The Bible Is Becoming Less Important To Most Americans

Written by Admin
Posted April 20, 2012 at 1:10 am

Once upon a time, the vast majority of all Americans believed that the Bible was the Word of God, but now things have fundamentally changed. With each passing year, the Bible is becoming less important to most Americans. The results of the most recent State of the Bible survey are absolutely shocking. The survey was conducted by the Barna Group on behalf of the American Bible Society, and it clearly shows that the Bible is becoming less important in the daily lives of Americans. Sadly, young people are rejecting the Bible and rejecting Christianity in higher percentages than anyone else. The Bible tells us that there will be a great apostasy in the last days, but to see it start to happen is incredibly sad. The following are some of the most noteworthy results of the survey….

In 2011, 54% of American adults said that the Bible has too little influence in society today. In 2012, that number was only 47%.
The survey found that 55% of all American adults read the Bible to be closer to God. That was a 9% decline from 2011.
In 2011, 53% of American adults believed that “the Bible contains everything a person needs to know to live a meaningful life”. In the 2012 survey, that percentage fell to 48%.
Last year, 67% of all American adults said that they want to read the Bible more. This year, only 60% of all American adults said that they want to read the Bible more.
54% of all respondents to the survey this year were not able to correctly identify the first five books of the Bible.
46% of all American adults believe that the Bible, the Quran and the Book of Mormon “are different expressions of the same spiritual truths”.
36% of all American adults read the Bible less than once a year.
According to the survey, younger Americans consider the Bible to be less important than older Americans do. Only 34% of Americans in the 18-27 age bracket believe that “the Bible contains everything a person needs to know to live a meaningful life”. In the 66 and older age bracket, 62% believe that “the Bible contains everything a person needs to know to live a meaningful life”.

As the Bible becomes less important to most Americans, they are also increasingly coming to believe that all major religions are acceptable paths to God.

In fact, a movement known as “Chrislam” that is attempting to draw together Christianity and Islam is making inroads in churches all over America. For example, last year dozens of churches publicly read from the Quran during their worship services one Sunday as part of an interfaith project promoted by the Interfaith Alliance and Human Rights First.

Most Americans simply do not believe that there is a single way to God anymore. One survey that was conducted a while back discovered that 52 percent of all American Christians believe that “at least some non-Christian faiths can lead to eternal life”.

For many other Americans, religion is simply not important at all. A survey that was conducted by LifeWay Research found that 46 percent of all Americans never even think about whether they will go to heaven or hell at all.

Without a doubt, Christianity is losing its dominant role in American life. Most Americans still consider themselves to be “Christian” in one sense or another, but the percentage of Christians in the United States is falling fast. Back in 1990, 86 percent of all Americans considered themselves to be Christians. In 2008, that number had plummeted to 76 percent.

So where are all of those people going?

Well, certainly a number of other religions have grown rapidly, but so has atheism. In fact, according to the U.S. Census Bureau the number of Americans with “no religion” more than doubled between 1990 and 2008.

This is particularly true among young Americans. According to one survey, 25 percent of all Americans in the 18 to 29 age bracket say that they have no religion.

Survey after survey has found that the younger a person is, the less likely they are going to be Christian.

Young adults in America today are far less likely to be engaged in religious activities than their parents or grandparents. The following are some of the results of a survey of young adults that was conducted by LifeWay Christian Resources….

•65% rarely or never pray with others, and 38% almost never pray by themselves either.

•65% rarely or never attend worship services of any kind.

•67% don’t read the Bible or any other religious texts on a regular basis.

There appears to be a huge drop off in church attendance during the transition from the teen years to the young adult years. The following comes from a CNN article….

David Kinnaman, the 38-year-old president of the Barna Group, an evangelical research firm, is the latest to sound the alarm. In his new book, “You Lost Me: Why Young Christians Are Leaving Church and Rethinking Faith,” he says that 18- to 29-year-olds have fallen down a “black hole” of church attendance. There is a 43% drop in Christian church attendance between the teen and early adult years, he says.

But that doesn’t mean that young adults in America are fully rejecting spirituality.

In fact, spirituality and the supernatural have been at the very heart of some of the biggest entertainment phenomenons that we have seen in recent years. Harry Potter and Twilight both captured the imaginations of millions upon millions of young Americans.

Our young people seem to have a craving for the supernatural, but they do not seem to have much of a desire for Christianity.

In fact, many music superstars have found great success by using dark imagery that fully rejects Christianity. Satanic imagery seems to have a great allure for many young Americans today. The following comes from a recent Fox News article….

Lady Gaga, for example, frequently uses satanic imagery in her music videos. A simple Google search of Gaga’s name yields results that suggests everything from her being a servant of the dark lord, which she does little to dispel, to her involvement with the Illuminati, an alleged secret society of powerful musicians, CEOs and politicians rumored to worship the devil.

