Fewer in U.S. Now See Bible as Literal Word of God - 20%

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crossnote

crossnote

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#1
Nov 24, 2012
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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.

more at: https://news.gallup.com/poll/394262/fewer-bible-literal-word-god.aspx

That's fine, when they come before God in judgment, they'll see just how literal it is.
 
JaumeJ

JaumeJ

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#2
Jul 2, 2011
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There have always been detractors of the Word, since Adam. They did not listen (believe), and so it has remained to this day.
 
crossnote

crossnote

Senior Member
#3
Nov 24, 2012
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JaumeJ said:
There have always been detractors of the Word, since Adam. They did not listen (believe), and so it has remained to this day.
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There have always been detractors, true; but I think the point of the article is that those detractors are at an increasing level. The trend is concerning.
 
JaumeJ

JaumeJ

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#4
Jul 2, 2011
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In the last moments of what is called this age and time, there will be few of understanding, they will be few, and they will be scattered. The good news is they will help many to the Light.

These teachings may be derived from the Word, especially the book of Daniel.
 
G

Gideon300

Well-known member
#5
Mar 18, 2021
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crossnote said:
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.

more at: https://news.gallup.com/poll/394262/fewer-bible-literal-word-god.aspx

That's fine, when they come before God in judgment, they'll see just how literal it is.
Click to expand...
If the Bible is approached from a purely intellectual point of view, sure, people will not comprehend it. It is a spiritual book for spiritual people. The man who led me to Jesus told me that the Bible was God's word. Before I was saved, I could not read it. After I was saved, I could hardly put it down! Why? Because my born again spirit was alive to God and therefore His word.

Satan attacks the Bible because he knows that it is knowing the truth that sets people free. Satan is the father of lies. His first attack on man was to cast doubt on God's word and God's integrity. There really is nothing new under the sun. You'll find that in the Bible.
 
A-Sword-Cometh

A-Sword-Cometh

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Jan 12, 2022
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The more they rebel, fall away, commit sins unto death as if it were normal, and replace the truth of God for a lie; the more they just become enmeshed inro the inescapable paradigm that is the Bible. And not the parts that speak highly or for the good of this people at that. Ironically, though they hate God and his ways, this only prove that he is true and that God told them the truth from the beginning.
 
L

Live4Him3

Jesus is Lord
#7
May 19, 2022
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crossnote said:
There have always been detractors, true; but I think the point of the article is that those detractors are at an increasing level. The trend is concerning.
Click to expand...
Someone said something to me thirty-something years ago that I've never forgotten.

They said:

"You're the only Bible that some people will ever read."

Is it possible that WE are part of the problem?

For example, imagine a seeker coming here to the BDF.

Do you think that they would walk away thinking that the Bible is the inspired word of God when a bunch of people who all claim to believe the same cannot agree on just about anything that it says?

Just about two years ago, at a previous job of mine, I worked with a young man in his upper twenties. He and I became friendly as we observed each other's work ethic. In other words, I developed respect for him and vice versa. We began to chat with each other over time, and I couldn't help but notice how frequently he took Jesus' name in vain. Well, one day I decided to politely bring that to his attention, and, to my surprise, he actually took it quite well. He told me that he didn't even realize that he was doing it, and I used that opportunity to talk to him about Jesus, and why he should have reverence for his name.

In the course of our discussion, he told me that he didn't believe that the Bible was the word of God. In fact, he told me that while he was in college he wrote some sort of thesis on how the Bible is a crutch for weak-minded and gullible people.

Here's the interesting thing, though...

After he and I interacted with each other for about the next 30 days, and after he saw that I was genuinely concerned not only for his eternal destiny, but also helpful towards him with work-related situations that he was facing, he asked me to buy him a Bible, and I did.

My point is this:

Although there are people who truly hate God's word simply because "they hate the light" or hate Jesus Christ, there are also countless people out there who have been turned off to the things of God by observing those who claim to belong to him yet constantly misrepresent him and what they profess to believe.

I have three teenage children, and none of them are presently saved.

