18 Percent of Professed Christians Read Their Bibles

Past Bob Smietana

Americans have a positive view of the Bible. And many say the Christian scriptures are filled with moral lessons for today.

However, more than half of Americans take read little or none of the Bible.

Less than a quarter of those who have always read a Bible accept a systematic plan for reading the Christian scriptures each day. And a 3rd of Americans never pick it upwards on their own, according to a new study from Nashville-based Lifeway Inquiry.

Small wonder many church leaders worry about biblical illiteracy, said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Inquiry.

"Most Americans don't know first-hand the overall story of the Bible—considering they rarely selection it up," McConnell said. "Even amidst worship attendees less than half read the Bible daily. The but time most Americans hear from the Bible is when someone else is reading it."

Many unfamiliar with biblical text

Well-nigh nine out of ten households (87 percent) own a Bible, co-ordinate to the American Bible Lodge, and the average household has iii.

But Bible reading remains spotty.

Lifeway Research surveyed one,000 Americans about their views of the Bible and found significant splits in how familiar they are with the Christian scripture. One in five Americans, Lifeway Enquiry plant, has read through the Bible at least one time. That includes eleven percentage who've read the entire Bible once, and nine per centum who've read information technology through multiple times. Another 12 pct say they have read almost all of the Bible, while 15 percent have read at to the lowest degree half.

About half of Americans (53 percent) have read relatively lilliputian of the Bible. Ane in 10 has read none of information technology, while 13 percent take read a few sentences. Xxx pct say they take read several passages or stories.

Americans also differ in how they approach reading the Bible. Xx-two percent read a little flake each twenty-four hours, in a systematic approach. A third (35 pct) never choice it upward at all, while 30 per centum look up things in the Bible when they need to. Xix percent re-read their favorite parts, while 17 percent flip open the Bible and read a passage at random. A quarter (27 percent) read sections suggested by others, while 16 per centum say they expect things upwardly to assistance others.

Those with evangelical beliefs are more likely (49 percent) to read a niggling bit each day than those without evangelical beliefs (xvi percent). Protestants (36 pct) are more than likely to read every day than Catholics (17 pct).

The more than frequently Americans nourish church, the more probable they are to read the Bible daily. Thirty-nine percent of those who attend worship services at least one time a month read a fleck every day, while only thirteen pct of those who attend services less than once month pick up a Bible daily.

Men are more likely to skip Bible reading than women. Thirty-nine per centum of men say they do not read the Bible on their ain, compared to 31 percent of women. Folks in the Northeast (48 percent) are more likely to never pick up a Bible than those from other regions.

Bible seen as good for morals

Overall, Americans have a positive view of the Bible. 30-seven percent say it is helpful today, while a similar number call it life-changing (35 percentage) or true (36 pct). Half (52 percent) say the Bible is a good source for morals. Few say the Bible is outdated (fourteen percent), harmful (7 percent) or bigoted (eight pct).

Americans are split up over the nature of the Bible every bit a book. 4 in x say it's a book worth reading over and over, while 13 percent say it's worth reading once. Twenty-two percent prefer referencing the Bible on an as-needed basis. V percentage say the Bible is a book not worth reading at all, while xix percent are non sure.

A number of reasons keep Americans from reading the Bible, according to Lifeway Research. Nigh a quarter (27 percent) say they don't prioritize it, while 15 percentage don't have fourth dimension. Thirteen per centum say they've read it enough. Fewer say they don't read books (ix pct), don't meet how the Bible relates to them (9 pct), or don't have a copy (6 percent). 10 percent disagree with what the Bible says.

Overall, Americans seem to like the Bible but don't accept much urgency about reading information technology, said McConnell.

Pastors do their part

I place Americans are all the same likely to hear the Bible read is in church. And many Protestant pastors try to encourage their flocks to give the Bible a try.

A Lifeway Enquiry survey of i,000 Protestant senior pastors found most requite out free Bibles to those who need them (86 percentage), include reminders about reading the Bible in their sermons (86 per centum) and include Bible readings in worship services (76 percent). Two-thirds (64 percent) requite out printed Bible-reading plans while 40 percent provide digital-reading plans. One-half (52 percent) send out social media reminders, while 46 percent transport out reminders past electronic mail and newsletters.

Nevertheless, it appears people may demand more than a plan when it comes to reading the Bible, McConnell said.

McConnell said Americans treat reading the Bible a little bit like exercise. They know it'due south important and helpful simply they don't do information technology. The key for churches, he said, is finding ways for people to experience how reading the Bible can change their lives.

"Scripture describes itself equally 'living and effective,' according to the book of Hebrews," McConnell said. "Those who accept a habit of reading through the Bible a little each day say they have experienced this helpful, life-irresolute quality. Those who approach the book differently tend to say the Bible is positive but much less personal."

Bob Smietana

@bobsmietana

Bob is the quondam senior writer for Lifeway Research. In September 2018, he joined Religion News Service, where he currently serves equally a national writer.

Methodology:
Lifeway Research conducted the written report Sept. 27 – Oct. 1, 2016. The survey was conducted using the web-enabled KnowledgePanel®, a probability-based console designed to exist representative of the U.S. population. Initially, participants are chosen scientifically past a random pick of telephone numbers and residential addresses. Persons in selected households are so invited by telephone or by mail to participate in the web-enabled KnowledgePanel®. For those who agree to participate, but do not already have Internet access, GfK provides at no cost a laptop and Internet service provider connection.

Sample stratification and weights were used for gender, age, race/ethnicity, region, metro/non-metro, education, and income to reflect the most contempo The states Census data. The completed sample is ane,000 surveys. The sample provides 95 percent confidence that the sampling error does not exceed plus or minus three.1 percent. Margins of error are higher in sub-groups.

The phone survey of Protestant pastors was conducted Aug. 22 to Sept. 16, 2016. The calling list was a stratified random sample, drawn from a listing of all Protestant churches. Quotas were used for church size. Each interview was conducted with the senior pastor, minister or priest of the church chosen. Responses were weighted past region to more accurately reverberate the population. The completed sample is ane,000 surveys. The sample provides 95 percent conviction that the sampling error does not exceed plus or minus 3.two percent. Margins of error are college in sub-group.

Lifeway Research is a Nashville-based, evangelical enquiry firm that specializes in surveys about faith in culture and matters that affect churches.

Download the inquiry (American views)
Download the enquiry (Pastor views)

kittlesonlathand74.blogspot.com

Source: https://lifewayresearch.com/2017/04/25/lifeway-research-americans-are-fond-of-the-bible-dont-actually-read-it/

Share this post