Does the Bible Tell Me So? Weighing the Influence of Content versus Bias on Bible Interpretation Using Survey Experiments

Abstract

Discussions of biblical interpretation often proceed under one of two assumptions. Readers’ interpretations are primarily formed (1) inductively, according to the Bible's objective content, or (2) through the lens of preformed ideologies and biases. We assessed the influence of these two factors using two survey experiments with undergraduates. In study 1 (N = 214), participants were randomly assigned one of two nearly identical translations of Ephesians 5:22‐28 (a famous passage describing gendered marital submission), with the only difference being that one translation included verse 21 in which Christians are told to “submit to one another.” Participants did not perceive a different message about gendered submission between translations, nor were they more likely to interpret either as misogynistic. However, gender ideology and religious importance did predict interpretation. Study 2 (N = 217) essentially replicated study 1 (using different translations of Ephesians 5:21‐28), but one version replaced all “subjection” language with “commitment” language. Participants were significantly more likely to perceive a complementarian message from the translation that referenced “subjection” and they were also more likely to perceive it as misogynistic. Again, gender ideology and religious characteristics predicted interpretation. Findings suggest bias shapes interpretation, but more extreme content modifications (e.g., removing/changing key terms) can also influence interpretation.

Racialized Religion and Judicial Injustice: How Whiteness and Biblicist Christianity Intersect to Promote a Preference for (Unjust) Punishment

“…The GSS asks, “Which of these statements comes closest to describing your feelings about the Bible? The Bible is actual word of God and is to be taken literally, the Bible is the inspired word of God but not everything in it should be taken literally, the Bible is an ancient book of fables recorded by men.” Respondents could also choose “Other,” “Don't know,” or “No answer.” Respondents who believe the Bible is the actual word of God and should be taken literally, who we call “biblical literalists” following a long tradition of previous research in this area (e.g., Baker and Booth 2016; Ellison and Sherkat 1993; McDaniel and Ellison 2008; Monte 2006; Perry and Grubbs 2020), were recoded as 1 with all other responses recoded as 0.…”

“…Yet, these perceptions may not be activated to affect white Americans’ bent toward punitiveness unless combined with an authoritarian tendency to control deviance. Biblical literalism, on the other hand, as an indicator of conservative theological belief and identity (Perry and Grubbs 2020; Perry and McElroy 2020) also perceives threats to a sacralized, traditional social order and can justify authoritarian practices of control and coercion to defend that order. Yet, several studies that examine the interaction between race and biblical literalism suggest that the authoritarian tendencies within biblicist Christianity are not as salient among people of color and specifically Black Americans, who interpret their faith and authoritative Scriptures differently from whites due to their collective experiences and structural location (McDaniel and Ellison 2008; Shelton and Emerson 2012).…”

Don’t Do What to Whom? A Survey of Historical-Critical Scholarship on Leviticus 18.22 and 20.13

“…It is, more importantly, a hermeneutical issue, a question of how we understand the texts and appropriate them for our specific contexts’ (Seow 1996: x). While this continues to be a desideratum for future research, a number of scholars have already taken up this challenge (e.g., Ackerman 2005; Martin 2006; Hügel 2009: 467-97; Caron 2009; Hornsby and Stone 2011; Harding 2014; Mathias 2014; Perry 2015; Bethmont and Gross 2017; Perry and McElroy 2020). Of course, one may very well be queer or an ally and come to a sober historical conclusion that Lev.…”

Bible Overclaiming and Intimate Partner Violence

“…For example, the Christian Bible preaches love for one another and equity in treatment (e.g., van Eck & Kloppenborg, 2015 ). However, among other examples of gender inequality, the Bible also emphasizes that women should submit to their husbands (e.g., Perry & McElroy, 2020 ). Interpretations of religious texts vary based on personal biases ( Perry & McElroy, 2020 ).…”

“…However, among other examples of gender inequality, the Bible also emphasizes that women should submit to their husbands (e.g., Perry & McElroy, 2020 ). Interpretations of religious texts vary based on personal biases ( Perry & McElroy, 2020 ). Thus, some may interpret this statement as a responsibility imparted upon men to care for women, whereas others may interpret this statement as a license for men to treat women as property.…”