Religious tradition among adults with an education level of high school or less by interpretation of scripture (2014) Switch to: Interpreting scripture among adults with an education level of high school or less by religious group

% of adults with an education level of high school or less who are…

Interpreting scriptureBuddhistCatholicEvangelical ProtestantHinduHistorically Black ProtestantJehovah's WitnessJewishMainline ProtestantMormonMuslimOrthodox ChristianOther ChristianOther FaithsOther World ReligionsUnaffiliated (religious "nones")Don't knowSample size
Word of God; should be taken literally< 1%20%40%< 1%14%2%1%12%1%1%< 1%< 1%< 1%< 1%9%< 1%4,434
Word of God; not everything taken literally< 1%30%26%< 1%6%2%1%17%2%1%< 1%< 1%< 1%< 1%14%< 1%2,598
Word of God; other/don't know< 1%30%31%< 1%7%2%< 1%13%1%4%< 1%1%< 1%< 1%10%< 1%330
Not the word of God1%22%8%< 1%2%< 1%1%11%< 1%< 1%< 1%< 1%3%< 1%49%1%2,523
Other/don't know1%25%17%< 1%7%1%1%17%1%1%< 1%1%3%1%25%1%699
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: Catholic, Evangelical Protestant, Historically Black Protestant, Jehovah's Witness, Mainline Protestant, Mormon, Unaffiliated (religious "nones")