If alarming statistics like the fact that only 9% of American adults have a biblical worldview and that half of all born-again Christians believe the Bible teaches "God helps those who help themselves" don't wake us up to a crisis of Biblical illiteracy, then I'm not sure what will.
Key Takeaways
- Only 9% of American adults have a biblical worldview as measured by 20 core beliefs and behaviors
- 51% of U.S. adults believe the Bible is accurate in all it teaches
- Just 6% of Americans can correctly identify all four Gospels
- 58% of Millennials have a low Bible knowledge score
- Women are 13% more likely than men to read the Bible weekly
- 35% of Black Americans read the Bible daily vs 9% of whites
- Bible engagement among U.S. adults fell from 39% in 2021 to 35% in 2023
- Weekly Bible reading declined 15% among young adults since 2010
- Biblical worldview adherence dropped from 12% in 2020 to 6% in 2023
- 35% of U.S. adults use Bible apps weekly
- 14% listen to audio Bible monthly
- 48% of engaged adults meditate on Scripture daily
- 45% of Americans think Noah took 2 of each animal, ignoring clean/unclean distinction
- 50% believe "God helps those who help themselves" is a Bible verse
- 21% think the Bible has 50 books instead of 66
Biblical literacy among Americans is alarmingly low despite widespread belief in its relevance.
Bible Engagement and Usage
- 35% of U.S. adults use Bible apps weekly
- 14% listen to audio Bible monthly
- 48% of engaged adults meditate on Scripture daily
- 22% share Bible verses on social media weekly
- 59% of Bible users prefer print over digital
- 26% memorize Scripture verses monthly
- 40% discuss Bible with family weekly
- 17% participate in Bible studies groups
- 31% use Bible for decision-making daily
- 55% pray using Scripture verses weekly
- 12% journal Bible insights regularly
- 65% of weekly readers feel closer to God
- 28% listen to Bible podcasts monthly
- 19% teach Bible to children weekly
- 44% highlight verses in personal Bibles
- 23% fast while reading Scripture
- 37% use Bible apps for devotionals
- 15% attend Bible conferences yearly
- 50% say Bible reduces stress weekly
- 21% quote Bible in conversations daily
- 33% read multiple Bible translations
- 16% volunteer for Bible distribution
- 29% pair Bible reading with worship music
- 42% of engagers note life change from Bible
- 13% create Bible art or visuals
- 27% track Bible reading streaks in apps
- 38% gift Bibles annually
- 20% join online Bible challenges
- 46% integrate Bible into work routines
- 24% read Bible aloud in groups
Bible Engagement and Usage Interpretation
While many Americans are quick to tap, share, and listen to scripture, the data suggests a quieter, more personal engagement—where the real ink meets the real page, and the real life meets the real text—is where the most profound connection is being felt.
Demographic Differences
- 58% of Millennials have a low Bible knowledge score
- Women are 13% more likely than men to read the Bible weekly
- 35% of Black Americans read the Bible daily vs 9% of whites
- Gen Z Bible engagement dropped 20% from 2021 to 2023
- 22% of Boomers have high Bible knowledge vs 4% of Gen Z
- Urban residents read Bible 10% less than rural
- College graduates score 15% lower on Bible literacy tests
- Protestants have 40% higher Bible reading rates than Catholics
- 45% of women vs 32% of men believe Bible is literal word of God
- Hispanic Americans engage Bible 25% more than average
- 18-29 year olds read Bible half as much as 65+
- Evangelical men have 28% biblical worldview vs 2% non-evangelical women
- Southern U.S. Bible literacy 20% above national average
- Single adults read Bible 12% more than married
- High-income earners ($100k+) read 15% less
- Baby Boomers share Scripture online 30% more than Millennials
- 52% of parents prioritize Bible teaching vs 28% non-parents
- LGBTQ+ adults have 35% lower Bible engagement
- Republicans score 18% higher on Bible knowledge quizzes
- Empty nesters read Bible daily at 22% rate
- Asians have lowest Bible literacy at 12% high knowledge
- Church attendees under 30 have 10% biblical worldview
- Women in leadership roles score 8% lower
- Rural men read 18% more than urban women
- Gen X parents have highest Scripture memorization
- Atheists score 5% on Bible quizzes vs 45% Christians
- Bible app usage among teens is 40% among females vs 25% males
Demographic Differences Interpretation
The data paints a portrait of a text woven deeply into the fabric of American life yet fraying at the edges, revealing that Bible literacy is less a simple matter of faith and more a complex tapestry of geography, generation, gender, and politics.
