Survey year | Word of God; should be taken literally | Word of God; not everything taken literally | Word of God; other/don't know | Not the word of God | Other/don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | 23% | 25% | 1% | 42% | 7% | 4,128 |
2007 | 28% | 28% | 3% | 34% | 7% | 3,087 |
Learn More: Word of God; should be taken literally, Word of God; not everything taken literally, Not the word of God
Interpreting scripture among older Millennials by religious group
% of older Millennials who say the holy scripture is…
Religious tradition | Word of God; should be taken literally | Word of God; not everything taken literally | Word of God; other/don't know | Not the word of God | Other/don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Catholic | 26% | 30% | 2% | 34% | 8% | 648 |
Evangelical Protestant | 41% | 39% | 2% | 11% | 7% | 866 |
Historically Black Protestant | 48% | 33% | 2% | 10% | 7% | 216 |
Mainline Protestant | 19% | 37% | 2% | 34% | 8% | 440 |
Mormon | 29% | 57% | 7% | 6% | 1% | 108 |
Unaffiliated (religious "nones") | 10% | 10% | < 1% | 73% | 7% | 1,430 |
Learn More: Word of God; should be taken literally, Word of God; not everything taken literally, Not the word of God
Switch Display To: religious group among older Millennials by interpretation of scripture
Demographic✭Information
Age distribution among older Millennials by interpretation of scripture
% of older Millennials who are ages…
Interpreting scripture | 18-29 | 30-49 | 50-64 | 65+ | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 52% | 48% | < 1% | < 1% | 867 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 57% | 43% | < 1% | < 1% | 1,052 |
Not the word of God | 58% | 42% | < 1% | < 1% | 1,855 |
Other/don't know | 59% | 41% | < 1% | < 1% | 285 |
Switch Display To: interpretation of scripture among older Millennials by age group
Gender composition among older Millennials by interpretation of scripture
% of older Millennials who are…
Interpreting scripture | Men | Women | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 44% | 56% | 867 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 47% | 53% | 1,052 |
Not the word of God | 56% | 44% | 1,855 |
Other/don't know | 53% | 47% | 285 |
Switch Display To: interpretation of scripture among older Millennials by gender
Racial and ethnic composition among older Millennials by interpretation of scripture
% of older Millennials who identify as…
Interpreting scripture | White | Black | Asian | Latino | Other/Mixed | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 41% | 22% | 4% | 30% | 3% | 860 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 60% | 14% | 4% | 16% | 6% | 1,046 |
Not the word of God | 66% | 8% | 8% | 14% | 5% | 1,838 |
Other/don't know | 52% | 14% | 9% | 21% | 4% | 276 |
Switch Display To: interpretation of scripture among older Millennials by race/ethnicity
Immigrant status among older Millennials by interpretation of scripture
% of older Millennials who are…
Interpreting scripture | Immigrants | Second generation | Third generation or higher | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 30% | 9% | 61% | 847 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 16% | 9% | 74% | 1,038 |
Not the word of God | 15% | 12% | 73% | 1,837 |
Other/don't know | 20% | 8% | 71% | 279 |
Switch Display To: interpretation of scripture among older Millennials by immigrant status
Income distribution among older Millennials by interpretation of scripture
% of older Millennials who have a household income of…
Interpreting scripture | Less than $30,000 | $30,000-$49,999 | $50,000-$99,999 | $100,000 or more | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 55% | 23% | 17% | 5% | 779 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 36% | 26% | 29% | 9% | 987 |
Not the word of God | 34% | 24% | 27% | 15% | 1,776 |
Other/don't know | 39% | 25% | 26% | 10% | 245 |
Switch Display To: interpretation of scripture among older Millennials by household income
Educational distribution among older Millennials by interpretation of scripture
% of older Millennials who have completed…
Interpreting scripture | High school or less | Some college | College | Post-graduate degree | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 50% | 31% | 13% | 5% | 866 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 31% | 36% | 21% | 12% | 1,051 |
