The Bible may be a source of wisdom for many Americans but most don’t read it for themselves, a new survey shows. More than half have read little or none of it, reports LifeWay Research. “Even among worship attendees less than half read the Bible daily,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of the evangelical research firm based in Nashville, Tennessee. “The only time most Americans hear from the Bible is when someone else is reading it.”
“Among Americans: How much of the Bible have you personally read?” The survey of 1,000 people found disparate approaches to the Christian Scriptures. For instance, North-easterners are less likely to give it a look than people in other regions. And men are less inclined than women to pick it up.
One in five Americans have read the entire Bible at least once – including 9% who’ve read it through multiple times. Just over half (53%) have read relatively little of it, and 1 in 10 haven’t read it at all.
“Among Americans: Which of the following describe the Bible?”
Among those who read at least a few sentences of the Bible, slightly more than a fifth of Americans (22%) read a little Scripture each day, taking a systematic approach. About a quarter (27%) read parts others have suggested, and 16 % look up portions to help others. Almost one-fifth (19%) reread their favourite passages. Researchers found that Americans tend to view the Bible positively, with half (52%) saying it is a good source for morals. More than a third say it is helpful today (37%), true (36%) or life-changing (35%). And far fewer say it is outdated (14%), bigoted (8%) or harmful (7%).
