Gallup Again - The Bible

[Jehanne]

The further back in time you go, the more literal people took the words of their holy writings. And that was true for all of antiquity, even in polytheism and Buddhism. 

I see no evidence that this is true.

Is this something you can demonstrate, or is it just a belief you have?

Compare the Catechism of the Council of Trent (the Roman Catechism, written first in Italian and then translated into Latin) with the modern Catechism of the Catholic Church. If you don't see any major changes, well, then you don't; one word that is virtually absent from moden-day Catholic writings is the word "heretic"; it shows up in a few places but otherwise is virtually expunged from modern Catholic thought.

In short, religions change over time, much more consistent with an evolving meme than a divine being who is slowly changing his/her/its mind over time.