Not the word of God | 21% | 36% | 28% | 15% | 1,853 |
Other/don't know | 30% | 43% | 19% | 8% | 283 |
Switch Display To: interpretation of scripture among older Millennials by educational group
Marital status among older Millennials by interpretation of scripture
% of older Millennials who are…
Interpreting scripture | Married | Living with a partner | Divorced/separated | Widowed | Never married | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 43% | 13% | 8% | < 1% | 36% | 867 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 44% | 11% | 7% | 1% | 38% | 1,049 |
Not the word of God | 31% | 18% | 6% | < 1% | 44% | 1,848 |
Other/don't know | 35% | 17% | 8% | < 1% | 39% | 283 |
Switch Display To: interpretation of scripture among older Millennials by marital status
Parent of children under 18 among older Millennials by interpretation of scripture
% of older Millennials who are…
Interpreting scripture | Parents | Non-parents | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 61% | 39% | 867 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 53% | 47% | 1,047 |
Not the word of God | 33% | 67% | 1,851 |
Other/don't know | 47% | 53% | 283 |
Switch Display To: interpretation of scripture among older Millennials by parental status
Beliefs✭and✭Practices
Belief in God among older Millennials by interpretation of scripture
% of older Millennials who say they…
Interpreting scripture | Believe in God; absolutely certain | Believe in God; fairly certain | Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | Believe in God; don't know | Do not believe in God | Other/don't know if they believe in God | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 80% | 17% | 2% | < 1% | < 1% | < 1% | 867 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 75% | 21% | 2% | 1% | 1% | < 1% | 1,052 |
Not the word of God | 25% | 26% | 14% | < 1% | 30% | 5% | 1,855 |
Other/don't know | 54% | 27% | 5% | 2% | 7% | 5% | 285 |
Switch Display To: interpretation of scripture among older Millennials by belief in God
Importance of religion in one's life among older Millennials by interpretation of scripture
% of older Millennials who say religion is…
Interpreting scripture | Very important | Somewhat important | Not too important | Not at all important | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 81% | 15% | 2% | 2% | 1% | 867 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 59% | 32% | 6% | 2% | 1% | 1,052 |
Not the word of God | 13% | 30% | 25% | 32% | < 1% | 1,855 |
Other/don't know | 38% | 33% | 20% | 6% | 2% | 285 |
Attendance at religious services among older Millennials by interpretation of scripture
% of older Millennials who attend religious services…
Interpreting scripture | At least once a week | Once or twice a month/a few times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 54% | 31% | 15% | < 1% | 867 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 36% | 44% | 19% | < 1% | 1,052 |
Not the word of God | 5% | 33% | 61% | < 1% | 1,855 |
Other/don't know | 19% | 41% | 38% | 2% | 285 |
Switch Display To: interpretation of scripture among older Millennials by religious attendance
Frequency of prayer among older Millennials by interpretation of scripture
% of older Millennials who pray…
Interpreting scripture | At least daily | Weekly | Monthly | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 73% | 16% | 5% | 6% | < 1% | 867 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 60% | 23% | 8% | 10% | < 1% | 1,052 |
Not the word of God | 20% | 13% | 8% | 58% | < 1% | 1,855 |
Other/don't know | 46% | 16% | 10% | 28% | < 1% | 285 |
Switch Display To: interpretation of scripture among older Millennials by frequency of prayer
Frequency of participation in prayer, scripture study or religious education groups among older Millennials by interpretation of scripture
% of older Millennials who attend prayer group…
Interpreting scripture | At least once a week | Once or twice a month | Several times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 38% | 17% | 12% | 33% | < 1% | 867 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 24% | 14% | 11% | 51% | < 1% | 1,052 |
Not the word of God | 3% | 3% | 5% | 89% | < 1% | 1,855 |
Other/don't know | 15% | 8% | 11% | 66% | 1% | 285 |
Frequency of meditation among older Millennials by interpretation of scripture
% of older Millennials who meditate…
