Most Americans Believe Jesus Rose from Dead, David Killed Goliath Literally

The Christian Post ^ | Oct. 22 2007 | Audrey Barrick

[Alex Murphy]

A majority of Americans believe in God's power and miracles, according to a new survey.

Furthermore, most accept well-known Bible stories as literal truth, including the biblical account of Jesus Christ rising from the dead, The Barna Group found.

Three out of four adults (75 percent) said they interpreted the crucifixion, death, burial and resurrection of Christ as literal truth. An earlier study also found that 75 percent of Americans who do not identify as born-again Christians believe Jesus literally resurrected, according to the Center for Missional Research of the North American Mission Board – the Southern Baptist Convention’s domestic mission agency.

Although the more highly educated respondents were less likely to take the story literally, two-thirds (68 percent) of college graduates said they believe the resurrection is literally true, The Barna Group showed.

Non-mainline Protestants were more likely to accept the resurrection as fact (95 percent) compared to mainline Protestants (83 percent) and Catholics (82 percent).

Two-thirds of adults (65 percent) also deemed the account of prophet Daniel surviving in the lion's den as literally true. Catholics were less likely to take this biblical account at face value with only 51 percent interpreting it as literally true.

When surveyed about Moses and the parting of the Red Sea, two out of three (64 percent) Americans took a literal view of the story. Four out of five Protestants (79 percent) and three out of five Catholics (60 percent) embrace a literal interpretation of the Red Sea account.

Nearly two-thirds of Americans (63 percent) accept the story of David and Goliath as literal truth. While 86 percent of non-mainline Protestants take the story literally, only 68 percent of mainline Protestants and 46 percent of Catholics believe the story happened just as described in the Bible.

Mainline Protestants are those associated with the American Baptist, United Church of Christ, Episcopal, United Methodist, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and Presbyterian Church in the USA denominations, according to The Barna Group.

"Not only do most Americans believe in the existence of God, but they believe in His power and in the miracles He performs," said researcher George Barna, who directed the study. "Holding back the seas, walking on water, rising from the dead, surviving in a lion cage, and killing a skilled and armed warrior with a sling shot are examples of God doing extraordinary things in the lives of ordinary people. These and other Bible stories inspire people to believe that their personal trust in that powerful God is warranted. Although some people may dismiss such writings as fairy tales for children, the data indicate that the typical American has adopted these accounts as the foundation of a valued faith in God."

Fewer Americans, meanwhile, embraced the account of Apostle Peter walking on water as literally true. Overall, 60 percent of adults interpret it as literal truth. And 75 percent of all Protestants, 53 percent of Catholics believe the story is literally accurate.

Regarding the story of Creation, which has become increasingly challenged in schools, 60 percent of adults believe God created the universe in six days. The more highly educated Americans were much less likely to believe the creation account as literally true. While 73 percent of adults who did not attend college believe this story is literally accurate, only 38 percent of college graduates hold that view. Also, 74 percent of Protestants have a literal interpretation of creation compared to only 52 percent of Catholics.

Among ethnic groups, blacks were most likely to interpret biblical stories as literal truth.

Barna noted a disconnect between belief and practice.

"While the level of literal acceptance of these Bible stories is nothing short of astonishing given our cultural context, the widespread embrace of these accounts raises questions about the unmistakable gap between belief and behavior," he stated.

"On the one hand we have tens of millions of people who view these narratives as reflections of the reality, the authority and the involvement of God in our lives. On the other hand, a majority of those same people harbor a stubborn indifference toward God and His desire to have intimacy with them. In fact, a minority of the people who believe these stories to be true consistently apply the principles imbedded in these stories within their own lives,” Barna continued.

"It seems that millions of Americans believe the Bible content is true, but are not willing to translate those stories into action. Sadly, for many people, the Bible has become a respected but impersonal religious history lesson that stays removed from their life."

Results are based on a nationwide survey conducted in August 2007 among 1,000 adults, age 18 and older.

[RightOnline]

You’re making no sense whatsoever.

[The_Reader_David]

The funny thing is, any military theorist from at least B.F. Liddle-Hart on given a description of the combattants and how they were armed would have give odds in favor of David if wagering on the combat: fire and movement!

