American Views on the Bible
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness…
Gallup has recently completed a poll and has released its data. The poll focuses on how Americans view the Bible. The poll has been taking place since 1976. This is part of the values and beliefs survey.
Gallup divides into three groups. The Bible is the “actual word of God”; the “inspired word of God;” and “ancient book of fables”.
The “inspired” group does not take all the content of the Bible literally.
The last group sees the Bible as a collection of “fables, legends, history and moral precepts recorded by man.”
Full disclosure: it is the view and position of this blog that the Bible is the actual, literal word of God that is inspired by God. The human authors of the Bible were inspired by God the Holy Spirit. The Bible is to be viewed in a grammatical, historical, and cultural context of the time it was written. The blog would identify with the “actual word of God” group.
Americans’ Views of the Bible, by Religious Affiliation
| % Actual word of God | % Inspired word of God | % Ancient book of fables | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All U.S. adults | 20 | 49 | 29 |
| Christian adults | 25 | 58 | 16 |
| Adults identifying with all other religions and no religious identity | 6 | 26 | 65 |
May 2-22, 2022
2 Peter 1:20-21 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
According to the polling data, the number of people who take the Bible literally is declining across time.
2 Timothy 4:3-4 For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
https://news.gallup.com/poll/394262/fewer-bible-literal-word-god.aspx
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