Americans and the Bible

                                                                                                                                                                            Vol. IV, No. 3, April 1991

The Gallup Poll reports that 82% of Americans believe the Bible is either the literal or inspired word of God, but only 21% are engaged in Bible study. Half of Americans cannot even name any of the four Gospels. Nevertheless, the Bible is the most widely read book in the United States. 42% believe the Bible is the literal word of God compared to 37% in the 1970s and 80s, and to 65% in the 60s. Another 40% consider the Bible to be the "inspired" word of God. 17% say they read the Bible daily, 23% weekly, 13% monthly, 25% less than monthly, and 20% never read it. 21% of American adults say they are in a Bible study group with Protestants twice as likely as Catholics to be involved.