A 2013 survey conducted by the Barna Group, and commissioned by the American Bible Society, provides interesting answers to how Americans perceive the Bible and whether they believe it is still relevant today.
Some of the most interesting findings involve young people’s attitudes toward the book. As ChristianWritingToday.com recaps:
[D]espite the perception that Scripture hasn’t impacted the nation’s young people, Mosaics (ages 18-28) actually tend to show more interest in what the Bible has to say on certain issues than do older adults. Four out of ten Mosaics (40%) say they are interested in the Bible’s wisdom on dealing with illness and death, compared with about one-quarter of all adults (28%) who say the same. More than one-third of Mosaics (35%) are interested in the Bible’s perspective on dating and relationships, and four out of ten (42%) want to know what Scripture says about parenting—both of those percentages are much higher than the norms.
The results are reassuring, especially for those who fear that the youth are lacking spiritual guidance in an increasingly secular world. It is encouraging
to know that young people are turning to the Bible for wisdom, yet this fact also begs the question: Who can help them understand what they read in Scripture?
Additionally, 47% of all survey respondents said that the Bible “contains everything a person needs to live a meaningful life.”
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Where can people turn when they do feel reading the Bible alone cannot answer their questions?
The responsibility of meeting this need may fall partly on Christian authors and publishers, who annually release numerous books to help people nourish their spirituality. Their writings, while grounded in Bible teachings, can help shed light on contemporary issues that Scripture does not delve into. The youth may even find reading the works of established ministers like Bishop Leonard Scott to be a valuable supplement to attending religious services and Bible study sessions.
Thankfully, they will not have to look far to find Christian songs and books, as digital publishing platforms have enabled all forms of religious texts to be readily available to people all over the world. Electronic editions of the
Bible have even made it onto bestseller lists, reiterating that this book, indeed, is still sought-after today.
Ultimately, deepening one’s faith and relationship with God will always
be an individual responsibility. Nonetheless, it helps if there are signposts, in both Scripture and other inspirational writings, to guide one on the way to spiritual fulfillment.
(Article Image and Excerpt from Bible Still Ranks High in Increasingly Secular Culture,
ChristianWritingToday.com, March 27, 2013)