Sunday, April 24, 2005

63% of Americans think Bible literally true

This is pretty shocking, if true. There must be a failure of science education somewhere. WND reports on a survey.

Poll: 63% of Americans
think Bible literally true
Those believing Scripture is Word of God higher among Republicans than Democrats

-----------------------------------------

At a time when the public display and discourse about matters of faith have been under attack, a new poll indicates most Americans – 63 percent – believe the Bible is literally true and the Word of God.

The survey taken Thursday and Friday by Rasmussen Reports found just 24 percent thinking otherwise.

When broken down into different demographics, the poll showed 77 percent of Republicans believe in the literal truth of the Bible as do 59 percent of Democrats and 50 percent of those not affiliated with either major party.

Among Evangelical Christians, 89 percent believe the Bible is literally true and just 4 percent say it is not. Among other Protestants, 70 percent believe the Bible is literally true. That view is shared by 58 percent of Catholics.

3 comments:

EdWonk said...

Americans have tended to be religious since colonial times. I am surprised the the percentage of believing in a literal interpretation is so high.

Anonymous said...

Me, too! I knew a huge percentage of American's said they believed in God, but I ... I would like to see the make up of the survey. I do not think this number is accurate --

Elizabeth

Anonymous said...

I am more interested in what is meant by "taking the bible literally". The bible has many different forms of writing from poetry to parable to historical narriative, etc so it would seem rational to me for people to take it literally when the bible appears to be making a literal claim (especially when communicating in a historical narritive voice.)