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 | 51% | 23% | 2% | 17% | 7% | 3,394 |
2007 | 55% | 20% | 3% | 13% | 9% | 3,101 |
Learn More: Word of God; should be taken literally, Word of God; not everything taken literally, Not the word of God
Interpreting scripture among blacks by religious group
% of blacks 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 | 44% | 33% | 1% | 16% | 5% | 192 |
Evangelical Protestant | 57% | 29% | 3% | 7% | 5% | 495 |
Historically Black Protestant | 59% | 23% | 3% | 9% | 6% | 1,798 |
Mainline Protestant | 39% | 31% | 2% | 18% | 10% | 159 |
Unaffiliated (religious "nones") | 30% | 15% | 1% | 48% | 6% | 534 |
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 blacks by interpretation of scripture
Demographic✭Information
Age distribution among blacks by interpretation of scripture
% of blacks who are ages…
Interpreting scripture | 18-29 | 30-49 | 50-64 | 65+ | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 19% | 35% | 31% | 15% | 1,629 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 35% | 37% | 19% | 9% | 807 |
Not the word of God | 38% | 35% | 20% | 6% | 569 |
Other/don't know | 26% | 42% | 20% | 12% | 212 |
Switch Display To: interpretation of scripture among blacks by age group
Generational cohort among blacks by interpretation of scripture
% of blacks who are…
Interpreting scripture | Younger Millennial | Older Millennial | Generation X | Baby Boomer | Silent | Greatest | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 12% | 13% | 29% | 35% | 10% | 1% | 1,629 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 22% | 20% | 29% | 23% | 5% | 1% | 807 |
Not the word of God | 22% | 24% | 26% | 23% | 3% | < 1% | 569 |
Other/don't know | 13% | 20% | 34% | 23% | 8% | 2% | 212 |
Switch Display To: interpretation of scripture among blacks by generational group
Gender composition among blacks by interpretation of scripture
% of blacks who are…
Interpreting scripture | Men | Women | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 42% | 58% | 1,668 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 42% | 58% | 828 |
Not the word of God | 56% | 44% | 578 |
Other/don't know | 41% | 59% | 221 |
Switch Display To: interpretation of scripture among blacks by gender
Immigrant status among blacks by interpretation of scripture
% of blacks who are…
Interpreting scripture | Immigrants | Second generation | Third generation or higher | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 10% | 3% | 87% | 1,629 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 12% | 8% | 81% | 809 |
Not the word of God | 9% | 8% | 83% | 566 |
Other/don't know | 12% | 5% | 83% | 213 |
Switch Display To: interpretation of scripture among blacks by immigrant status
Income distribution among blacks by interpretation of scripture
% of blacks 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 | 58% | 22% | 14% | 6% | 1,463 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 42% | 20% | 25% | 14% | 756 |
Not the word of God | 42% | 21% | 24% | 13% | 535 |
Other/don't know | 44% | 23% | 23% | 10% | 183 |
Switch Display To: interpretation of scripture among blacks by household income
Educational distribution among blacks by interpretation of scripture
% of blacks who have completed…
Interpreting scripture | High school or less | Some college | College | Post-graduate degree | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 58% | 29% | 9% | 4% | 1,655 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 36% | 40% | 13% | 11% | 826 |
Not the word of God | 40% | 36% | 15% | 9% | 577 |
Other/don't know | 39% | 40% | 14% | 7% | 219 |
Switch Display To: interpretation of scripture among blacks by educational group
Marital status among blacks by interpretation of scripture
% of blacks who are…
Interpreting scripture | Married | Living with a partner | Divorced/separated | Widowed | Never married | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 30% | 6% | 19% | 10% | 35% | 1,662 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 29% | 7% | 16% | 4% | 45% | 826 |
Not the word of God | 27% | 11% | 11% | 5% | 46% | 576 |
Other/don't know | 31% | 7% | 12% | 6% | 43% | 218 |
Switch Display To: interpretation of scripture among blacks by marital status
Parent of children under 18 among blacks by interpretation of scripture
% of blacks who are…
Interpreting scripture | Parents | Non-parents | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 30% | 70% | 1,662 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 35% | 65% | 826 |
Not the word of God | 32% | 68% | 576 |
Other/don't know | 31% | 69% | 220 |
Switch Display To: interpretation of scripture among blacks by parental status
Beliefs✭and✭Practices
Belief in God among blacks by interpretation of scripture
