Two-Thirds of Americans Believe in the Bodily Resurrection of Christ, Study Finds

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Two-thirds of Americans say they believe the bodily resurrection of Christ as described in the Bible is literally true, according to a new survey that found the nation's views of Christianity sometimes align with Scripture—and sometimes sharply diverge.

The State of Theology study from Lifeway Research and Ligonier Ministries found that 65 percent of U.S. adults say they agree that the "biblical accounts of the physical (bodily) resurrection of Jesus are completely accurate" and "actually occurred," according to the survey's wording. In comparison, 71 percent say they affirm the Trinity, believing "there is one true God in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit"—all statements within biblical orthodoxy.

Roughly two-thirds (68 percent) agree that "God is unchanging," while another two-thirds (66 percent) say "God is a perfect being and cannot make a mistake." These statements are all within historical biblical belief.

More than half of Americans (56 percent) agree that "God counts a person as righteous not because of one's works but only because of one's faith in Jesus Christ"—another statement affirmed in Scripture.

"While many aspects of American society can accurately be described as secular, large numbers of Americans have theological beliefs that line up with the Bible's teaching," said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research.

"A pandemic and debates around moral standards in political spaces appear to have some minor impact on some beliefs, but most Americans are not quick to change their views of matters related to God."

However, on other questions, Americans diverge from historical biblical teaching. Nearly two-thirds (65 percent) say they believe that "God accepts the worship of all religions, including Christianity, Judaism, and Islam," while another two-thirds (66 percent) say they think "everyone sins a little, but most people are good by nature." About half (49 percent) agree with the statement that "Jesus was a great teacher, but he was not God." All three statements conflict with biblical teaching.

About one in six (18 percent) believe the "Holy Spirit can tell me to do something which is forbidden in the Bible."

"When a clear majority of Americans think God is flexible when it comes to religion, it's not surprising that agreement with some teachings in the Bible does not translate to accepting all biblical teaching," McConnell said. "Americans want the same flexibility they think God has, even if that contradicts other beliefs they have and how God is revealed in Scripture."

The study was based on interviews with 3,001 U.S. adults.

Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel. 

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