Slipstream - Leaders - in - formation

Statistics on Attitudes to the Bible 

Taking the Pulse: Is the Bible Active and well in church today?

Research by ComRes for the Bible Society, published 2008

Here is a selection of the findings:

Leaders

• 98% of church leaders believe the Bible is divinely inspired and 47% think that is free from errors.
• 90% of leaders say that the Bible actively challenges them to live in a way which runs counter to the present culture in Britain
• 76% leaders associate Bible poverty with “our own land where the Bible is no longer at the centre of public and family life” and 90% think that the church should work towards a society that takes the Bible more seriously. 89% also said they think that the church should work harder to promote biblical principles across society.
• 73% of leaders surveyed said they use the Bible “frequently” for preaching and teaching and 87% said that the Bible is regularly taught at their churches.

Non-leaders

• 57% believe the Bible should shape their daily lives “a great deal”
• 35% said they read the Bible everyday
• 73% said the Bible actively challenges them to live in a way which runs counter to the present culture in Britain
• 60% believe the Bible provides moral guidance, sets out God’s rescue plan for humanity and shows God’s priorities
• 78% believe the Bible is divinely inspired and 34% believe that it is free from error
• 68% say the Bible is regularly taught at their church

For more details including qualitative results see http://www.biblesociety.org.uk/l3.php?id=209

Attitudes of young people towards the Bible

1. From research done by Leslie J Francis in 2007

Sample 1 was 1,133 children aged 13-15 in 6 Welsh secondary schools 69% of whom were not connected with a church.

Sample 2 was 659 children aged 14-16 in 4 English secondary schools 68% of whom never attended church

Sample 3 was 97 Psychology students from Northern Ireland and 42 Religious Studies students from Wales.
Source: Religious Trends 7 2007/8

2. From Urban Hope and Spiritual Health: The Adolescent Voice by Leslie Francis and Mandy Robbins published by Epworth Press in 2005

(surveys of attitudes of 23,000 13-15 year olds conducted in the late 1990’s )

30% of all the young people surveyed said yes

25% of all of the young people surveyed who said they were Christian said yes

36% of all of the young people surveyed who said they had “no religion” said yes
Source: Religious Trends 7 2007/8

Who is reading the Bible?

Statistics from the English Church Census 2005

27% of churchgoers say they read the Bible at least once per week outside of church attendance.

Those attending Pentecostal, Independent or new churches are most likely to read the Bible regularly whilst those attending Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches the least likely to read the Bible.

Women read the Bible more than men.

Young people in their 20’s are more likely than any other age group to read the Bible.
Source: Religious Trends 6 2006/7

Attitudes towards teaching the Bible

From the Survey of Young Christian Men 2005

92% said they got a buzz out of teaching the Bible to others

76% would like to spend more time than they currently do on Bible ministry.
Source: Survey of Christian Men 2005 published by GenerationNext January 2007

Literal Interpretation of Scripture among Evangelical Churches in USA

The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life spoke to 9,500 Evangelical Christians as part of the US Religious Landscape Survey 2008.

When asked about their belief in the Bible:

59% said the Bible was “The word of God literally true word for word”

29% said the Bible was “The word of God but not literally true word for word”

7% said the Bible was “Written by men not the word of God”

5% said they did not know or refused to answer
Source: http://religions.pewforum.org/

Who says the Bible is holy?

A survey of adults in the USA by the Barna Group July 2008

84% of all the adults surveyed

90% of the women

78% of the men

90% of those over 40

77% of those under 40

67% of those aged 18 to 23

38% of those who said they were not Christians

…all said they thought the Bible was holy.
Source Leadership Journal Fall 2008

Use of the Bible in Pastoral Practice

A research project on behalf of Cardiff University and the Bible Society 2002-3 led by Dr J N Ian Dickson

Here is a very brief summary of some of the findings:

1) The Bible is used largely for pragmatic purposes. The Bible is seen as a “product” that can be used to reinforce pre-existing stances and ministries

2) For most practitioners the “Bible” was synonymous with the printed book and in only a few cases did practitioners show any awareness of, or interest in changes in reading practices stemming from the use of the web.

3) Use of the Bible was found to be lacking creative diversity with practitioners preferring to stick to “fashionable ‘runs’ of practice”.

4) The Bible was being used without regular creative reflection and the researchers found that few practitioners were able to provide “evidence of reflection on or evaluation of their Christian practice”.

5) Bible use is seen as a shared activity “something to be discussed with peers, the fruit of open communal judgement rather than closed private judgement.”

For more detailed information see: http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/relig/research/researchprojects/previousprojects/biblepastoralpractice/the-use-of-the-bible-in-pastoral-practice.html

There have been 3 related books published as a result of work done on this project:

Using the Bible in Pastoral Practice: The Bible in Pastoral Practice edited by Paul Ballard and Steven R Holmes published by DLT in 2005 ISBN 0232526117

Using The Bible in Pastoral Practice: Holy Bible, Human Bible by Gordon Oliver published by DLT in 2006 ISBN 0232526710

Using The Bible in Pastoral Practice: Using The Bible in Christian Ministry: A Workbook by Stephen Pattison, Trevor Cooling and Margaret Cooling published by DLT in 2007 ISBN 0232526818
Source: http://www.bibleresources.org.uk/pages/data.asp?layout=books.htm&series.like=Using+The+Bible+in+Pastoral+Practice