Decline in Bible Reading
by Mike James
A survey conducted by the American Bible Society (ABS), "State of the Bible USA 2024," has indicated a continuing decline in American Bible reading. This decline seems to be much more pronounced in younger people. Generation Z (those born between 1997 and 2012) are the least engaged. This age range is also the least likely to view the Bible as important in their lives. Of course, this is the youngest age range we can survey, and many of us as teens were probably not too interested in the Bible.
ABS statistics going back to 2011 recorded that about 50 percent of the American population were Bible readers. However, this number dropped 10 percent beginning in 2022 and remained consistent into 2024. For the last two years, Bible engagement has been 39 percent and 38 percent.
The ABS measures Bible reading not as engaged every day or every week but that you are engaged with the Bible at least three to four times per year.
Another metric in the annual ABS survey relates to scriptural engagement. The Scripture Engagement formula weighs responses to fifteen questions in three areas: Frequency of Bible reading, Impact on one's relationship with God and others, and Centrality of the Bible in decision-making. The statistics over the past five years show a decrease in numbers for the scripturally engaged and an increase in numbers described as biblically disengaged.
Looking at the demographics of the scriptural engagement data, we find the following results:
The South is the strongest region for scriptural engagement, followed by the West, Midwest, and Northeast.
Baby boomers (born 1946-1964) are the most scripturally engaged.
Blacks are more scripturally engaged, followed by Hispanics, Whites, and Asians.
Evangelical Protestants are more scripturally engaged, followed by Mainline Protestants, Historically Black Protestants, and Catholics.
This recent metric that I've discovered confirms data I have used for previous blogs dealing with data indicating a decline not only in Christianity but religion in general in the United States.
For example, only 20 percent of Americans now say the Bible is the literal Word of God, down from 24 percent the last time the question was asked in 2017 and half of what it was at its high points in the first half of the 1980s. Meanwhile, a new high of 29 percent say the Bible is a collection of "fables, legends, history, and moral precepts recorded by man." This marks the first time many more Americans have viewed the Bible as not divinely inspired.
Major changes are occurring in modern-day culture. The changes won't happen all at once, but slowly. If trends continue as they are, North and South America may go the way of Europe regarding belief and adherence to Christianity. Something will have to fill the vacuum for spiritual needs and whatever that may be is anyone's guess.
Some results from less Bible reading might be less hope for the future. Without the knowledge that the Bible brings that God is in control and is moving history to a climactic positive ending, some may become more depressed and discouraged in the future.
As is already happening, others will look to science and technology as a sort of idol and hope for mankind's future.
Matthew 24:12 warns us about how humanity will be in the end time: "And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold." Could that iniquity and love diminishing be due to our lack of understanding of truths found in the Bible?
Another interesting scripture I thought of in writing this blog is found in Amos 8:11-12: "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord: and they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it."
We know from history that Amos prophesied to Israel before they were destroyed. So, no doubt, this prophesy pertains to the destruction of ancient Israel and Judah. But like many other prophesies, there could be a dual nature to what we read here pertaining to the time before Christ's Second Coming. Will there be a lack of reliance on God's Word? The trends are heading in that direction.
Sources:
"Decade-Long Decline in Bible Reading," in www.jpost.com 15 April 2024 in Midnight Call, July 2024.
"State of the Bible USA 2024," https://1s712.americanbible.org/state-of-the-bible/stateofthebible/State_of_the_bible-2024.pdf
"What Happens When You Don't Read Your Bible?" by Brad Archer, Open the Bible, May 5, 2017, https://openthebible.org/article/what-happens-when-you-dont-read-your-bible/#:~:text=Without%20the%20regular%20infusion%20of,the%20world%2C%20neglect%20the%20scriptures.
"Fewer in U.S. Now See Bible as Literal Word of God," by Frank Newport, Gallup, July 6, 2022, https://news.gallup.com/poll/394262/fewer-bible-literal-word-god.aspx