Monday, February 16, 2004
Most in US 'believe bible stories'
Most Americans believe many well-known Bible stories, including Moses parting the Red Sea and God creating the world in six days, an ABC News poll showed today.
Although most Americans believed the story of Noah and the flood word for word, a large majority rejected the suggestion that Jews bear the collective responsibility for the death of Jesus, the poll found.
The poll's findings were released a day before the network airs its interview with movie star Mel Gibson, whose film, The Passion of Christ, depicts the last 12 hours of Jesus' life on earth.
"While religious belief is a strong factor in a literal reading of the Bible, it plays far less of a role in views of collective responsibility for Christ's death," the poll found.
Overall, 64 per cent of those canvassed believed the story of Moses parting the Red Sea was "literally true, meaning it happened that way word for word".
And 61 per cent felt the same way about creation.
About eight in 10 adult Americans are Christians.
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