Interpreting scripture | At least once a week | Once or twice a month | Several times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 44% | 8% | 3% | 43% | 2% | 867 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 32% | 8% | 4% | 55% | < 1% | 1,052 |
Not the word of God | 26% | 12% | 6% | 56% | < 1% | 1,855 |
Other/don't know | 35% | 12% | 4% | 48% | 2% | 285 |
Frequency of feeling spiritual peace and wellbeing among older Millennials by interpretation of scripture
% of older Millennials who feel a sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing…
Interpreting scripture | At least once a week | Once or twice a month | Several times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 70% | 13% | 8% | 8% | 1% | 867 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 57% | 19% | 10% | 13% | 1% | 1,052 |
Not the word of God | 40% | 19% | 12% | 27% | 1% | 1,855 |
Other/don't know | 55% | 16% | 10% | 16% | 2% | 285 |
Frequency of feeling wonder about the universe among older Millennials by interpretation of scripture
% of older Millennials who feel a sense of wonder about the universe…
Interpreting scripture | At least once a week | Once or twice a month | Several times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 43% | 15% | 14% | 27% | 1% | 867 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 38% | 19% | 16% | 26% | 1% | 1,052 |
Not the word of God | 49% | 20% | 13% | 18% | < 1% | 1,855 |
Other/don't know | 43% | 13% | 16% | 27% | < 1% | 285 |
Sources of guidance on right and wrong among older Millennials by interpretation of scripture
% of older Millennials who say they look to…most for guidance on right and wrong
Interpreting scripture | Religion | Philosophy/reason | Common sense | Science | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 57% | 5% | 29% | 7% | 1% | 867 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 36% | 12% | 45% | 5% | 2% | 1,052 |
Not the word of God | 4% | 19% | 58% | 17% | 2% | 1,855 |
Other/don't know | 16% | 15% | 58% | 7% | 5% | 285 |
Belief in absolute standards for right and wrong among older Millennials by interpretation of scripture
% of older Millennials who say…
Interpreting scripture | There are clear standards for what is right and wrong | Right or wrong depends on the situation | Neither/both equally | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 43% | 55% | 1% | 1% | 867 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 34% | 65% | 1% | < 1% | 1,052 |
Not the word of God | 17% | 81% | 1% | 1% | 1,855 |
Other/don't know | 20% | 76% | 3% | 1% | 285 |
Frequency of reading scripture among older Millennials by interpretation of scripture
% of older Millennials who read scripture…
Interpreting scripture | At least once a week | Once or twice a month | Several times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 58% | 13% | 6% | 23% | 1% | 867 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 38% | 15% | 10% | 36% | < 1% | 1,052 |
Not the word of God | 8% | 6% | 8% | 78% | < 1% | 1,855 |
Other/don't know | 22% | 13% | 9% | 54% | 2% | 285 |
Belief in Heaven among older Millennials by interpretation of scripture
% of older Millennials who …in heaven
Interpreting scripture | Believe | Don't believe | Other/don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 90% | 6% | 4% | 867 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 91% | 5% | 4% | 1,052 |
Not the word of God | 39% | 53% | 8% | 1,855 |
Other/don't know | 65% | 18% | 16% | 285 |
Switch Display To: interpretation of scripture among older Millennials by belief in heaven
Belief in Hell among older Millennials by interpretation of scripture
% of older Millennials who …in hell
Interpreting scripture | Believe | Don't believe | Other/don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 82% | 13% | 5% | 867 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 77% | 19% | 4% | 1,052 |
Not the word of God | 27% | 66% | 7% | 1,855 |
Other/don't know | 55% | 28% | 17% | 285 |
Switch Display To: interpretation of scripture among older Millennials by belief in hell
Social✭and✭Political✭Views
Party affiliation among older Millennials by interpretation of scripture
% of older Millennials who identify as…
Interpreting scripture | Republican/lean Rep. | No lean | Democrat/lean Dem. | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 37% | 26% | 37% | 867 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 43% | 19% | 38% | 1,052 |
