Americans are more likely to agree with Karl Marx, Bernie Sanders than the Bible, new study finds

Americans are more likely to support statements made by Karl Marx and self-described socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders (Vt.) than they are statements from the Bible, according to a new survey.

The findings were detailed in the Annual Report on U.S. Attitudes Towards Socialism, which was conducted by YouGov.

The polling organization asked Americans aged 16 and older four differing statements, one from Sanders, one from Marx, one from economist Milton Friedman and a quote from the Bible:

Bernie Sanders: “A nation will not survive morally or economically when so few have so much, while so many have so little.”

Milton Friedman: “A society that puts equality before freedom will get neither. A society that puts freedom before equality will get a high degree of both.”

Karl Marx: “From each according to his abilities, to each according to his need.”

The Bible: “If any would not work, neither should he eat.”

According to the poll, Americans are more likely to agree with Sanders, Marx and Friedman than they were the Bible. Of those polled, 71 percent said they agreed with Sanders, 68 said they agreed with Friedman and 64 percent said they agreed with Marx. Only 53 percent said they agreed with the scripture verse, which is found in 2 Thessalonians 3:10.

Among millennials, agreement with the Bible was the lowest of all generations polled at just 48 percent. Agreement with Sanders, Marx and Friedman was about the same or a little lower compared to the average of all generations.

In addition, the poll found that millennials have a more favorable view of socialism and communism than previous generations and have a less favorable view of capitalism. Only 42 percent of millennials polled by YouGov said they view capitalism in a positive light.

Millennials also said they believe the U.S. economy works against them and that the highest income earners in America do not currently "pay their fair share" and should pay higher taxes, while four in 10 think the U.S. should completely overhaul its economic system in order to correct the "income imbalance."

Read the complete study here.

(H/T: FaithWire)