Similarly, Kanye West has garnered attention with controversial satanic images in his music videos and joking that he is involved with the Illuminati. West’s frequent collaborators Jay Z and Beyonce are rumored to be involved with the group as well.

Rapper Tyler Okonma, better known by the stage name Tyler the Creator, has even branded himself the son of Satan in his song “Bastard.”

And with Satan’s imagery arguably translating to remarkable success for these stars, who have Grammys and gold records under their belts, experts don’t see it going away any time soon.

We need to reach these young people with the truth while there is still time.

Large portions of the church are sleeping and this generation of young people is rapidly slipping away.

We desperately need a true spiritual awakening in this country.

So what do you think about the things that you have just read above? Please feel free to leave a comment with your opinion below….

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Mark

Western Christians are waiting for “secret rapture” to sweep them up, that’s probably a good place to start, as to why there is silence. Beyond that, its just like the Bible tells us – there will be a falling away. There is no rapture before the tribulation. The tribulation has already started. For that matter how does anyone know the rapture hasn’t already taken place??

Wake up, fellow Christains, now is when we earn our pay, so to speak.
L.F.Bridge

Looks like some good news to me. Thanks for sharing.
Steve

I think the young know there own mined and will reject are meddling. This is a good thing man has to move on, Religion has run it’s cours and is fading fast just as the gods of the past died out so will this one.
http://www.beforeitsnews.com adam

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Orrin

I find in interesting how many athiests/anti-religionists read these types of articles (see posts #2 and #3, above). I mean, if you don’t love God and Jesus and think the Bible is worthless, WTH are you doing here?
Concerning post #3 by “Steve”: Is that what you think? That the “gods of the past died out”? Have I got news for you. They are still alive and kicking and still have millions of worshippers. In fact, they are and have always been at war with the One True God and His followers. Don’t beleive me? Take a look in New York Harbor. See that giant statue holding up the torch? That’s an old goddess called Columbia. She is the patron diety of the Babylonian Mystery religion that was adopted by each successive empire throughout the ages. Her original name was Semiramis in Babylon, but she was given a new name according the language of each new empire. By the time of the Roman empire, she was called Columbia. She is worshipped in secret halls by our civic, corporate, and governmental leaders, that hive of vipers, even today. Of course you don’t know this. That’s they are called “secret societies”. They have manipulated the masses through the media and other sources in order to cause the apostasy this article is about. They don’t have to get you to worship their god, but only get you to give up on the True God. If they can do that (and they have), they’ve won. In fact, they don’t WANT you to be part of their religion. After all, its a very exclusive club. They just need you to abandon the service of their enemy so that they can more easily enslave you, which is what they have done. You are aware that you are a slave, aren’t you? No, you aren’t. That was part of their diabolical strategy too, to make you think you are free when you really belong to THEM.
Don’t beleive me? Then let’s put my assertion to the test:
1. A free man has ownership of his property, family, and over his own body.
2. A slave has no ownership of these things.
Now, you may THINK you own a car, but guess what? You didn’t “buy” a car. You simply paid for the priviledge of using it according to the parameters and rules that THEY lay down. Still think you own it? Try not paying their tribute (licensing fees, taxes, fines, etc.) and see what will happen. They will take it from you, or at the very least, refuse to allow you to use it.
Think you own your own body? Try putting something in it that they don’t approve of. You will be imprisoned, just like a slave.
Think you are in charge of your own family? Think again. For any number of reasons they deem worthy, they will take your children away from you. Yep, they own your children, too.
You think God, Jesus, Christianity, and the Bible “meddle” with the minds of the young? The young have been brainwashed from the beginning by the secret socities that rule this world, whose head is Satan himself. So, go on thinking that God and Christ are dead. You and the rest of the world will soon find out quite differently.
Ian maw

Our kids just seem to want to make up their own minds. They have come through church life into their teens and have a relative point of view, a cynical view of some kind. I fear the worst for them knowing there is always hope. They are brainwashed by the established points of view from the media and general education, a world view. They seem to know best, an arrogance, closed mind and not interested in the naturally interesting stuff in creation or the sheer awesomeness of nature just washes over them. They are missing it, blind to natural inquisitiveness a wanting to ask about stuff and truth. Social peer groups and fashion rule their minds or instant gratification, gaming or gossip.