Not the word of God | 22% | 20% | 58% | 1,855 |
Other/don't know | 29% | 34% | 38% | 285 |
Switch Display To: interpretation of scripture among older Millennials by political party
Political ideology among older Millennials by interpretation of scripture
% of older Millennials who are…
Interpreting scripture | Conservative | Moderate | Liberal | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 44% | 26% | 20% | 11% | 867 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 35% | 39% | 20% | 7% | 1,052 |
Not the word of God | 13% | 38% | 44% | 6% | 1,855 |
Other/don't know | 20% | 37% | 24% | 19% | 285 |
Switch Display To: interpretation of scripture among older Millennials by political ideology
Views about size of government among older Millennials by interpretation of scripture
% of older Millennials who would rather have…
Interpreting scripture | Smaller government; fewer services | Bigger government; more services | Depends | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 35% | 60% | 2% | 3% | 867 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 52% | 44% | 2% | 2% | 1,052 |
Not the word of God | 46% | 47% | 4% | 4% | 1,855 |
Other/don't know | 39% | 43% | 6% | 12% | 285 |
Views about government aid to the poor among older Millennials by interpretation of scripture
% of older Millennials who say government aid to the poor…
Interpreting scripture | Does more harm than good | Does more good than harm | Neither/both equally | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 45% | 50% | 4% | 2% | 867 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 48% | 47% | 4% | 1% | 1,052 |
Not the word of God | 34% | 61% | 3% | 2% | 1,855 |
Other/don't know | 43% | 41% | 9% | 7% | 285 |
Views about abortion among older Millennials by interpretation of scripture
% of older Millennials who say abortion should be…
Interpreting scripture | Legal in all/most cases | Illegal in all/most cases | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 31% | 66% | 3% | 867 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 44% | 54% | 2% | 1,052 |
Not the word of God | 78% | 20% | 2% | 1,855 |
Other/don't know | 52% | 33% | 15% | 285 |
Switch Display To: interpretation of scripture among older Millennials by views about abortion
Views about homosexuality among older Millennials by interpretation of scripture
% of older Millennials who say homosexuality…
Interpreting scripture | Should be accepted | Should be discouraged | Neither/both equally | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 45% | 47% | 5% | 4% | 867 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 64% | 29% | 4% | 3% | 1,052 |
Not the word of God | 91% | 6% | 2% | 1% | 1,855 |
Other/don't know | 73% | 15% | 7% | 5% | 285 |
Views about same-sex marriage among older Millennials by interpretation of scripture
% of older Millennials who …same-sex marriage
Interpreting scripture | Strongly favor/favor | Oppose/strongly oppose | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 38% | 54% | 8% | 867 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 57% | 38% | 5% | 1,052 |
Not the word of God | 89% | 8% | 3% | 1,855 |
Other/don't know | 70% | 20% | 10% | 285 |
Views about environmental regulation among older Millennials by interpretation of scripture
% of older Millennials who say…
Interpreting scripture | Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy | Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost | Neither/both equally | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 46% | 50% | 2% | 3% | 867 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 36% | 60% | 2% | 2% | 1,052 |
Not the word of God | 23% | 74% | 2% | 2% | 1,855 |
Other/don't know | 30% | 52% | 8% | 10% | 285 |
Views about human evolution among older Millennials by interpretation of scripture
% of older Millennials who say humans…
Interpreting scripture | Evolved; due to natural processes | Evolved; due to God's design | Evolved; don't know how | Always existed in present form | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 17% | 27% | 2% | 51% | 3% | 867 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 22% | 37% | 2% | 37% | 2% | 1,052 |
Not the word of God | 67% | 19% | 4% | 8% | 1% | 1,855 |
Other/don't know | 31% | 29% | 14% | 15% | 11% | 285 |