Belief in absolute standards for right and wrong among adults who say their holy scripture is the word of God but should not be taken literally by state (2014) Switch to: State among adults who say their holy scripture is the word of God but should not be taken literally by belief in existence of standards for right and wrong

% of adults who say their holy scripture is the word of God but should not be taken literally who say…

StateThere are clear standards for what is right and wrongRight or wrong depends on the situationNeither/both equallyDon't knowSample size
Alabama32%67%1%< 1%147
Arizona45%51%2%2%183
California34%63%2%1%855
Colorado48%49%< 1%3%127
Florida36%62%1%1%524
Georgia42%56%1%< 1%266
Idaho40%60%< 1%< 1%106
Illinois31%67%1%1%400
Indiana30%68%1%< 1%186
Iowa35%63%1%< 1%119
Kansas33%67%< 1%< 1%105
Kentucky36%64%< 1%< 1%104
Louisiana43%57%< 1%< 1%129
Maryland39%59%2%< 1%177
Massachusetts30%67%1%1%154
Michigan31%68%1%< 1%283
Minnesota40%58%1%2%161
Missouri38%62%< 1%< 1%181
Nebraska40%60%< 1%< 1%106
New Jersey31%69%< 1%< 1%266
New York34%65%1%< 1%507
North Carolina38%61%1%< 1%262
North Dakota42%58%< 1%< 1%122
Ohio35%63%1%< 1%366
Oklahoma32%66%2%< 1%100
Oregon44%54%< 1%2%108
Pennsylvania39%60%< 1%< 1%401
South Carolina31%64%3%2%127
South Dakota43%57%< 1%< 1%114
Tennessee39%57%4%< 1%160
Texas37%62%1%< 1%704
Utah53%45%2%< 1%126
Virginia32%67%1%< 1%231
Washington42%57%1%< 1%186
Wisconsin30%69%1%< 1%180
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: There are clear standards for what is right and wrong, Right or wrong depends on the situation