GALLUP NEWS SERVICE
PRINCETON NJ - As Americans celebrate the Easter and Passover season this year, a review of Gallup polling reveals a quite religious nation - one in which over six in ten adults claim to be a member of a church or synagogue, and in which over half say that religion is a very important part of their lives. A substantial majority says that religion can answer all or most of life's questions, although well under half of Americans attend church regularly.
Church Attendance
Gallup polls over the past decade suggest that about four in 10 Americans say they attended a religious service in any given week, and about three in 10 say they regularly attend services every week. These numbers have varied over the years, ranging from a low of 35% who indicated attendance during the previous week in August 1997, to a high of 49% measured in 1955 and 1958. Still, there has been no persistent upward or downward trend over the past six decades. In 1939, for example, 41% of Americans said they attended in the past week, exactly the same proportion that reported attendance in the most recent Gallup poll, February 19-21.
Not surprisingly, reported attendance is highly related to age, with people 65 and older about twice as likely to attend church as are those under 30 (57% vs. 30%). Women are more likely to attend in any given week than are men (46% vs. 36%), and Southerners (48%) are more likely than Easterners (29%) to do so. In addition, people who live in rural areas report higher levels of attendance (47%) than people who live in urban areas do (33%). There are no significant differences in reported attendance, however, among people with different levels of education.
Organized Religion Shows Resilience but Questions of Depth Persist
The fact that church attendance has remained fairly stable over time points to the perhaps surprising resilience of organized religion at a time when modern societal trends could be expected to undermine attachment to formal religion.
The latest Gallup Index of Leading Religious Indicators remains at a relatively high level, although far below the figures recorded in the 1950s and early 1960s. In terms of certain key components on this eight-item scale -- belief in God, the importance of religion in lives, and church membership and attendance -- Gallup has found little change over recent decades.
Despite the fact that Gallup religious indicators reveal a continuing high level of attachment to religion, the same question persists: Although religion is broad, is it deep? Evidence suggests that in both recent surveys and those taken a half-century earlier, the percentage of people with a deep, transforming, lived-out faith is far smaller than the overall percentage of religious belief would seem to indicate.
Church Membership
According to the latest numbers, about two of every three Americans (65%) claim to be a member of a church or synagogue. This is down slightly from the past few years, when the percentages of Americans who said they were members of a church or synagogue were closer to 70%. The highest figure Gallup recorded on this measure was 76% membership, back in 1947. Today, women are more likely than men to belong to a church or a synagogue (69% compared to 60%). Older Americans are much more likely to be members of churches or synagogues, as 74% of those aged 50 and older are members, but only 53% of those between the ages of 18 and 29. Married people are also more likely to be members, by a 70% to 60% margin over those who are not married. Political ideology is strongly related to church membership, as 76% of conservatives belong to a church or synagogue but only 52% of liberals do.
Influence of Religion and the Bible in America Today
Gallup's latest numbers show 55% of Americans saying that religion is a "very important" part of their life. The current figure of 55% represents the low end of the range on this question, which for several decades has seldom been lower than the mid- to high-50s. The highest number Gallup has ever recorded came in 1965, when 70% of Americans said religion was a very important part of their life. Women, conservatives, and older Americans are especially likely to say religion is very important to them -- not surprising, since each of those groups shows high proportions of church or synagogue membership.
More than six in 10 Americans (63%) think religion "can answer all or most of today's problems," while 22% think it is "largely old-fashioned and out of date." The current percentage of Americans who believe religion can answer today's problems is typical of what Gallup has observed over the years, with the exception of the initial reading of 82% in March 1957.
Roughly four out of 10 Americans (39%) think religion is increasing its influence in society, while 55% think it is losing its influence. Throughout the past decade, a majority or near majority of Americans have viewed religion as losing its influence. However, the percentage who think religion is increasing its influence on American life today has increased rather substantially from the early 1990s, when less than three in 10 Americans thought religion was increasing its influence on society.
Americans on the whole believe that the Bible is heavily influenced by God. While only 27% think it is the literal word of God, 49% think it is the inspired word of God, but that not everything in it should be taken literally. Only 20% think it is an ancient book of fables. However, the percentage who think it is a book of fables is the highest Gallup has ever recorded, while the percentage who think it is the literal word of God is the lowest ever recorded.