One of them is totally hostile towards God and his word, another is like "whatever works for you", and the other is still tender-hearted to at least a degree where the Bible is concerned. The three of them do, however, share one thing in common:

They know how much I believe in the Bible, AND they actually see that through my actions, and not just through my words. This, I believe, has helped to keep the door open to at least a degree in all of their hearts.

Anyhow, let's not be so quick to judge those who don't believe, and let's be a little bit more cognizant of our own actions lest any of us become a stumbling block to others.

Something for all of us to hopefully ponder.
 
A

AlpineGuy

Banned
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Jul 9, 2022
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I wonder what would be the percentage in certain European countries like...
 
ResidentAlien

ResidentAlien

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#10
Apr 21, 2021
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#10
crossnote said:
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.

more at: https://news.gallup.com/poll/394262/fewer-bible-literal-word-god.aspx

That's fine, when they come before God in judgment, they'll see just how literal it is.
Click to expand...
It's surprising how many so-called Christians fall into the 80% who think it's not the literal word of Yahweh.
 
crossnote

crossnote

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#11
Nov 24, 2012
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Live4Him3 said:
Someone said something to me thirty-something years ago that I've never forgotten.

They said:

"You're the only Bible that some people will ever read."

Is it possible that WE are part of the problem?
Click to expand...
No, their sin is the problem, not WE.

Remember, their sin crucified Jesus.

Also, realize Noah preached with his hammer while building the ark, and only 8 souls (out of estimated millions)
were saved.
 
ResidentAlien

ResidentAlien

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#12
Apr 21, 2021
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#12
Yahweh has sent them a strong delusion so they believe the lie(s). But we must also do better at planting seeds of His word (the truth). We've been hiding behind church walls far too long when we should've been out sowing.
 
ResidentAlien

ResidentAlien

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#14
Apr 21, 2021
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#14
crossnote said:
Or we've been hanging out on Christian forums far too long.
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At least on a forum you can plant many seeds, unlike behind church walls.


A forum like this isn't like a typical church. There you have mostly believers who you see maybe 1 or 2 hours a week. Here there are a wide variety of people who read these posts 24/7. But there's also a whole world out there beyond this forum and the church walls which shouldn't be neglected either.
 
A

apwall21

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Jul 9, 2022
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When Satan creates a Propaganda Wing, what do you expect it to attempt to do?
 
Nehemiah6

Nehemiah6

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#16
Jul 18, 2017
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#16
crossnote said:
A record-low 20% of Americans now say the Bible is the literal word of God
Click to expand...
This should not come as a surprise at all. The departure from Gospel truth and Bible truth within the churches has been steadily increasing over several decades. The schools, colleges, and universities have been making sure that young people choose godless Communism over Christianity, and the media have certainly helped.
 
A

apwall21

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#17
Jul 9, 2022
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#17
Nehemiah6 said:
This should not come as a surprise at all. The departure from Gospel truth and Bible truth within the churches has been steadily increasing over several decades. The schools, colleges, and universities have been making sure that young people choose godless Communism over Christianity, and the media have certainly helped.
Click to expand...
It should not come as a surprise only because it's being recorded out of Washington DC. But everyone has a choice on where they get their information.
 
crossnote

crossnote

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#18
Nov 24, 2012
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#18
Nehemiah6 said:
This should not come as a surprise at all. The departure from Gospel truth and Bible truth within the churches has been steadily increasing over several decades. The schools, colleges, and universities have been making sure that young people choose godless Communism over Christianity, and the media have certainly helped.
Click to expand...
The Fix? Is there one, humanly possible?
 
A

apwall21

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#19
Jul 9, 2022
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#19
crossnote said:
The Fix? Is there one, humanly possible?
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Sure, but it requires sacrifice and faith in each other being faithful in Jesus, or at least faithful that Jesus can carry through.
Start by never turning on their media.
 
crossnote

crossnote

Senior Member
#20
Nov 24, 2012
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#20
apwall21 said:
Sure, but it requires sacrifice and faith in each other being faithful in Jesus, or at least faithful that Jesus can carry through.
Start by never turning on their media.
Click to expand...
But that would almost rise to the level of 'Take up and read your Bible', heaven forbid!
 
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