Scholar John Bartkowski addresses Biblical Literalism in his sociological works on religion.
Biblical literalism speaks to modern-day individuals and religious groups interpreting the Bible as being literal, inerrant word of God; this means that every single passage is understood to be factually and historically accurate.
This contrasts any metaphorical, historical-critical, and allegorical interpretations, which posit the Bible as being more about “the word” behind the words and the stories, lessons, and impact imbued, not about each sentence in its most literal form.
Bartkowski explores how many individuals and religious groups adhere to Biblical Literalism through a steadfast believe in the divine inspiration of scriputes and thus a resistance to modern methods that seek to contextualize biblical texts.
He notes that biblical literalism fosters a strong sense of shared belief and values among adherents (all being the same exact beliefs and values) as a positive, although such can lead to “social divisions” among “factions.”
Theologically, Bartkowski explores how biblical literalism reinforces doctrines of divine authority and moral absolutism, while it politically can play a crucial role in shaping the public policy furthered by adherents.
He finally touches on the tension between scientific progress and biblical literalism and general “modernity” versus biblical literalists.
Net, biblical literalism is an important dynamic in modern religious and social workings, and it’s certainly a subject worth thinking about.
Hope that clears up the question for you, and please leave a comment with any remaining questions! Check out my full Religion 101 article list (useful for studying, or just learning!) here.