No miracles there, just a young man with the wit, on the basis of dealing with wild animals dangerous enough that they had to be killed at range or fled from, to understand modern military theory centuries before most of mankind did.

[sirchtruth]

My point was simply since Jesus is God, when he said he could rebuild the temple in three days it would not have mattered if he was talking about himself or the physical Jewish Temple because he would have been telling the truth about both. Remember those around laughed at him for saying it, making them look foolish.

It's important to investigate and study scripture to it fullest, because there is so much that we can miss, wouldn't you agree?

[Billthedrill]

David killing Goliath is a metaphor?

I never actually thought so. In fact, I know atheists who think it was very likely literally true. What an odd question!

[loboinok]

"Let’s see...Jesus is God. God created the Universe in six...I think he could handle the temple in three...i’m just sayin’..."

...And that's the point! Congradulations!! So it made those around him who were laughing, look like embeciles. He also told the WHOLE truth about the matter, and furthermore should convince you all there is so much more to scripture than meets the eye at first glance.

If you believe He was referring to the "literal" Temple, then what do you do with these verses...?> Philippians 2:5-9

5Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,

6who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,

7but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.

8Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

9For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,

[aruanan]

I never actually thought so. In fact, I know atheists who think it was very likely literally true. What an odd question!

I asked it because the headline stated that a majority thought it was "literally" true. Metaphorically true would be another way that people could accept the "truth" of the story. The description of the event is too straightforward for this to be anything else but a recounting of history.

[Billthedrill]

I agree completely.

[sirchtruth]

If you believe He was referring to the "literal" Temple, then what do you do
with these verses...?

Does it seem to you I believe he was referring to the "literal" temple instead of
himself???

I haven't studied those verse closely enough yet to "do" anything with, or make a
judgement about, but what is your point about those verses?

I have realized there is so much more in scripture than first meets the eye.
The "Truth" is much deeper than we all can see on the surface.

[loboinok]

Does it seem to you I believe he was referring to the "literal" temple instead of himself???

Yes, according to your posts in #7 and #35

post #7- Could Jesus have literally built the temple back up in three days?

post #35- If he was speaking of the Jewish Temple, would he have been lying?

...but what is your point about those verses?

To literally raise the temple in three days would have required supernatural ability; an ability which Christ clearly surrendered when He "emptied Himself" and subjected Himself to, and performed His works through the Father.

Best regards.

[sirchtruth]

To literally raise the temple in three days would have required supernatural ability; an ability which Christ clearly surrendered when He "emptied Himself" and subjected Himself to, and performed His works through the Father.

Well, what were all those healings, walking on water, turning loaves to fish and water to wine all about? I won't even mention raising people from the dead.

I think you're still missing the point which is, no matter what context Jesus was speaking in he would have been telling the truth because he is God. He didn't have to expand his remarks on the temple because he clearly knew those around him were thinking of the Jewish Temple.

I will not be short sighted though because I'm still not sure if I fully grasp your point. Please elaborate...

[Terriergal]

I dunno about barna trying to discourage people from church... I think Barna has a completely bogus focus in that he keeps trying to ‘count’ the people of God as if he can just ask 1 or 2 questions to figure out whether they are really “in the fold.”

[newheart]

I agree. Personally I never really saw this one as a “miracle”. What God gave David was the courage to believe that, with the gifts God had already given him, he could prevail.

[loboinok]

Well, what were all those healings, walking on water, turning loaves to fish and water to wine all about? I won't even mention raising people from the dead.

They were all performed according to the will of, and through the Father.

John 5:19 - Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.

John 5:30 - I can do nothing on My own initiative As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

Matthew 4:1 - Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

James 1:13 - Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.

Matthew 6:8 - So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. (Omniscient)

Matthew 24:36 - But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.

He didn't have to expand his remarks on the temple because he clearly knew those around him were thinking of the Jewish Temple.

Correct... John 2:19 - Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."

The Jews thought Jesus was referring to the literal temple, but John tells us that He was not (verse 21- But the temple He had spoken of was His body). Years later Jesus was accused of saying that He would destroy the temple and raise it again (Matt 26:60-61; Mark 14:57-59), and mockers repeated the charge as He hung on the cross (Matt 27:40; Mark 15:29). The same misunderstanding may have been behind the charge against Stephen (Acts 6:14).