Perceptions of the Bible Among American Adults

Nearly half of American adults view the Bible as a collection of “ancient myths,” albeit with the belief that it’s “literally not true,” according to a report by Lifeway Research.

As highlighted by a recent report, 48% of American adults either strongly or somewhat agree with the statement: “The Bible, like all sacred works, contains useful explanations of ancient myths, but is literally not true.” In contrast, 43% expressed disagreement, while 8% were uncertain.

The research indicates that individuals from the Southern U.S., evangelicals, and those who attend church at least once or twice a month tend to reject the notion that the Bible is merely a myth.

This notion of the Bible being “literally not true” appears to resonate more with people living in larger cities, especially those earning over $75,000 annually. Conversely, individuals with lower incomes tend to hold differing views.

Interestingly, just under half of Americans (49%) either strongly (31%) or somewhat (18%) agree that “The Bible is 100% accurate in everything it teaches.” Meanwhile, 44% strongly (28%) or somewhat (16%) disagree, and 6% were unsure.

Regarding the belief that “God is a perfect being and cannot make mistakes,” 53% of respondents strongly agreed, and 13% agreed slightly. Nonetheless, 7% strongly opposed this statement, with another 9% expressing slight disagreement, and 8% were uncertain.

The survey also explored beliefs about the Trinity, with 55% of respondents strongly agreeing with the statement. Approximately 16% somewhat agreed, while 15% strongly opposed, and 10% were unsure.

The Ligonier State of Theology 2025 report was conducted between January 6th and 15th, using a nationally representative sample of American adults. The sampling errors from the survey did not exceed +1.9%.