Misconceptions and Specific Facts
- 45% of Americans think Noah took 2 of each animal, ignoring clean/unclean distinction
- 50% believe "God helps those who help themselves" is a Bible verse
- 21% think the Bible has 50 books instead of 66
- 35% confuse "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone" with Ten Commandments
- 27% believe Judas Iscariot was apostle who betrayed Jesus with a kiss, but think it's Matthew
- 40% think "cleanliness is next to godliness" is Biblical
- 12% say Epic of Gilgamesh is Old Testament book
- 62% know Last Supper but only 28% know it's from Gospels not Revelation
- 19% attribute "an eye for an eye" to Jesus not Mosaic Law
- 33% think Good Samaritan is parable about helping animals
- 25% believe Tower of Babel explains French language
- 48% think Bible silent on abortion
- 15% name Moses as author of Psalms
- 39% confuse David and Goliath with Samson and Delilah weapons
- 22% think "pearly gates" mentioned in Bible
- 30% believe Satan tempts but isn't defeated at cross
- 17% say Book of Hezekiah exists
- 41% think Prodigal Son ends with father disinheriting son
- 26% attribute "love thy neighbor" to Paul not Jesus
- 34% believe Bible teaches flat earth
- 13% think Esther married Ahab
- 29% confuse Beatitudes with Ten Commandments
- 20% say Revelation written before Gospels
- 37% think "forbidden fruit" was apple
- 24% believe Holy Trinity includes Mary
- 31% think camel through needle's eye means rich can't enter heaven literally
- 16% name Pontius Pilate as Jesus' disciple
- 43% confuse Armageddon with final battle location incorrectly
- 28% think "all things work together for good" applies to all not just God-lovers
- 18% believe Bible has unicorns as real animals
Misconceptions and Specific Facts Interpretation
This sobering tapestry of theological confusions reveals a deeply spiritual nation navigating by a compass that points enthusiastically in every direction except true north.
Overall Biblical Knowledge
- Only 9% of American adults have a biblical worldview as measured by 20 core beliefs and behaviors
- 51% of U.S. adults believe the Bible is accurate in all it teaches
- Just 6% of Americans can correctly identify all four Gospels
- 12% of U.S. adults read the Bible daily
- 35% of Americans know who delivered the Sermon on the Mount
- Only 28% of churchgoers read the Bible daily outside of church services
- 45% of U.S. adults cannot name the first book of the Bible
- 14% of Americans believe Job is a book in the New Testament
- 58% of U.S. adults say they read the Bible at least three to four times a year
- Only 20% of Americans can name all Ten Commandments in order
- 37% of U.S. adults think Noah's wife was Joan of Arc
- 49% of born-again Christians believe the Bible teaches that God helps those who help themselves
- 23% of adults surveyed named "Sodom and Gomorrah" as books in the Bible
- 63% of Americans cannot name 12 apostles
- 11% of U.S. adults think the Bible's "Good Samaritan" is from Luke
- 82% of U.S. adults believe the Bible is relevant today but only 25% read it regularly
- 40% of Americans confuse Biblical figures with Greek mythology
- 16% of church members believe Satan is a symbol not a real being
- 27% of U.S. adults can identify the Book of Jude
- 55% of Americans say the Bible has too little influence on society
- Only 4% of U.S. adults have a biblical worldview on all seven topics tested
- 31% of Americans believe the Bible's accounts of miracles are myths
- 66% of U.S. adults know Jesus performed miracles
- 19% think the Bible endorses homosexuality
- 48% of Americans say they never read the Bible
- 25% of U.S. adults can quote John 3:16 accurately
- 70% believe the Bible is God's word but 60% rarely read it
- 8% of Americans know all four Gospel writers
- 42% confuse Esther with Old Testament prophets
- 15% of U.S. adults think the "eye for an eye" is from Jesus' teachings
Overall Biblical Knowledge Interpretation
It seems we have embraced the idea of a biblical worldview with the fervor of a New Year's resolution—widely celebrated, frequently cited, but seldom practiced with any real familiarity.
Trends and Changes
- Bible engagement among U.S. adults fell from 39% in 2021 to 35% in 2023
- Weekly Bible reading declined 15% among young adults since 2010
- Biblical worldview adherence dropped from 12% in 2020 to 6% in 2023
- Scripture sharing on social media up 25% post-COVID
- Bible sales increased 22% during pandemic lockdowns
- Daily Bible readers rose from 20% to 26% among 18-28 year olds in 2022
- Confidence in Bible's accuracy fell from 59% in 2014 to 49% in 2023
- Audio Bible usage surged 40% since 2020
- Bible literacy scores declined 10% in public schools since 2000
- Evangelical Bible engagement steady at 55% since 2015
- Overall Bible use down 5% from 2019 to 2022
- Digital Bible downloads up 300% since 2010
- Biblical illiteracy rose from 22% to 37% in churches 1990-2020
- Weekly readers dropped from 28% in 2011 to 14% in 2023
- Belief in absolute moral truth from Bible fell 20% since 1990s
- Bible memorization apps users tripled 2018-2023
- Youth Bible knowledge halved since 1950s surveys
- Post-pandemic, family Bible reading up 18%
- Non-white Bible engagement increased 8% 2020-2023
- Overall Scripture engagement plateaued at 35% since 2021
- Church Bible studies attendance down 30% since 2000
- Podcast Bible teaching listeners up 50% 2020-2023
- Biblical worldview in teens fell from 9% to 2% 2017-2023
- Bible skepticism among Gen Z up 15% since 2015
- Daily readers among seniors stable at 30% over decade
Trends and Changes Interpretation
We are becoming a nation of people who buy Bibles, download Bibles, and listen to Bibles, all while believing in them less, reading them less, and understanding them less.