A survey shows the percentage of Americans who say they regularly read the Bible continues to increase. The survey, conducted by The Barna Group, found that 47 percent of respondents said they open the Bible on a weekly basis, up from just 31 percent in 1995 and 40 percent six years ago.
The survey also polled respondents on six other “religious behaviors” including church attendance and attending small groups like Bible studies. Forty-seven percent said they attend church on a weekly basis, up from 37 percent a decade ago, while 23 percent said they attend small group functions affiliated with church. Twenty-seven percent of those asked said they volunteer through church, while 24 percent said that they attend Sunday School, up from 17 percent in 1996.
Survey director George Barna said it was unusual for there to be an increase in participation in all of these religious behaviors at the same time.
“The intriguing possibility is that with most of our key behavioral measures showing increases at the same time, there is the possibility that this may herald a holistic, lasting commitment to engagement with God and the Christian faith,” he said in a statement. (RNS)
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