Fewer Americans see Bible as literal

[Orbit]

From a Gallup poll, fewer Americans see the Bible as the literal word of God. It's at a record low of 20%.
I find this interesting because in the U.S., Christianity seems to have a stranglehold on politics, at least the evangelical variety. What do you think? Are our politics being infiltrated by a religious minority?

Link here: Fewer in U.S. Now See Bible as Literal Word of God

 

[JustGeorge]

Are our politics being infiltrated by a religious minority?

Link here: Fewer in U.S. Now See Bible as Literal Word of God

I don't really think so. I think there's a very loud religious subset in politics, and they tend to get all conservatives labeled as such, but I have to say I only know one political conservative who's religious, and he's more the New-Agey Christian type.

Its being infiltrated by something, and I think its easy to slap a 'Evangelical' label on it, but I think there's more to the story.

 

[ADigitalArtist]

I think American politics is infiltrated by a minority, even among evangelicals. Things like predatory redistricting, gerrymandering and the EC makes sure that those with power accrued stay in power regardless of whether or not they would have been popular enough to win fairly. And the worst gerrymandered states are the Bible belt. Which means it's also very easy for Evangelicals to keep their power base secure even if their beliefs don't reflect the majority.
These same gerrymandered states are also the poorest, with least social services to get help, get personal representation, or even kick much of a fuss up when polling booths are strategically pulled from places not supporting those in power.

Evangelicals are doing untold damage to the US, including the most recent wave of walk backs on protections for women and minorities. But the problem is bigger than that.

 

[ADigitalArtist]

I don't really think so. I think there's a very loud religious subset in politics, and they tend to get all conservatives labeled as such, but I have to say I only know one political conservative who's religious, and he's more the New-Agey Christian type.

Its being infiltrated by something, and I think its easy to slap a 'Evangelical' label on it, but I think there's more to the story.

I think *rich* Evangelicals would be more appropriate. It's not just garden variety of Evangelicals but a lot of old money which has similarly old handmaids tale values which newcomers in politics must respect or not receive funding they need from the party to accrue power.

 

[metis]

From a Gallup poll, fewer Americans see the Bible as the literal word of God. It's at a record low of 20%.
I find this interesting because in the U.S., Christianity seems to have a stranglehold on politics, at least the evangelical variety. What do you think? Are our politics being infiltrated by a religious minority?

Link here: Fewer in U.S. Now See Bible as Literal Word of God

Frankly, it makes not one iota of sense to have that belief as there are so many narratives that have "variations", plus there's extensive use of symbolism.

 

[Brickjectivity]

From a Gallup poll, fewer Americans see the Bible as the literal word of God. It's at a record low of 20%.
I find this interesting because in the U.S., Christianity seems to have a stranglehold on politics, at least the evangelical variety. What do you think? Are our politics being infiltrated by a religious minority?

Link here: Fewer in U.S. Now See Bible as Literal Word of God

20% is a lot of people when only half of your population regularly votes. The rest of the population could easily outvote this minority if it wasn't already demoralized.

 

[Rival]

I see they're finally catching up to our Mediaeval forbears

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

"WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A record-low 20% of Americans now say the Bible is the literal word of God, down from 24% the last time the question was asked in 2017, and half of what it was at its high points in 1980 and 1984. Meanwhile, a new high of 29% say the Bible is a collection of "fables, legends, history and moral precepts recorded by man." This marks the first time significantly more Americans have viewed the Bible as not divinely inspired than as the literal word of God. The largest percentage, 49%, choose the middle alternative, roughly in line with where it has been in previous years." [ibid - emphasis added]

Could someone articulate the "middle alternative"?

 

[metis]

Could someone articulate the "middle alternative"?

Most take the position that the Bible is inspired by God to a certain extent but is not to be viewed as being inerrant.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Most take the position that the Bible is inspired by God to a certain extent but is not to be viewed as being inerrant.

Thus providing a firm foundation for Sortof-kindofism.

 

[The Hammer]

Thus providing a firm foundation for Sortof-kindofism.

Nothing wrong with that.

Things need to change to stay relevant.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Nothing wrong with that.

Absolutely. In fact, it's sort of kind of convenient - a bit like a buffet with some of the dishes loosely inspired by a fabled chef.

 

[The Hammer]

Absolutely. In fact, it's kind of sort of convenient - a bit like a buffet with some of the dishes loosely inspired by a fabled chef.

