Interpreting scripture among adults who say that government aid to the poor does more good than harm by state (2014) Switch to: State among adults who say that government aid to the poor does more good than harm by interpretation of scripture

% of adults who say that government aid to the poor does more good than harm 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
Alabama51%26%3%14%6%214
Alaska18%16%2%56%8%150
Arizona24%28%2%39%7%287
Arkansas43%23%2%26%6%138
California24%21%2%46%7%2,042
Colorado14%29%2%49%5%250
Connecticut24%27%2%42%6%210
Delaware21%27%2%45%5%160
District of Columbia24%23%1%44%7%227
Florida30%22%3%39%7%952
Georgia41%26%2%27%4%449
Hawaii29%18%2%45%6%171
Idaho23%26%1%46%4%148
Illinois23%28%2%42%6%687
Indiana31%26%1%34%8%269
Iowa20%37%1%34%8%156
Kansas20%33%4%33%9%136
Kentucky32%28%2%35%4%183
Louisiana43%29%< 1%23%4%197
Maine10%17%3%57%14%160
Maryland22%26%2%43%7%357
Massachusetts12%18%2%61%8%419
Michigan28%28%1%36%7%494
Minnesota17%23%2%49%9%303
Mississippi63%20%1%12%4%132
Missouri26%26%3%33%12%300
Montana13%30%3%46%8%130
Nebraska25%27%2%39%6%146
Nevada26%23%1%45%6%155
New Hampshire11%20%< 1%62%7%175
New Jersey26%24%3%40%7%470
New Mexico27%25%2%41%6%161
New York22%20%2%50%6%1,083
North Carolina34%25%2%32%7%509
North Dakota21%30%4%43%2%137
Ohio32%29%1%32%6%543
Oklahoma33%26%< 1%36%5%174
Oregon11%28%3%51%7%242
Pennsylvania22%28%2%41%8%631
Rhode Island17%26%< 1%50%6%173
South Carolina46%22%2%24%7%234
South Dakota32%28%2%31%8%129
Tennessee45%23%2%23%7%282
Texas36%25%1%30%7%1,137
Utah16%31%2%44%7%141
Vermont8%15%1%72%5%189
Virginia33%22%3%35%7%412
Washington18%21%2%53%6%400
West Virginia46%21%6%22%5%145
Wisconsin20%25%2%49%4%275
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