% of blacks 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% | 6% | 1% | 1% | < 1% | < 1% | 1,668 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 86% | 12% | 2% | < 1% | < 1% | < 1% | 828 |
Not the word of God | 52% | 26% | 7% | 1% | 11% | 4% | 578 |
Other/don't know | 80% | 14% | 2% | 2% | 1% | 1% | 221 |
Switch Display To: interpretation of scripture among blacks by belief in God
Importance of religion in one's life among blacks by interpretation of scripture
% of blacks 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% | 8% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1,668 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 75% | 19% | 3% | 3% | < 1% | 828 |
Not the word of God | 31% | 35% | 17% | 17% | < 1% | 578 |
Other/don't know | 67% | 20% | 7% | 3% | 3% | 221 |
Switch Display To: interpretation of scripture among blacks by importance of religion
Attendance at religious services among blacks by interpretation of scripture
% of blacks 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% | 29% | 10% | < 1% | 1,668 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 43% | 44% | 13% | < 1% | 828 |
Not the word of God | 12% | 40% | 48% | < 1% | 578 |
Other/don't know | 35% | 45% | 17% | 3% | 221 |
Switch Display To: interpretation of scripture among blacks by religious attendance
Frequency of prayer among blacks by interpretation of scripture
% of blacks who pray…
Interpreting scripture | At least daily | Weekly | Monthly | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 82% | 12% | 3% | 3% | < 1% | 1,668 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 74% | 17% | 5% | 4% | < 1% | 828 |
Not the word of God | 41% | 14% | 10% | 34% | 1% | 578 |
Other/don't know | 74% | 9% | 6% | 6% | 4% | 221 |
Switch Display To: interpretation of scripture among blacks by frequency of prayer
Frequency of participation in prayer, scripture study or religious education groups among blacks by interpretation of scripture
% of blacks 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 | 52% | 15% | 9% | 23% | 1% | 1,668 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 33% | 16% | 10% | 41% | 1% | 828 |
Not the word of God | 10% | 7% | 7% | 76% | < 1% | 578 |
Other/don't know | 28% | 12% | 10% | 48% | 2% | 221 |
Switch Display To: interpretation of scripture among blacks by attendance at prayer groups
Frequency of meditation among blacks by interpretation of scripture
% of blacks 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 | 60% | 7% | 3% | 28% | 2% | 1,668 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 47% | 12% | 4% | 36% | < 1% | 828 |
Not the word of God | 39% | 7% | 5% | 48% | 1% | 578 |
Other/don't know | 40% | 10% | 2% | 44% | 5% | 221 |
Switch Display To: interpretation of scripture among blacks by frequency of meditation
Frequency of feeling spiritual peace and wellbeing among blacks by interpretation of scripture
% of blacks 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 | 75% | 11% | 5% | 8% | 1% | 1,668 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 66% | 16% | 8% | 9% | < 1% | 828 |
Not the word of God | 49% | 18% | 11% | 20% | 2% | 578 |
Other/don't know | 73% | 12% | 4% | 9% | 2% | 221 |
Frequency of feeling wonder about the universe among blacks by interpretation of scripture
% of blacks 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 | 46% | 14% | 9% | 29% | 2% | 1,668 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 37% | 18% | 12% | 31% | 1% | 828 |
Not the word of God | 49% | 13% | 12% | 26% | 1% | 578 |
Other/don't know | 49% | 10% | 10% | 28% | 3% | 221 |
Sources of guidance on right and wrong among blacks by interpretation of scripture
% of blacks 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 | 54% | 5% | 36% | 4% | 1% | 1,668 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 41% | 9% | 44% | 5% | 1% | 828 |
Not the word of God | 11% | 13% | 63% | 12% | 2% | 578 |
Other/don't know | 37% | 11% | 42% | 3% | 6% | 221 |
Belief in absolute standards for right and wrong among blacks by interpretation of scripture
% of blacks 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 | 31% | 67% | 1% | 1% | 1,668 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 27% | 72% | < 1% | < 1% | 828 |
Not the word of God | 21% | 77% | 1% | < 1% | 578 |
Other/don't know | 31% | 64% | 3% | 3% | 221 |
Frequency of reading scripture among blacks by interpretation of scripture
% of blacks 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 | 67% | 12% | 6% | 15% | 1% | 1,668 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 49% | 20% | 9% | 23% | < 1% | 828 |
Not the word of God | 23% | 10% | 10% | 57% | < 1% | 578 |
Other/don't know | 49% | 16% | 6% | 25% | 4% | 221 |
Switch Display To: interpretation of scripture among blacks by frequency of reading scripture