I'm not sure if my radar is off or not. But I swear I'm smelling sarcasm.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

I see they're finally catching up to our Mediaeval forbears

Makes me wonder how far off history will view this oddity of American history. "Wait? You mean these blokes went backwards and started believing in stuff that people 1000 years before them simply didn't because they knew better?"

 

[Rival]

Makes me wonder how far off history will view this oddity of American history. "Wait? You mean these blokes went backwards and started believing in stuff that people 1000 years before them simply didn't because they knew better?"

It gets better,

The records included accusations against eight men and one woman over their beliefs that Christianity was not the only path to salvation. The woman, for example, was a peasant farmer called Juana Perez, and said in about 1488 that “the good Jew would be saved, and the good Moor, in his law, and why else had God made them?”

In another case from the 1480s, during the Granada war, an argument broke out between a miller, Diego de San Martin, and a farmer called Gil Recio. The miller said to Gil, “Gil Recio, let the water [that is, in an irrigation channel] through to the mill. The people are dying of hunger. O, Saint Mary! What a great drought there is, because there’s no rain”. Gil replied, “How do you expect it to rain, when the king is going to take the Moors’ home away, when they haven’t done him any harm”. Diego replied that the wars by the Christians against the Muslims in Granada was a good thing, but the farmer responded, “How does anyone know which of the three laws God loves best?”.

Did everyone believe in religion in medieval Europe? - Medievalists.net

 

[Rival]

I see they're finally catching up to our Mediaeval forbears

For those not in the know, I'm not even joking.

The Mediaeval Church had a healthier take on this issue imo.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

It gets better,

The records included accusations against eight men and one woman over their beliefs that Christianity was not the only path to salvation. The woman, for example, was a peasant farmer called Juana Perez, and said in about 1488 that “the good Jew would be saved, and the good Moor, in his law, and why else had God made them?”

In another case from the 1480s, during the Granada war, an argument broke out between a miller, Diego de San Martin, and a farmer called Gil Recio. The miller said to Gil, “Gil Recio, let the water [that is, in an irrigation channel] through to the mill. The people are dying of hunger. O, Saint Mary! What a great drought there is, because there’s no rain”. Gil replied, “How do you expect it to rain, when the king is going to take the Moors’ home away, when they haven’t done him any harm”. Diego replied that the wars by the Christians against the Muslims in Granada was a good thing, but the farmer responded, “How does anyone know which of the three laws God loves best?”.

Did everyone believe in religion in medieval Europe? - Medievalists.net

Yeah. Historically it does look like zealots of anything (including ambitions) are the problem. Most people, it seems, when left to their own devices want stability, healthy families, bountiful harvests and to be left alone in peace. The political games of the kings and bishops were so far removed from their personal lives it just didn't matter in so many places.

 

[Twilight Hue]

From a Gallup poll, fewer Americans see the Bible as the literal word of God. It's at a record low of 20%.
I find this interesting because in the U.S., Christianity seems to have a stranglehold on politics, at least the evangelical variety. What do you think? Are our politics being infiltrated by a religious minority?

Link here: Fewer in U.S. Now See Bible as Literal Word of God

Let's hope so. People that literally believe in talking snakes and donkeys, magical trees , world floods with all the animals inside a wooden boat, the sun standing still in the sky, blowing down walls with musical instruments etc, have a serious problem with reality.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

From a Gallup poll, fewer Americans see the Bible as the literal word of God. It's at a record low of 20%.
I find this interesting because in the U.S., Christianity seems to have a stranglehold on politics, at least the evangelical variety. What do you think? Are our politics being infiltrated by a religious minority?

Link here: Fewer in U.S. Now See Bible as Literal Word of God

I attend a First Baptist church and the consensus there is biblical literalism. There is also a bent towards Christianity as the basis of the US government. I'm assuming that most of my fellow church-goers mean their version of Christianity.

I'm not a literalist myself.

 

[URAVIP2ME]

From a Gallup poll, fewer Americans see the Bible as the literal word of God. It's at a record low of 20%.
I find this interesting because in the U.S., Christianity seems to have a stranglehold on politics, at least the evangelical variety. What do you think? Are our politics being infiltrated by a religious minority?...................

Back in the 60's when the Latin mass turned English one classmate told me she did Not like the change from Latin to English because there is nothing there. She still has Not chosen any religion Bible based or otherwise.
All it took for her to disconnect herself from religion was the taking away of Latin.