This is the first time in Gallup’s four-decade trend that biblical literalism has not surpassed biblical skepticism
A new Gallup poll shows that only 24% of Americans believe the Bible is the “literal word” of God.
“Fewer than one in four Americans (24%) now believe the Bible is ‘the actual word of God, and is to be taken literally, word for word,’ similar to the 26% who view it as ‘a book of fables, legends, history and moral precepts recorded by man,'” reports Gallup. Around 47% thinks the Bible is the ‘inspired word’ of God. This number has stayed pretty steady over the last 40 years.
“This is the first time in Gallup’s four-decade trend that biblical literalism has not surpassed biblical skepticism,” said the survey firm. “Meanwhile, about half of Americans — a proportion largely unchanged over the years — fall in the middle, saying the Bible is the inspired word of God but that not all of it should be taken literally.”
An overwhelming 71% majority of Americans believe the Bible is a holy document, inspired by God or containing God’s own words.