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Gallup
American Culture
Bibliology

“A record-low 20% of Americans now say the Bible is the literal word of God…. a new high of 29% say the Bible is a collection of ‘fables, legends, history and moral precepts recorded by man.’” - Gallup

Discussion

Tue, 07/12/22

Gallup seems to be mischaracterizing the survey.

At the overview page they indicate the question and results are here: https://news.gallup.com/file/poll/394616/220706ViewsofBible.pdf

How many of us would affirm that “the inspired word of God but not everything in it should be taken literally”? This is one of the options, and, in fact, the orthodox answer. We all know there is figurative language in the Bible (“the Lord is my rock!” “strain out gnats and swallow camels” “remove the beam from your own eye” and many, many more).

In places, Gallup’s analysis lumps the survey response above in with people who believe the Bible isn’t even the word of God. You can see the views separated here though…

Views expressed are always my own and not my employer's, my church's, my family's, my neighbors', or my pets'. The house plants have authorized me to speak for them, however, and they always agree with me.