The ANES Guide to Public Opinion and Electoral Behavior

Attitudes about the Origin of the Bible (2), 3 categories 1990-2016

  '90 '92 '94 '96 '98 '00 '02 '04 '08 '12 '16
Bible Literal Truth 45
(440)		 39
(897)		 41
(717)		 39
(669)		 36
(458)		 35
(623)		 ** 37
(450)		 37
(858)		 31
(1809)		 31
(1291)
God's Word, Not Literal 41
(405)		 47
(1069)		 45
(788)		 46
(789)		 48
(609)		 49
(882)		 ** 46
(554)		 44
(1011)		 47
(2765)		 46
(1921)
Not the Word of God 12
(115)		 12
(285)		 12
(209)		 13
(219)		 14
(178)		 12
(220)		 ** 15
(182)		 17
(394)		 21
(1251)		 23
(988)
Don't Know, Other 2
(18)		 2
(42)		 3
(50)		 2
(27)		 2
(24)		 3
(60)		 ** 1
(17)		 2
(41)		 1
(35)		 0
(21)
N 978 2293 1763 1703 1268 1785 0 1203 2304 5860 4221

Percentage Within Study Year
Table 1B.2b.

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Question Text:

"Which of these statements comes closest to describing your feelings about the Bible?" (STATEMENTS SHOWN TO R)
1. The Bible is the actual Word of God and is to be taken literally, word for word
2. The Bible is the Word of God but not everything in it should be taken literally, word for word
3. The Bible is a book written by men and is not the Word of God

Note:

2012 and 2016 data are for the combined (face-to-face and internet) sample.

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