Survey Methods
The results reported here are based on telephone interviews with a randomly selected national sample of 1,016 adults, 18 years and older, conducted February 19-21, 2001. For results based on this sample, one can say with 95 percent confidence that the maximum error attributable to sampling and other random effects is plus or minus 3 percentage points. In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.
How important would you say religion is in your own life -- very important, fairly important, or not very important?
Very |
Fairly |
Not very |
No |
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
2001 Feb 19-21 |
55 |
30 |
15 |
* |
2000 Aug 24-27 |
57 |
31 |
12 |
* |
2000 Mar 17-19 |
61 |
27 |
12 |
* |
1999 Dec 9-12 |
61 |
27 |
11 |
1 |
1999 Apr 30-May 2 |
58 |
30 |
11 |
1 |
1998 Jun 22-23 |
62 |
25 |
12 |
1 |
1998 Jan 16-18 |
59 |
29 |
12 |
* |
1997 Nov 6-9 |
58 |
28 |
13 |
1 |
1997 Aug 12-13 |
62 |
27 |
11 |
* |
1997 Mar 24-26 |
61 |
27 |
11 |
1 |
1996 Nov 21-24 |
58 |
27 |
14 |
1 |
1996 Sep 3-5 |
55 |
31 |
13 |
1 |
1996 Jun 27-30 |
57 |
26 |
17 |
* |
1995 Dec 15-18 |
60 |
28 |
12 |
* |
1995 Aug 28-30 |
58 |
30 |
11 |
1 |
1995 May 11-14 |
56 |
30 |
13 |
1 |
1994 Dec 16-18 |
60 |
28 |
11 |
1 |
1994 Jun 25-28 |
55 |
30 |
14 |
1 |
1994 Mar 28-30 |
59 |
29 |
11 |
1 |
1993 Mar 12-14 |
59 |
32 |
9 |
* |
1992 Nov 20-22 |
59 |
28 |
12 |
1 |
1992 Apr |
58 |
29 |
13 |
* |
1991 Nov |
55 |
29 |
15 |
1 |
1991 May |
57 |
30 |
13 |
* |
1991 Mar |
55 |
29 |
16 |
* |
1991 Feb 7-10 |
60 |
29 |
11 |
* |
1991 Jan 30-Feb 2 |
63 |
28 |
9 |
1 |
1990 Jun |
58 |
29 |
13 |
* |
1989 |
55 |
30 |
14 |
1 |
1988 |
54 |
31 |
14 |
1 |
1987 |
53 |
32 |
14 |
1 |
1986 |
55 |
30 |
14 |
1 |
1985 |
55 |
31 |
13 |
1 |
1984 |
56 |
30 |
13 |
1 |
1983 |
56 |
30 |
13 |
1 |
1982 |
56 |
30 |
13 |
1 |
1981 |
56 |
29 |
14 |
1 |
1980 |
55 |
31 |
13 |
1 |
1978 |
52 |
32 |
14 |
2 |
1965 |
70 |
22 |
7 |
1 |
1952^ |
75 |
20 |
5 |
* |
^ Ben Gaffin and Associates |
At the present time, do you think religion as a whole is increasing its influence on American life or losing its influence?
