Most Americans believe in a literal interpretation of biblical stories such as Moses parting the Red Sea, according to an ABC News poll that also showed the vast majority of Americans do not blame Jews for the death of Jesus.
The ABC News PrimeTime poll found that six in 10 Americans surveyed believe biblical accounts of Moses parting the Red Sea, Noah’s Ark and God creating the world to be true “word for word.” Evangelical Protestants were most likely to hold this view, at about 90 percent.
Meant as a lesson
About 30 percent of those surveyed said the stories are not true “word for word,” but are meant “as a lesson, not to be taken literally.”
Fewer than one in 10 Americans surveyed said Jews are responsible for the death of Jesus, a question thrust into public debate by the controversial Mel Gibson film, “The Passion of the Christ,” which opened Feb. 25. A scene removed from the film after complaints by Jewish groups showed Jesus’ surrender by Jewish elders to the Roman governor Pontius Pilate.
Church attendance seemed to affect responses, as did denominational differences. Evangelical Protestants were most likely to hold literal beliefs, and moreso if they said they attend church every week. They were also most likely to blame Jews for the death of Jesus, with 12 percent laying blame on the Jews for the crucifixion.
Catholics followed a similar pattern. About half of all Catholics surveyed said all three stories are literally true, but those who attend Mass at least once a week were 15 to 21 percentage points more likely to consider the stories literally true. Only 6 percentage points more likely to consider the stories literally true. Only 6 percentage of all Catholics blame Jews for the death of Jesus, the least likely to do so of all the denominations.
About 80 percent of all adults in America identify themselves as Christians.
The poll was conducted by random telephone survey between Feb. 6 and 10, polling 1,011 adults nationwide. The margin of error is three percentage points.
(RNS)
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