Religious tradition among adults who say their holy scripture is the word of God and should be taken literally by state (2014) Switch to: State among adults who say their holy scripture is the word of God and should be taken literally by religious group

% of adults who say their holy scripture is the word of God and should be taken literally who are…

StateBuddhistCatholicEvangelical ProtestantHinduHistorically Black ProtestantJehovah's WitnessJewishMainline ProtestantMormonMuslimOrthodox ChristianOther ChristianOther FaithsOther World ReligionsUnaffiliated (religious "nones")Don't knowSample size
Alabama< 1%5%58%< 1%22%< 1%< 1%8%< 1%< 1%< 1%< 1%< 1%< 1%6%< 1%245
Arizona< 1%19%51%< 1%1%3%1%9%7%1%< 1%2%< 1%< 1%6%< 1%172
Arkansas< 1%7%62%< 1%11%< 1%< 1%9%< 1%3%< 1%< 1%< 1%< 1%8%< 1%135
California< 1%34%40%1%4%2%< 1%8%2%1%< 1%< 1%< 1%< 1%6%< 1%822
Colorado< 1%17%52%< 1%6%< 1%< 1%12%7%< 1%< 1%1%< 1%< 1%5%< 1%106
Florida< 1%16%43%< 1%15%2%1%11%1%< 1%< 1%1%< 1%< 1%10%< 1%562
Georgia< 1%6%52%< 1%28%1%< 1%5%< 1%< 1%< 1%< 1%< 1%< 1%7%< 1%379
Illinois< 1%21%35%1%15%1%< 1%17%< 1%2%< 1%< 1%< 1%< 1%8%< 1%320
Indiana< 1%18%52%< 1%8%< 1%1%10%1%< 1%1%< 1%< 1%< 1%9%< 1%234
Kentucky< 1%4%72%< 1%5%< 1%< 1%12%1%< 1%< 1%< 1%< 1%< 1%5%< 1%183
Louisiana< 1%19%34%< 1%34%1%< 1%4%< 1%< 1%< 1%< 1%< 1%< 1%7%< 1%186
Maryland< 1%13%33%< 1%30%< 1%< 1%13%< 1%1%1%< 1%< 1%< 1%7%< 1%154
Michigan< 1%13%45%< 1%16%2%< 1%15%< 1%1%< 1%< 1%1%< 1%6%1%278
Minnesota< 1%18%50%< 1%5%1%< 1%18%< 1%5%< 1%< 1%< 1%< 1%4%< 1%126
Mississippi< 1%3%47%< 1%29%< 1%< 1%9%< 1%1%< 1%< 1%< 1%< 1%10%1%169
Missouri< 1%10%60%< 1%10%< 1%< 1%10%1%< 1%< 1%1%< 1%< 1%6%< 1%186
New Jersey< 1%29%26%2%12%2%5%8%2%5%1%< 1%< 1%1%6%1%171
New York1%32%22%1%13%2%5%10%1%3%2%< 1%< 1%< 1%10%< 1%400
North Carolina< 1%5%52%< 1%20%< 1%< 1%12%1%1%< 1%< 1%< 1%< 1%8%< 1%352
Ohio< 1%11%48%1%13%1%< 1%16%< 1%< 1%< 1%< 1%< 1%< 1%10%< 1%336
Oklahoma< 1%8%60%< 1%9%1%< 1%14%2%1%< 1%< 1%< 1%< 1%5%< 1%152
Pennsylvania< 1%18%37%1%8%1%< 1%24%< 1%2%< 1%< 1%1%< 1%8%< 1%368
South Carolina< 1%6%44%< 1%21%1%1%11%1%< 1%< 1%< 1%< 1%< 1%14%1%230
Tennessee< 1%3%67%< 1%14%< 1%< 1%10%1%1%< 1%< 1%< 1%< 1%4%< 1%297
Texas< 1%22%47%< 1%10%2%< 1%9%1%1%< 1%< 1%< 1%< 1%6%< 1%935
Virginia< 1%8%52%< 1%18%1%1%10%2%2%1%< 1%< 1%< 1%6%< 1%262
Washington1%17%60%< 1%1%2%< 1%8%4%2%< 1%< 1%< 1%< 1%6%< 1%145
West Virginia< 1%4%56%< 1%3%< 1%< 1%29%< 1%< 1%< 1%< 1%< 1%< 1%8%< 1%134
Wisconsin< 1%18%44%< 1%9%2%< 1%20%< 1%2%< 1%< 1%< 1%< 1%5%< 1%158
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, Historically Black Protestant, Jehovah's Witness, Mainline Protestant, Mormon, Unaffiliated (religious "nones")