Americans And The Bible: Faith, Doubt, And A Growing Rift
A new study has painted a stark picture: while large majorities of Evangelicals, Black Protestants and many Americans in the South still hold to a literal reading of Scripture, nearly half of American adults now describe the Bible as a collection of helpful but “ancient myths” that are “not literally true.”
This split is not merely academic; it maps onto politics, culture and daily life. The contrast demands attention from churches, pastors and anyone who cares about a moral center.
This shift didn’t happen overnight. Decades of secular trends, shifts in education, and an increasingly skeptical media landscape have eroded the assumption that the Bible should be read as authoritative fact. The result is a public square where foundational claims about meaning and morality are often up for grabs.
The findings of the study are reflected in The Ligonier State of Theology 2025 report conducted by Lifeway Research. Some 3,001 American adults were surveyed between Jan. 6-15, with a 95% confidence that the sampling error from the survey does not exceed +1.9%.
From a biblical standpoint this trend is alarming, because the Bible presents itself as living, active and authoritative, not a neat anthology of ancient but optional stories. To treat Scripture as folklore is to strip it of its claim to repair hearts, shape conscience, and point people to God. If the Bible is demoted, the gospel itself gets muffled.
Seeing the Bible as merely helpful but not true also reshapes cultural ethics; absolutes become negotiable and moral frameworks fragment. Societies that lose a shared telos stumble over meaning and purpose. That’s why the stakes feel so high.
Why Literal Belief Matters
Literal belief matters because it anchors truth claims that can be tested in life, not just debated in seminar rooms. When Scripture is treated as the real story of creation, fall, redemption and restoration, it supplies a coherent storyline for suffering, justice and hope. Churches that teach this do more than preserve doctrine; they form disciples who live differently.
Look at the resilience in communities still holding a literal view: they often have robust ministries, clear moral teaching, and a sense of continuity with the past. That stability creates a platform for both service and witness. It also provides a communal memory that resists the amnesia of every passing cultural fad.
How To Respond
First, believers must recover confidence in the trustworthiness of Scripture while learning to engage hard questions honestly. Second, we need to teach people how the Bible was authored, transmitted and interpreted so faith is not blind but informed. Third, we should live out what the Bible says—acts of love and justice speak louder than arguments.
For seekers who feel the Bible is “ancient myth,” invite curiosity not scorn: encourage reading, historical inquiry and conversations about evidence and experience. Faith that can survive questioning is stronger than faith that hides from it. Dialogue matters more than dismissal.
Communities can still shift the needle by blending confident proclamation with patient hospitality, letting the Bible show its power through transformed lives. The goal is not cultural victory alone but the restoration of souls. Practical patience paired with clear teaching can move people from skepticism to exploration.
So yes, the data shows a real divide, but numbers are not the final word. The Bible’s claim to truth stands or falls on its own merits, and many believers are determined to keep making that case clearly and compassionately. The future will reflect whether Americans choose a story rooted in Scripture or a patchwork of convenient myths.
Practically that means equipping parents, supporting sound teaching in churches, and engaging schools and media with humility and courage. It also means admitting where the church has failed or been hypocritical, because authenticity wins people. The argument for Scripture will always be stronger when lived out in honest community.
Don’t underestimate the role of stories: testimony about changed lives is convincing in a way arguments rarely are. Personal witness combined with clear teaching is a powerful mix. When people see transformation, the Bible’s claims stop being abstract and become real.
If you care about truth, this is a moment to pay attention and act with wisdom and urgency. The Bible invites its readers into a different kind of certainty—the kind that shapes how we love, work and hope. Whether we respond with clarity or drift into convenience will determine how this next chapter unfolds.