Interpreting scripture among moderates by state (2014) Switch to: State among moderates by interpretation of scripture

% of moderates who say the holy scripture is…

StateWord of God; should be taken literallyWord of God; not everything taken literallyWord of God; other/don't knowNot the word of GodOther/don't knowSample size
Alabama40%35%2%19%5%144
Alaska22%19%1%47%10%100
Arizona25%29%1%34%10%213
Arkansas33%29%1%32%5%118
California20%27%2%42%9%1,257
Colorado10%28%1%49%12%167
Connecticut20%28%2%44%6%139
Delaware19%33%1%42%6%116
District of Columbia30%33%3%31%3%112
Florida21%29%2%39%8%662
Georgia33%32%1%27%6%308
Hawaii30%26%1%40%3%122
Idaho16%35%3%38%8%104
Illinois25%34%1%33%7%441
Indiana21%35%3%33%8%217
Iowa20%37%1%38%4%101
Kansas28%38%3%24%7%102
Kentucky32%30%6%26%5%130
Louisiana42%27%1%25%5%131
Maryland24%31%< 1%36%8%244
Massachusetts11%26%2%53%8%248
Michigan16%36%1%40%7%324
Minnesota15%30%3%44%8%191
Missouri23%28%3%38%9%206
Nevada15%32%1%45%8%108
New Hampshire7%19%1%67%7%105
New Jersey23%32%1%36%8%329
New Mexico26%28%3%38%5%106
New York20%26%3%44%8%641
North Carolina28%33%2%29%8%331
Ohio25%33%2%33%7%395
Oklahoma27%33%3%30%7%138
Oregon16%32%5%40%7%137
Pennsylvania20%35%2%37%5%462
Rhode Island11%42%< 1%45%2%112
South Carolina35%31%2%24%9%170
South Dakota22%36%2%22%17%103
Tennessee40%34%2%18%6%179
Texas26%30%2%34%7%815
Virginia27%25%3%37%9%323
Washington18%30%2%39%11%230
Wisconsin19%35%3%38%5%211
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.

Learn More: Word of God; should be taken literally, Word of God; not everything taken literally, Not the word of God