[lbo-talk] Americans and the bible

[Jeffrey Fisher]

i can't believe i've been missing the other thread altogether, and i have no
time at the moment to catch up on it in a way to be really helpful, but it
really is worth looking at all the data in this link, i think, because you
see the split between protestants and catholics on the "actual word of god"
question, and very much the same split between born-again and not-born-again
protestants. to say that the bible is the actual word of god is a vastly
different thing than to consider it "inspired," which allows much more room
for interpretation. even the term "inspired" can be construed in a variety
of ways, some more exclusivist, but most more inclusivist and pluralist, and
even with something like a modern historical orientation.

I would have liked a fourth option in the poll, between "inspired" and
fables, because to commit to "fables and legends" is the equivalent of
calling it worthless and meaningless (or pernicious and something like
evil). I'm noodling what I think that fourth option would be (because the
third option probably should stay for a variety of reasons).

sorry I don't have time to say more on this, since as you can all probably
imagine, i have thoughts. :-)

On Wed, Mar 24, 2010 at 3:25 PM, Doug Henwood <dhenwood at panix.com> wrote:


> More on the status of the bible among Americans.
>
> <http://www.gallup.com/poll/15313/Teens-Stance-Word-God.aspx>
>
>                                 teens         adults
> actual word of God                39%            34%
> inspired word of God              46             48
> fables & legends                  14             15
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