Belief in Heaven among blacks by interpretation of scripture
% of blacks 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% | 1,668 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 92% | 6% | 3% | 828 |
Not the word of God | 57% | 35% | 8% | 578 |
Other/don't know | 79% | 7% | 14% | 221 |
Switch Display To: interpretation of scripture among blacks by belief in heaven
Belief in Hell among blacks by interpretation of scripture
% of blacks who …in hell
Interpreting scripture | Believe | Don't believe | Other/don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 83% | 11% | 6% | 1,668 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 74% | 21% | 5% | 828 |
Not the word of God | 43% | 48% | 8% | 578 |
Other/don't know | 64% | 24% | 12% | 221 |
Switch Display To: interpretation of scripture among blacks by belief in hell
Social✭and✭Political✭Views
Party affiliation among blacks by interpretation of scripture
% of blacks who identify as…
Interpreting scripture | Republican/lean Rep. | No lean | Democrat/lean Dem. | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 11% | 11% | 79% | 1,668 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 10% | 12% | 77% | 828 |
Not the word of God | 9% | 15% | 76% | 578 |
Other/don't know | 6% | 24% | 70% | 221 |
Switch Display To: interpretation of scripture among blacks by political party
Political ideology among blacks by interpretation of scripture
% of blacks who are…
Interpreting scripture | Conservative | Moderate | Liberal | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 38% | 31% | 23% | 8% | 1,668 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 26% | 40% | 27% | 7% | 828 |
Not the word of God | 18% | 36% | 39% | 7% | 578 |
Other/don't know | 27% | 32% | 25% | 16% | 221 |
Switch Display To: interpretation of scripture among blacks by political ideology
Views about size of government among blacks by interpretation of scripture
% of blacks 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 | 21% | 74% | 2% | 3% | 1,668 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 26% | 69% | 3% | 2% | 828 |
Not the word of God | 32% | 62% | 3% | 4% | 578 |
Other/don't know | 24% | 56% | 9% | 11% | 221 |
Switch Display To: interpretation of scripture among blacks by views about size of government
Views about government aid to the poor among blacks by interpretation of scripture
% of blacks 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 | 28% | 67% | 3% | 2% | 1,668 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 29% | 67% | 4% | 1% | 828 |
Not the word of God | 27% | 67% | 4% | 2% | 578 |
Other/don't know | 28% | 55% | 13% | 4% | 221 |
Views about abortion among blacks by interpretation of scripture
% of blacks 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 | 44% | 50% | 6% | 1,668 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 62% | 36% | 3% | 828 |
Not the word of God | 68% | 29% | 3% | 578 |
Other/don't know | 57% | 30% | 13% | 221 |
Switch Display To: interpretation of scripture among blacks by views about abortion
Views about homosexuality among blacks by interpretation of scripture
% of blacks 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 | 45% | 48% | 4% | 4% | 1,668 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 61% | 32% | 5% | 2% | 828 |
Not the word of God | 74% | 20% | 4% | 2% | 578 |
Other/don't know | 46% | 35% | 13% | 6% | 221 |
Switch Display To: interpretation of scripture among blacks by views about homosexuality
Views about same-sex marriage among blacks by interpretation of scripture
% of blacks who …same-sex marriage
Interpreting scripture | Strongly favor/favor | Oppose/strongly oppose | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 31% | 60% | 8% | 1,668 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 51% | 43% | 6% | 828 |
Not the word of God | 70% | 24% | 6% | 578 |
Other/don't know | 43% | 39% | 18% | 221 |
Switch Display To: interpretation of scripture among blacks by views about same-sex marriage
Views about environmental regulation among blacks by interpretation of scripture
% of blacks 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 | 39% | 55% | 2% | 4% | 1,668 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 29% | 69% | 1% | 1% | 828 |
Not the word of God | 29% | 68% | 2% | 1% | 578 |
Other/don't know | 27% | 60% | 6% | 8% | 221 |
Views about human evolution among blacks by interpretation of scripture
% of blacks 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 | 15% | 25% | 2% | 52% | 5% | 1,668 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 18% | 38% | 2% | 39% | 2% | 828 |
Not the word of God | 42% | 28% | 4% | 23% | 3% | 578 |
Other/don't know | 15% | 34% | 8% | 34% | 9% | 221 |
Switch Display To: interpretation of scripture among blacks by views about human evolution