Most
Americans still believe the Bible is the inspired word of God, but the number
who believe it should be taken literally (24 per cent) is at a 40-year low.
A
May poll by Gallup found
that less than one in four Americans believe the Bible to be 'the actual word of
God, and is to be taken literally, word for word'. In contrast, 26 per cent view
it as 'a book of fables, legends, history and moral precepts recorded by
man'.
The
poll finds the number of those who take the Bible literally at its lowest in 40
years, and is the first time that the number of biblical sceptics has exceeded
the number of biblical literalists.
However,
just under half (47 per cent) of Americans still believe the Bible is 'inspired
by God, not all to be taken literally'. That leaves a combined 71 per cent of
Americans who still believe the Bible to be in some way inspired by God. Christian Today.