Increasing influence |
Losing |
|
No |
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
2001 Feb 19-21 |
39 |
55 |
3 |
3 |
2000 Aug 24-27 |
35 |
58 |
4 |
3 |
2000 Mar 17-19 |
37 |
58 |
-- |
5 |
1999 Dec 9-12 |
40 |
54 |
3 |
3 |
1999 Apr 30-May 2 |
32 |
62 |
3 |
3 |
1998 Jun 22-23 |
37 |
56 |
4 |
3 |
1998 Jan 16-18 |
48 |
48 |
1 |
3 |
1997 Aug 12-13 |
36 |
60 |
1 |
3 |
1997 Mar 24-26 |
36 |
57 |
3 |
4 |
1995 Dec 15-18 |
38 |
57 |
2 |
3 |
1995 May 11-14 |
36 |
58 |
3 |
3 |
1994 Jun 25-28 |
28 |
67 |
2 |
3 |
1994 Mar 28-30 |
27 |
69 |
2 |
2 |
1992 Nov |
27 |
63 |
4 |
5 |
1991 Nov |
27 |
66 |
3 |
4 |
1991 May |
34 |
57 |
-- |
9 |
1990 Jun |
33 |
48 |
8 |
11 |
1989 Apr |
33 |
49 |
9 |
9 |
1988 Mar |
36 |
49 |
6 |
9 |
1986 Sep |
48 |
38 |
6 |
7 |
1985 Nov |
45 |
41 |
-- |
14 |
1985 Mar |
48 |
39 |
10 |
3 |
1984 Jun |
42 |
39 |
14 |
6 |
1983 Oct |
44 |
42 |
9 |
5 |
1983 Jan |
44 |
42 |
9 |
5 |
1982 Dec |
41 |
45 |
9 |
5 |
1981 Dec |
38 |
47 |
10 |
6 |
1980 Apr |
35 |
46 |
11 |
8 |
1978 Dec |
37 |
48 |
10 |
5 |
1977 Dec |
37 |
45 |
10 |
9 |
1976 Dec |
44 |
45 |
8 |
3 |
1975 Dec |
39 |
51 |
7 |
3 |
1974 Dec |
31 |
56 |
8 |
5 |
1970 Jan |
14 |
75 |
7 |
4 |
1969 May |
14 |
71 |
11 |
5 |
1968 Apr |
19 |
67 |
8 |
7 |
1967 Mar |
23 |
57 |
14 |
6 |
1965 Feb |
33 |
45 |
13 |
8 |
1962 Feb |
45 |
32 |
17 |
7 |
1957 Mar |
69 |
14 |
10 |
6 |
Do you happen to be a member of a church or synagogue?
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No |
|||
% |
% |
% |
% |
|||
2001 Feb 19-21 |
65 |
35 |
1992 Nov |
70 |
30 |
|
1992 Apr |
71 |
29 |
||||
2000 Aug 24-27 |
68 |
32 |
1991 Nov |
69 |
31 |
|
2000 Mar 17-19 |
68 |
32 |
1991 May |
69 |
31 |
|
1999 Dec 9-12 |
68 |
32 |
1991 Mar |
66 |
34 |
|
1999 Apr 30-May 2 |
71 |
29 |
1991 Feb |
67 |
33 |
|
1998 Jun 22-23 |
70 |
30 |
1990 Jun |
69 |
31 |
|
1998 Jan 16-18 |
67 |
33 |
1989 |
68 |
32 |
|
1997 Aug 12-13 |
68 |
32 |
1988 |
65 |
35 |
|
1997 Mar 24-26 |
67 |
33 |
1987 |
69 |
31 |
|
1996 Nov 21-24 |
66 |
34 |
1985 |
71 |
29 |
|
1996 Sep 3-5 |
65 |
35 |
1983 |
69 |
31 |
|
1996 Jun 27-30 |
64 |
36 |
1982 |
67 |
33 |
|
1995 Dec 15-18 |
71 |
29 |
1979 |
68 |
32 |
|
1995 Sep 22-24 |
66 |
34 |
1976 |
71 |
29 |
|
1995 Aug 28-30 |
69 |
31 |
1965 |
73 |
27 |
|
1995 May 11-14 |
69 |
31 |
1952 |
73 |
27 |
|
1994 Dec 16-18 |
67 |
33 |
1947 |
76 |
24 |
|
1994 Jun 25-28 |
68 |
32 |
1944 |
75 |
25 |
|
1994 Mar 28-30 |
70 |
30 |
1940 |
72 |
28 |
|
1993 Jun |
65 |
35 |
1937 |
73 |
27 |
|
1993 Mar |
71 |
29 |
Did you, yourself, happen to attend church or synagogue in the last seven days, or not?
