LifeWay Research: Americans Are Fond of the Bible, Don't Actually Read It

[MineralMan]

Last edited Fri Apr 26, 2019, 11:54 AM - Edit history (1)

This is the Religion Group, so it's not uncommon for active posters here to have considerable knowledge of the Bible, it being the scriptural resource for America's dominant religion. However, those active posters probably aren't representative of Americans in general, as the survey at the link below demonstrates:

https://lifewayresearch.com/2017/04/25/lifeway-research-americans-are-fond-of-the-bible-dont-actually-read-it/

Here's a survey done in 2017 of 1000 Americans. Now, I have no idea how the sample was selected, but here's a chart that shows what the survey turned up. Note: my posting of this is not an endorsement of the source website or organization:



Assuming that the average person on DU is familiar with scripture, or has more than a surface knowledge of religion in general, is probably a mistake. While people who are active in this group know more than that, generally, others read posts in this group from time to time, after seeing them in the Latest Posts page on DU. So, posting what seems to be very basic information to many here often presents unknown information to others.

The Religion Group on DU is not a closed group. Anyone might read a post in this Group, so it's a mistake to assume that everyone knows as much as some of us know. Even basic information can be useful.

Just saying...

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. I read all of it when I was a teenager, not because I was (or am) religious,

but because I was curious and would read anything that wasn't nailed down. A lot of it was boring and forgettable; some of it was really pretty interesting and occasionally weird. I consider it to be a collection of ancient myths, folklore and legends that provide a fascinating look at the Bronze Age in the Middle East, if one has an interest in cultural anthropology. It also contains occasional words of wisdom.

I recently acquired an interesting old Bible. It's enormous - at least 8" thick, and containing dozens of beautiful illustrations, including Doré etchings. Since it's in Norwegian I'll probably give it to Mindekirken.

[MineralMan]

3. I've read the whole thing half a dozen times, in

three different translations. The first time, I was a teen Christian. The other five times, I was an atheist. I read it because it represents the core texts of the dominant religion in this country. I'm a fast reader, so a complete read-through takes me about three months of part-time reading in the evenings.

I will admit to skimming the geneology books, pretty much. The rest, though, got careful readings each time. Translations read include the KJV, RSV, and NIV at different times.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

5. There's some great writing in KJV.

The prose has pretty much gone to crap since then. The stories seem a little less silly when they sound like Shakespeare.

[MineralMan]

7. That's my preferred translation, by far.

I read the other two as an exercise, really, and to be able to say I had done it.

On the other hand, not everyone prefers 17th century English as reading matter, so I have no real problem with people's preferences for other translations. I just happen to like the KJV when I'm reading the thing.

BTW, my last read-through was in 2008. I probably won't do it again. I can't see any reason, to, really. I have a couple of Bibles around here, though. These days, however, I use a website to search for passages. biblegateway.com. It makes it very easy to view passages in just about every translation, as well.

[abqtommy]

2. Wow! According to the chart

I'm a member of the 9% group that has read the Bible all the way through more than once. It was a good experience for me and was the key to developing my concepts of perspective in application to writing in general and religious writing in particular. It was also the beginning of my contempt for all organized religion. It's interesting how the same behavior will affect different people in different ways!

[MineralMan]

4. Me, too. I credit that for my atheism.

[trotsky]

6. I had to read the whole thing, cover-to-cover, and write a summary for each book...

as part of my individualized confirmation classes.

Doing that did more than anything else to steer me toward non-belief.

[MineralMan]

8. That would do it.

When I was 15, I memorized Matthew for a Bible memorization contest at the church I attended. When asked to recite what I had memorized, I got started, but only got through Chapter 2 before being told, "That's enough, thank you..." Apparently, they had some lesser goals in mind in the contest, for which I won a very nice KJV edition. I still have that prize. I can no longer recite Matthew from memory, however.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

10. I can't think of a better way to make a person run away from religion screaming

than to force them to write a summary of every book. If a person is going to seminary, yes, or maybe studying anthropology, but they'd be doing it voluntarily. Otherwise it would be just excruciating to have to review the whole damn thing (and in the process start noticing how weird, contradictory and improbable a lot of it is). If a member of the clergy wants to steer a young person toward atheism I can't think of a better way to do it.

[The Genealogist]

9. Many great the Bible like they do the flag

They use it as a fetish or a weapon. Resding the Bible is unimportant to such people. it's power as an object is what counts to them.

[MineralMan]

11. Hence the term "Bible Banger" from its use as a bludgeon, I suppose.

Most people know a few individual verses they can quote when needed. Systematic bible reading is not something most people bother with, frankly. In most Christian denominations, only a select set of Bible readings are presented for use in the liturgy.



Or, the more modern version:

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

12. A lot of people rely on what their pastors tell them the Bible says,

and as weird as the Bible is by itself, fundie pastors (in particular) often add their own spin. Abortion, for example, isn't mentioned anywhere. Jesus never mentions homosexuality, although it's in the list of no-nos in Leviticus along with wearing clothing made of mixed threads. A question about this was raised some years ago in a letter to wingnut "Dr." Laura Schlessinger:

Dear Dr. Laura:

Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate. I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some of the other specific laws and how to follow them:

When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord — Leviticus 1: 9. The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?

I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21: 7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?

I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness — Leviticus 15: 19-24. The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.

Leviticus 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?

I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?

A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination — Leviticus 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this?

Leviticus 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?

Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Leviticus 19:27. How should they die?

I know from Leviticus 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?

My uncle has a farm. He violates Leviticus 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? — Leviticus 24:10-16. Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Leviticus 20:14)

I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.

[The Genealogist]

13. I remember this or a similar letter floating around

The responses to it I heard from most Christians was that, for various reasons, some of those laws still counted and some didn't. It mostly revolved around throwing out the ones that are inconvenient for them, or fail to conform to their world view in some way. Sort of like when the same crowd label this or that part of the Bible "metaphorical."

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

14. It's been around for years and it still cracks me up.

If you're a true believer in the Bible as the inerrant word of God, you'd better not be wearing a polyester-cotton blend shirt.

[Doreen]

16. I was laughing so hard

that I almost choked on my coffee.

[Doreen]

15. I have never read it cover to cover ( never will. )

I did read some through the years when I went to church but now the only time I read it is to find out where in the bible it says one thing or another about a subject people use the bible as a weapon.

My friend who is a die hard Catholic and I get into discussions and when I say something he may not agree on we look at passages on the subject.

The sad thing is that my friend has enough knowledge of the bible to be a priest but yet when I am bringing up passages about most of our discussions I seem to prove my point more times than not.

[MineralMan]

17. Well, clearly you are in the majority in that.

Reading the entire Bible is an exercise, really, in becoming familiar with the entire thing. The usefulness of that is questionable, really, but it also shows you the range of things discussed in it. A limited knowledge is all most people need to practice their religion, really, since most churches, too, focus on only selected parts.

In today's technological world, it's pretty easy to search the Bible for what it says about just about anything. Some people learn the Bible that way, but still don't get the experience of following it from beginning to end.

[Doreen]

18. I could never get into it enough for cover to cover.

I would have to read it about 10 times to remember a quarter of it. When you have so many passages throughout that contradict each other memorizing things is pointless. I'm unable to memorize anything else so to memorize the bible would be pointless.

I figure that at least I am willing to bring up all of the passages in the bible on what ever subject I am discussing instead of blindly saying what I believe.

Of course my side of belief is not believing the bible. Everytime I go through passeges I am clearly reminded why I stay away from religion.