Bible still viewed as sacred but views changing

Most Americans still view the Bible as sacred, but perceptions and attitudes about Scripture are becoming more polarized, so says the annual “State of the Bible in 2013” report from the American Bible Society.

Most Americans (77 percent) believe morals are declining in the U.S. and many of them cite the lack of Bible reading for that deterioration. Yet at the same time, the survey found that “beliefs about the Bible and its role in society are becoming increasingly polarized—particularly when the data is examined by age group.”

Americans also seemed to be at odds over how meaningful the Bible is in their lives. Two-thirds believed “that the Bible contains everything a person needs to know to live a meaningful life,” but 58 percent said they didn’t personally want biblical advice or wisdom.

Additional findings included the propensity of Bibles found in American households, with an average of 4.4 per home. One in six of those polled said they had purchased a Bible in the past year, and 57 percent of those between 18 and 28 said they read the Bible less than three times a year or never.