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No |
|||
% |
% |
% |
% |
|||
2001 Feb 19-21 |
41 |
59 |
1991 Nov |
41 |
59 |
|
1991 May |
43 |
57 |
||||
2000 Aug 24-27 |
43 |
57 |
1991 Mar |
43 |
57 |
|
2000 Mar 17-19 |
44 |
56 |
1990 Jun |
40 |
60 |
|
1999 Dec 9-12 |
45 |
55 |
1989 |
43 |
57 |
|
1999 Apr 30-May 2 |
40 |
60 |
1988 |
42 |
58 |
|
1998 Jun 22-23 |
40 |
60 |
1987 |
40 |
60 |
|
1998 Jan 16-18 |
39 |
61 |
1985 |
42 |
58 |
|
1997 Aug 12-13 |
35 |
65 |
1983 |
40 |
60 |
|
1997 Mar 24-26 |
43 |
57 |
1982 |
41 |
59 |
|
1996 Nov 21-24 |
39 |
61 |
1981 |
41 |
59 |
|
1996 Sep 3-5 |
37 |
63 |
1979 |
40 |
60 |
|
1996 Jun 27-30 |
38 |
62 |
1972 |
40 |
60 |
|
1995 Dec 15-18 |
44 |
56 |
1969 |
42 |
58 |
|
1995 Aug 28-30 |
42 |
57 |
1967 |
43 |
57 |
|
1995 May 11-14 |
41 |
59 |
1962 |
46 |
54 |
|
1994 Dec 16-18 |
38 |
62 |
1958 |
49 |
51 |
|
1994 Jun 25-28 |
40 |
60 |
1957 |
47 |
53 |
|
1994 Mar 28-30 ^ |
48 |
52 |
1955 |
49 |
51 |
|
1993 Jun |
38 |
62 |
1954 |
46 |
54 |
|
1993 Mar |
41 |
59 |
1950 |
39 |
61 |
|
1992 Nov |
40 |
60 |
1940 |
37 |
63 |
|
1992 Apr |
41 |
59 |
1939 |
41 |
59 |
How often do you attend church or synagogue -- at least once a week, almost every week, about once a month,
seldom, or never?
Once |
Almost every week |
About once |
|
|
No |
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
2001 Feb 19-21 |
30 |
12 |
15 |
29 |
13 |
1 |
2000 Aug 24-27 |
35 |
11 |
15 |
27 |
11 |
1 |
2000 Mar 17-19 |
36 |
11 |
13 |
30 |
10 |
* |
1999 Jan 7-10 |
32 |
12 |
13 |
29 |
13 |
1 |
1999 Dec 9-12 |
36 |
12 |
16 |
28 |
8 |
* |
1999 Sep 23-26 |
30 |
9 |
13 |
28 |
19 |
1 |
1999 Sep 10-14 |
31 |
13 |
14 |
27 |
14 |
1 |
1999 Apr 30-May 2 |
30 |
14 |
18 |
28 |
9 |
1 |
1998 Jun 22-23 |
32 |
13 |
19 |
26 |
9 |
1 |
1998 Jan 16-18 |
32 |
12 |
15 |
30 |
10 |
1 |
1997 Aug 12-13 |
29 |
12 |
17 |
29 |
12 |
1 |
1997 Mar 24-26 |
30 |
13 |
17 |
30 |
9 |
1 |
1996 Nov 21-24 |
28 |
11 |
17 |
33 |
10 |
1 |
1996 Sep 3-5 |
29 |
12 |
16 |
32 |
10 |
1 |
1996 Jun 27-30 |
27 |
13 |
13 |
34 |
13 |
* |
1996 Jan 12-15 |
33 |
12 |
15 |
28 |
11 |
1 |
1995 Dec 15-18 |
34 |
11 |
16 |
28 |
10 |
1 |
1995 Sep 22-24 |
31 |
13 |
14 |
31 |
11 |
* |
1995 Aug 28-30 |
30 |
13 |
17 |
31 |
8 |
1 |
1995 May 11-14 |
30 |
12 |
17 |
31 |
10 |
* |
1994 Dec 16-18 |
30 |
12 |
16 |
31 |
11 |
* |
1994 Jun 25-28 |
32 |
14 |
17 |
27 |
10 |
* |
1994 Mar 28-30 |
35 |
15 |
16 |
25 |
9 |
* |
1992 Sep 11-15 |
34 |
10 |
15 |
26 |
14 |
1 |
1992 Jan 3-6 |
31 |
9 |
15 |
29 |
16 |
1 |
What is your religious preference -- Protestant, Roman Catholic, Jewish or an Orthodox religion such as the Greek or Russian Orthodox Church?
