The Bible may be a source of wisdom for many Americans but most don’t read it for themselves, a new survey shows.

More than half have read little or none of it, reports LifeWay Research.

“Even among worship attendees less than half read the Bible daily,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of the evangelical research firm based in Nashville, Tennessee. “The only time most Americans hear from the Bible is when someone else is reading it.”

“Among Americans: How much of the Bible have you personally read?” (Credit: LifeWay Research.)
“Among Americans: How much of the Bible have you personally read?” (Credit: LifeWay Research.)

The survey of 1,000 people found disparate approaches to the Christian Scriptures. For instance, Northeasterners are less likely to give it a look than people in other regions. And men are less inclined than women to pick it up.

One in five Americans have read the entire Bible at least once — including 9 percent who’ve read it through multiple times. Just over half (53 percent) have read relatively little of it, and 1 in 10 haven’t read it at all.

“Among Americans: Which of the following describe the Bible?” (Credit: LifeWay Research.)
“Among Americans: Which of the following describe the Bible?” (Credit: LifeWay Research.)

Among those who read at least a few sentences of the Bible, slightly more than a fifth of Americans (22 percent) read a little Scripture each day, taking a systematic approach. About a quarter (27 percent) read parts others have suggested, and 16 percent look up portions to help others. Almost one-fifth (19 percent) reread their favorite passages.

Americans with evangelical beliefs are far more likely to read a little of the Bible each day than those without such beliefs (49 percent vs. 16 percent). Protestants are more likely to read the book each day than Catholics (36 percent and 17 percent, respectively).

Researchers found that Americans tend to view the Bible positively, with half (52 percent) saying it is a good source for morals. More than a third say it is helpful today (37 percent), true (36 percent) or life-changing (35 percent). And far fewer say it is outdated (14 percent), bigoted (8 percent) or harmful (7 percent).

So why don’t people read the Bible? They:

  • Don’t prioritize it (27 percent).
  • Don’t have time (15 percent).
  • Have read it enough (13 percent).
  • Disagree with what it says (10 percent).
  • Don’t read books (9 percent).
  • Don’t see how it relates to them (9 percent).
  • Don’t have one (6 percent).

The survey of 1,000 people, drawn from a panel designed to be representative of the U.S. population, was conducted September 27-Oct. 1, 2016, and had an overall margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.