Study: Do Americans Still Engage With the Bible?
By Movieguide® Contributor
The 13th annual “State of the Bible” report was released earlier this month, revealing current trends about how Americans relate to the Bible.
“Our research this year delivers an urgent message for this ministering in America. Although it’s a relief that the number of Bible Users did not continue along its precipitous decline, there remains a pressing need to help spiritually engage and expanding Movable Middle–those individuals who are friends to the Bible’s message but not actively reading and applying Scripture’s truths,” John Farquhar Plake, American Bible Society’s Chief Ministry Insights and Innovation Officer said.
“Positively, Americans who are Scripture engaged show significantly higher levels of hope than their neighbors. Although our society faces challenges on many fronts, the Bible provides hope and help to those who explore its truths,” Plake continued.
The study found that the number of Americans engaged with scripture (47 million) remains historically low, down to 39% of American adults; comparatively, the number was nearly 50% a decade ago. However, this statistic provides some hope, as it was the first time in years that the number did not significantly decline. Additionally, the number of Americans open to the Bible’s teaching but not actively reading scripture (76 million) increased by 10 million over the past year.
These stats come from the first chapter of this year’s “State of the Bible,” which will release eight other chapters throughout the rest of the year.
Other insights from this first chapter include data that shows people engaged with scripture display significantly higher levels of hope as well as insight into why people read the bible: because “it brings them closer to God.”
Notably, the study also found that 44% of Americans believe worse off without the Bible, with only 14% saying a Bibleless American would be better.
Overall, the first part of this year’s “State of the Bible” provides insight into a changing cultural landscape. The data suggests that the country is starting to become interested in the Bible again for the first time in over ten years. Hopefully this trend will continue, even as culture seems to trend farther and farther from the Christian faith.
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