|
|
|
|
|
Other |
|
Un- |
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
2001 Feb 19-21 |
56 |
25 |
2 |
* |
1 |
3 |
8 |
5 |
2000 (^) |
56 |
27 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
5 |
6 |
2 |
1999 (^) |
55 |
28 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
9 |
1 |
1998 (^) |
59 |
27 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
6 |
2 |
1997 (^) |
58 |
26 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
6 |
2 |
1996 (^) |
58 |
25 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
7 |
2 |
1995 (^) |
56 |
27 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
5 |
6 |
2 |
1994 (^) |
60 |
24 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
6 |
2 |
1993 (^) |
57 |
26 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
5 |
6 |
2 |
1992 (^) |
56 |
26 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
5 |
7 |
2 |
1991 |
56 |
25 |
2 |
NA |
NA |
6 |
11 |
NA |
1990 |
56 |
25 |
2 |
NA |
NA |
6 |
11 |
NA |
1988/89 |
56 |
28 |
2 |
NA |
NA |
4 |
10 |
NA |
1987 |
57 |
28 |
2 |
NA |
NA |
4 |
9 |
NA |
1986 |
58 |
27 |
2 |
NA |
NA |
4 |
9 |
NA |
1985 |
57 |
28 |
2 |
NA |
NA |
4 |
9 |
NA |
1984 |
57 |
28 |
2 |
NA |
NA |
4 |
9 |
NA |
1983 |
56 |
28 |
2 |
NA |
NA |
4 |
9 |
NA |
1982 |
57 |
29 |
2 |
NA |
NA |
4 |
8 |
NA |
1981 |
59 |
28 |
2 |
NA |
NA |
4 |
7 |
NA |
1980 |
61 |
28 |
2 |
NA |
NA |
2 |
7 |
NA |
1979 |
59 |
29 |
2 |
NA |
NA |
2 |
8 |
NA |
1977/78 |
60 |
29 |
2 |
NA |
NA |
1 |
8 |
NA |
1976 |
61 |
27 |
2 |
NA |
NA |
4 |
6 |
NA |
1975 |
62 |
27 |
2 |
NA |
NA |
4 |
6 |
NA |
1974 |
60 |
27 |
2 |
NA |
NA |
5 |
6 |
NA |
1972 |
63 |
26 |
2 |
NA |
NA |
4 |
5 |
NA |
1967 |
67 |
25 |
3 |
NA |
NA |
3 |
2 |
NA |
1962 |
70 |
23 |
3 |
NA |
NA |
2 |
2 |
NA |
1957 |
66 |
26 |
3 |
NA |
NA |
1 |
3 |
NA |
1952 |
67 |
25 |
4 |
NA |
NA |
1 |
2 |
NA |
1947 |
69 |
20 |
5 |
NA |
NA |
1 |
6 |
NA |
(^) Based on aggregate data |
||||||||
NA Not Asked |
||||||||
Question Wording: 1947-July 15, 1977: "What is your religious preference -- is it Protestant, Roman Catholic or Jewish?" July 16, 1977-1996: "What is your religious preference -- is it Protestant, Roman Catholic, Jewish, or an Orthodox religion such as the Greek or Russian Orthodox Church?" |
What specific denomination is that?
BASED ON -- 560 -- PROTESTANTS. PERCENTAGE SHOWN IN TERMS OF NATIONAL ADULTS; MARGIN OF ERROR = ± 3 PCT. PTS., GIVEN PERCENTAGES NEAR 10%.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
||
2001 Feb |
6 |
10 |
9 |
3 |
2 |
6 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
6 |
2 |
|
2000 (^) |
8 |
10 |
9 |
5 |
3 |
7 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
2 |
|
1999 (^) |
9 |
9 |
8 |
4 |
2 |
6 |
3 |
2 |
4 |
6 |
1 |
|
1998 (^) |
8 |
11 |
9 |
3 |
2 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
7 |
4 |
3 |
|
1997 (^) |
8 |
11 |
9 |
4 |
2 |
6 |
3 |
3 |
6 |
3 |
2 |
|
1996 (^) |
8 |
10 |
9 |
4 |
2 |
6 |
3 |
2 |
8 |
4 |
2 |
|
1995 (^) |
10 |
9 |
9 |
4 |
2 |
6 |
3 |
2 |
9 |
3 |
1 |
|
1994 (^) |
10 |
10 |
10 |
4 |
2 |
7 |
3 |
2 |
8 |
4 |
4 |
|
1993 (^) |
10 |
10 |
10 |
3 |
2 |
6 |
2 |
1 |
10 |
3 |
4 |
|
1992 (^) |
9 |
10 |
10 |
5 |
2 |
7 |
1 |
-- |
11 |
1 |
5 |
(^) Based on annual aggregate data
SB: So. Baptist
OB: Other Baptist
Me: Methodist
Pr: Presbyterian
Ep: Episcopal
Lu: Lutheran
Pe: Pentecostal
CoC: Church of Christ
Would you describe yourself as "born-again" or evangelical?
