'Faith the norm globally' - new Bible Society/Gallup survey 

A comprehensive global study of attitudes toward the Bible and faith has 'challenged common assumptions about secularism and the decline of belief'

That's according to Bible Society in England and Wales, which in partnership with United Bible Societies has unveiled the findings of its Patmos Initiative, a study sharing insights from 91,000 people across 85 countries and territories about attitudes to the Bible.

The research was conducted by Gallup, and launched on Wednesday, 30 April.

It is 'the largest Bible engagement research project ever,' says Bible Society, and provides 'world-class data to establish a new understanding of how people relate to the Bible.'

In so doing, the report reveals 'a global religious landscape far more complex and nuanced than commonly assumed'. It identifies seven contexts where countries sometimes separated by geography and nationality share socio-religious similarities.

'The data challenges many prevailing narratives about the decline of religion globally,' says Richard Powney, project lead for The Patmos Initiative. 'In five of the seven global contexts we studied, the majority of people still consider religion an important part of their daily lives.'
 
Some of the survey's most striking findings include:

• Even in secular Western contexts, 62 per cent of respondents believe in God or a higher power;
• 240 million non-Christians worldwide express interest in learning more about the Bible;
• Young non-Christians (18–25) in secular contexts show a higher interest in the Bible than older demographics do;
• In parts of Asia, 56 per cent of people have never heard of the Bible;
• 70 per cent of all respondents globally, including many non-Christians, agree it is good for children to know Bible stories;
• A surprisingly high number of Christians do not use the Bible regularly or want to find out more about it.

 
The research identifies seven distinct clusters of countries and territories exhibiting similar socio-religious contexts. Within these contexts, the study maps 64 different audience groups with distinctive patterns in how they relate to the Bible.

'What this research provides is not just statistics, but strategic intelligence for anyone involved in communicating faith in the modern world,' Powney said. 

'Whether addressing biblical illiteracy in Asia, tackling indifference in secular contexts, or building on existing interest in Christian-majority regions, the Patmos findings offer evidence-based direction to Christian organisations and confessions.'

The UK is grouped with the US, Canada, Australia and Western Europe in a secular context. 

The data in this context has revealed two narratives:

The first is one of 'indifference': people show little interest in the Bible, seeing it as irrelevant to their lives. Despite easy access to the Bible, the challenge lies in fostering greater demand.

The second story is one of 'hope and opportunity among young people.'

'While fewer young people identify as Christian, those who do show signs of being deeply committed,' the research states. 'Interestingly, nonreligious young people (18–24) show higher curiosity about the Bible and how it can help answer to life's big questions.'

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'Rather than assuming religious attitudes based on geography or demographics, we now have robust data that reveals the beliefs and attitudes of people worldwide,' said Powney. 

'This is vital insight for Christian organisations, but it also contributes significantly to our broader understanding of faith and society in the 21st century.'

He added, 'Attitude to the Bible is the most stable and globally relevant marker of Christianity, across cultures and confessions of faith. 

'This study is about how people feel about and interact with the Bible, but what it tells us is so much more. Anyone interested in what global Christianity looks like needs to dig into The Patmos Survey.' 

'The Bible, as the word of God, lies at the heart of the Christian life and biblical ministry,' said Dirk Gevers, Secretary General of United Bible Societies. 

'The findings of The Patmos Initiative provide the most accurate and comprehensive picture yet of how people truly engage with Scripture. 

'They represent both a source of encouragement and a call to action for Christians around the world. 

'Our hope is that The Patmos Initiative will inspire a renewed and widespread commitment to advancing both Bible availability and meaningful engagement.'
 

For more, and for details on how to access the full report, visit: patmos.bfbs.org