Interpreting scripture among adults ages 65 and older by state (2014) Switch to: State among adults ages 65 and older by interpretation of scripture

% of adults ages 65 and older 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
Alabama62%22%4%8%5%125
Arizona27%29%3%28%12%184
California30%22%3%35%11%964
Colorado32%28%2%32%5%104
Connecticut20%20%3%45%11%100
Florida34%25%4%28%9%632
Georgia51%25%2%15%7%225
Illinois27%31%6%25%12%365
Indiana41%25%2%20%12%178
Kentucky52%23%4%11%11%122
Louisiana50%26%5%10%9%121
Maryland38%32%4%19%6%161
Massachusetts16%25%2%44%13%186
Michigan42%23%6%24%5%258
Minnesota35%34%3%21%7%127
Missouri43%21%5%20%11%157
New Hampshire20%27%1%36%16%105
New Jersey26%34%5%29%6%258
New York28%29%4%31%8%590
North Carolina43%25%6%20%6%288
Ohio35%34%5%20%6%326
Oklahoma45%19%9%21%7%114
Oregon26%26%6%32%11%124
Pennsylvania37%26%6%25%7%438
Rhode Island16%43%3%32%6%111
South Carolina59%13%2%14%11%142
Tennessee61%21%3%10%5%195
Texas49%23%4%18%6%528
Virginia46%24%5%22%4%217
Washington30%28%7%28%6%183
Wisconsin29%37%4%24%6%161
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