Yes |
No |
No opinion |
|
% |
% |
% |
|
2001 Feb 19-21 |
45 |
49 |
6 |
2000 Aug 24-27 |
44 |
50 |
6 |
2000 Mar 17-19 |
46 |
47 |
7 |
1999 Dec 9-12 |
46 |
48 |
6 |
1999 Apr 30-May 2 |
45 |
47 |
8 |
1998 Jun 22-23 |
44 |
48 |
8 |
1998 Jan 16-18 |
49 |
43 |
8 |
1997 Aug 12-13 |
45 |
47 |
8 |
1997 Mar 24-26 |
43 |
51 |
6 |
1996 Nov 21-24 |
41 |
52 |
7 |
1996 Sep 3-5 |
42 |
52 |
6 |
1996 Jun 27-30 |
35 |
58 |
7 |
1995 Dec 15-18 |
43 |
52 |
5 |
1995 Aug 28-30 |
39 |
54 |
7 |
1995 May 11-14 |
39 |
53 |
8 |
1994 Jun 25-28 |
39 |
53 |
8 |
1994 Mar 28-30 |
45 |
48 |
7 |
1993 Mar |
46 |
50 |
4 |
1992 Apr |
42 |
52 |
6 |
1991 Nov |
41 |
54 |
5 |
November 1991-March 1997 WORDING: Would you describe yourself as a "born-again" or evangelical Christian? |
Do you believe that religion can answer all or most of today's problems, or that religion is largely old-fashioned and out of date?
Can answer |
Old-fashioned |
No opinion |
|
% |
% |
% |
|
2001 Feb 19-21 |
63 |
22 |
15 |
2000 Aug 24-27 |
63 |
17 |
20 |
2000 Mar 17-19 |
66 |
21 |
13 |
1999 Dec 9-12 |
68 |
19 |
13 |
1999 Apr 30-May 2 |
66 |
21 |
11 |
1998 Jun 22-23 |
63 |
20 |
17 |
1998 Jan 16-18 |
67 |
20 |
13 |
1997 Aug 12-13 |
66 |
20 |
14 |
1997 Mar 24-26 |
61 |
20 |
19 |
1995 Dec 15-18 |
61 |
21 |
18 |
1994 Jun 25-28 |
59 |
23 |
18 |
1994 Mar 28-30 |
64 |
20 |
16 |
1991 May |
59 |
23 |
19 |
1991 Mar |
60 |
22 |
17 |
1991 Feb |
61 |
25 |
14 |
1990 Jun |
63 |
18 |
19 |
1989 Apr |
61 |
18 |
22 |
1988 May |
57 |
29 |
23 |
1986 Sep |
58 |
23 |
20 |
1985 Nov |
58 |
24 |
18 |
1985 Mar |
61 |
22 |
17 |
1984 Jun |
56 |
21 |
23 |
1982 Dec |
60 |
22 |
18 |
1981 Jan |
65 |
15 |
20 |
1974 Dec |
62 |
20 |
18 |
1957 Mar |
82 |
7 |
11 |
Which of the following statements comes closest to describing your views about the Bible -- [READ 1-3: 1) The Bible is the actual word of God and is to be taken literally, word for word, 2) the Bible is the inspired word of God but not everything in it should be taken literally, 3) The Bible is an ancient book of fables, legends, history, and moral precepts recorded by man]?
Actual |
Inspired |
Fables |
No opinion |
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
2001 Feb 19-21 |
27 |
49 |
20 |
4 |
1998 Jun 22-23 |
33 |
47 |
17 |
3 |
1993 Jun |
35 |
48 |
14 |
3 |
1991 Nov |
32 |
49 |
16 |
3 |
1984 Nov |
40 |
41 |
12 |
7 |
1984 Sep |
37 |
46 |
12 |
5 |
1983 May |
37 |
43 |
11 |
9 |
1981 Dec |
37 |
42 |
11 |
-- |
1980 Aug |
40 |
45 |
10 |
6 |
1978 Apr |
38 |
45 |
13 |
6 |
1976 Aug |
38 |
45 |
13 |
5 |
(vol.) Volunteered response
* Less than 0.5%