% | 6% | 5% | 4% | 554 |
Not the word of God | 40% | 14% | 12% | 33% | 1% | 1,584 |
Other/don't know | 58% | 12% | 7% | 19% | 3% | 709 |
Frequency of feeling wonder about the universe among adults who oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage 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 | 47% | 14% | 10% | 26% | 2% | 6,782 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 44% | 18% | 12% | 24% | 1% | 4,073 |
Word of God; other/don't know | 44% | 12% | 11% | 26% | 7% | 554 |
Not the word of God | 42% | 13% | 16% | 29% | < 1% | 1,584 |
Other/don't know | 46% | 12% | 11% | 26% | 5% | 709 |
Sources of guidance on right and wrong among adults who oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage 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 | 68% | 3% | 24% | 3% | 2% | 6,782 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 52% | 5% | 36% | 4% | 2% | 4,073 |
Word of God; other/don't know | 60% | 3% | 25% | 3% | 9% | 554 |
Not the word of God | 14% | 11% | 61% | 13% | 1% | 1,584 |
Other/don't know | 35% | 6% | 49% | 4% | 6% | 709 |
Belief in absolute standards for right and wrong among adults who oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage 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 | 52% | 46% | 1% | 1% | 6,782 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 48% | 50% | 1% | 1% | 4,073 |
Word of God; other/don't know | 53% | 38% | 5% | 3% | 554 |
Not the word of God | 29% | 69% | 1% | 1% | 1,584 |
Other/don't know | 34% | 61% | 3% | 2% | 709 |
Frequency of reading scripture among adults who oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage 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 | 70% | 10% | 5% | 14% | 1% | 6,782 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 51% | 12% | 9% | 27% | 1% | 4,073 |
Word of God; other/don't know | 69% | 8% | 8% | 13% | 2% | 554 |
Not the word of God | 15% | 7% | 9% | 68% | < 1% | 1,584 |
Other/don't know | 38% | 12% | 8% | 39% | 3% | 709 |
Belief in Heaven among adults who oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage who …in heaven
Interpreting scripture | Believe | Don't believe | Other/don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 91% | 5% | 5% | 6,782 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 90% | 6% | 5% | 4,073 |
Word of God; other/don't know | 83% | 4% | 14% | 554 |
Not the word of God | 56% | 35% | 9% | 1,584 |
Other/don't know | 70% | 11% | 19% | 709 |
Belief in Hell among adults who oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage who …in hell
Interpreting scripture | Believe | Don't believe | Other/don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 85% | 9% | 5% | 6,782 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 77% | 17% | 7% | 4,073 |
Word of God; other/don't know | 76% | 10% | 14% | 554 |
Not the word of God | 41% | 50% | 9% | 1,584 |
Other/don't know | 59% | 21% | 19% | 709 |
Social✭and✭Political✭Views
Party affiliation among adults who oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage who identify as…
Interpreting scripture | Republican/lean Rep. | No lean | Democrat/lean Dem. | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 52% | 16% | 32% | 6,782 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 60% | 14% | 27% | 4,073 |
Word of God; other/don't know | 55% | 22% | 23% | 554 |
Not the word of God | 48% | 20% | 32% | 1,584 |
Other/don't know | 39% | 26% | 35% | 709 |
Political ideology among adults who oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage who are…
Interpreting scripture | Conservative | Moderate | Liberal | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 61% | 21% | 12% | 6% | 6,782 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 58% | 29% | 8% | 5% | 4,073 |
Word of God; other/don't know | 57% | 20% | 8% | 14% | 554 |
Not the word of God | 43% | 33% | 18% | 6% | 1,584 |
Other/don't know | 46% | 30% | 13% | 12% | 709 |
Views about size of government among adults who oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage 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 | 57% | 38% | 2% | 3% | 6,782 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 69% | 27% | 2% | 2% | 4,073 |
Word of God; other/don't know | 63% | 21% | 6% | 11% | 554 |
Not the word of God | 67% | 30% | 2% | 2% | 1,584 |
Other/don't know | 56% | 31% | 6% | 7% | 709 |
Views about government aid to the poor among adults who oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage 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 | 55% | 39% | 3% | 2% | 6,782 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 61% | 35% | 3% | 1% | 4,073 |
Word of God; other/don't know | 57% | 28% | 9% | 7% | 554 |
Not the word of God | 59% | 36% | 3% | 2% | 1,584 |
Other/don't know | 48% | 40% | 8% | 4% | 709 |
Views about abortion among adults who oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage 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 | 24% | 73% | 3% | 6,782 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 29% | 68% | 3% | 4,073 |
Word of God; other/don't know | 20% | 68% | 12% | 554 |
Not the word of God | 55% | 42% | 3% | 1,584 |
Other/don't know | 35% | 53% | 12% | 709 |
Views about homosexuality among adults who oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage 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 | 18% | 77% | 3% | 2% | 6,782 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 29% | 64% | 5% | 3% | 4,073 |
Word of God; other/don't know | 12% | 76% | 6% | 6% | 554 |
Not the word of God | 37% | 55% | 4% | 3% | 1,584 |
Other/don't know | 24% | 59% | 10% | 7% | 709 |
Views about environmental regulation among adults who oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage 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 | 52% | 42% | 2% | 4% | 6,782 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 50% | 46% | 2% | 2% | 4,073 |
Word of God; other/don't know | 47% | 35% | 8% | 10% | 554 |
Not the word of God | 51% | 44% | 2% | 3% | 1,584 |
Other/don't know | 46% | 39% | 6% | 8% | 709 |
Views about human evolution among adults who oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage 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 | 9% | 18% | 2% | 65% | 6% | 6,782 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 13% | 33% | 2% | 48% | 4% | 4,073 |
Word of God; other/don't know | 8% | 16% | 4% | 56% | 15% | 554 |
Not the word of God | 41% | 24% | 4% | 28% | 4% | 1,584 |
Other/don't know | 19% | 27% | 9% | 35% | 10% | 709 |