Might sound like teenagers to some and put it down to that. I hope it is and that empathy or some other process we can’t fathom just bring them out of it. Dear Lord help me pray for them I have run out of steem.
Margie

sounds scary to me,I never realized it to be so bad. May God have mercy
, we need to turn to God and repent for our slackness, and pray like never before.
http://signsofthelastdays.com John

While reading this article, I got to the part about Lady GaGa and several others using satanic imagery. This made me laugh, because the “church,Chrisstians” have been doing it since the 14 century.
Lance

Whoever put in the number 5 post has it partially correct. The majority of humanity is not truly free because human beings are born into sin, that is, their nature is corrupt. Strange that those promising us freedom are themselves slaves of this corrution.
Andy Keever

I’m deeply concerned and want to know what to do to help change this trend.
wade underhile

andy seeking god is the answer , he is looking for those who will give there all to god,we as christians are alive at the greatest time on earth we are the last christians, and what is wrote about us depends on what we do, do we go to sleep and let satan steal souls ,or do we seek god, let him take over our life for his glory. let us become again the servants of god, and trust in him and not the flesh
Christina

Very helpful article with useful information. I am struggling as a youth leader now to keep my youth members in tune with what’s going on in the world. They are at a really tough time right now in adolescents dealing with peer pressure and many of them attend church only because their parents require them to. It’s hard working with a group where some have a strong faith and others not so strong. This article gives me great encouragment and something to work with in grasping their attention.
http://www.slingbroadband.com Sam Jonson

good news to me. Thanks for sharing.
Annette Paul

There is nothing more greater than the power of free will. I am honored and proudly proclaim that Jesus is the only way to eternal glory with our ture Father God Almighty. I believe that he has died and risen to glory so that he may prepare a place for us. Right now he sits at the right hand of God advocating for us to our Father. The article speaks about the youth. Well, is it becasue they reject chrisitanity or is it that they were never taught and brought up into the christian faith? We need to look deeper into that.Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it”. That is why from the surveys young children to young adults, their faith decline in the reading of the bible;beleiving that it is everything to live a meaningful life;but when then older adults age 66 have a higher percentage. well, again, go back to Proverbs 22:6. If 34% of americans 18-27 find the bible to be less important, no wonder our youths today find other spiritual means elsewhere, or the lack to find it.Do Parents practice what they preach, in order for their children to live up to the expectations of Chrisitanity? We as parents(adults), adults have a chrisitain responsibility to raise our children.No one is perfect,even in our christianity no matter how strong our faith because we all fall short of HIS glory. We need to equip our children with the bible. It is our true weapon agaist satan. that is why he diverts us away from our true savior and Lord Jesus Christ.
Phillip

8. John

I guess the question for you brother, is what did GOD do to you/or not do FOR you?
To me it seems most of those who oppose the truth that GOD is indeed real, are the ones who believe they never “met him physically” or he didn’t answer thier prayer (whatever that may be, probably money related or death of a relative etc.)
-the thing is, have you ever just tried to pray? try to believe in GOD? or do you just try to ignore the presence of Him?
I wish I could help you, because I know there is a grudge being held (and I’m sure you personally know what it is) But keep in mind, things happen for a reason, and whether you like it or not, your still loved by GOD. DOMINUS VOBISCUM
Pingback: 70 Reasons To Mourn For America | Judgement Of America()
BLESS

Christianity is not a religion, because it’s not man-made. all other religions are made up with the intent to go against the bible. the Lord Jesus Christ shed his blood/died on the cross so that we can be saved and for God to have mercy on our souls! he rose on the 3rd day and is still alive. these societys know that and their man job is to keep you all from the truth, by developing a hate towards God/Jesus. they’re instructed primarily by satan himself. that’s why all these natural disasters are happening the way they are and so much chaos throughout the world. we all want God to protect us when that chaos comes to our door step, but soon as everything is fine we dismiss God. there is only one way to get to heaven and that’s accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord & Savior, and get saved. you want the truth, but are willing to let deception cloud your judgement and yet YOU are the ones giving speeches about not letting the world deceive you. buddhism is all about inner enlightment, but that’s just a fancy of saying “you don’t need God, do it yourself”. people forget that satan can still disguise himself as the angel of light and manipulate your minds. he knows the bible front to back. the koran and all other so called holy books are merely immitations of the bible. these religions all have two things in common,
1.) they dismiss the fact Jesus Christ is not real
2.) they all have you turning your backs on Christianity.
so if all these religions have you turning you backs on Christianity don’t you think there’s some sort of deception going on??? I pray and hope that you all have a change of heart before it’s too late. there’s still time to accept Jesus into your hearts and live a saved life. the lord giveths, but he doesn’t taketh. satan is the one that takeths and his whole plan to destroy all before HIS time is up. God Bless you and may God have mercy on your soul!
http://twitter.com/stevegarymcfadd steve gary mcfadden

Good informative article! Social media media is the holy grail to these kids and we need to face reality that most of them are not going to be won. I have daughters 30 and 35, one is living out her faith, the other saved when she was 5 (made a profession), but she fits well into this article. We must continue to live and speak the truth about Christ and win who we can win. My wife and I just watched 15 minutes of the new movie “Flight” with Denzel Washington and it was absolutely rauncy. We walked out not believing what we just witnessed. With this sort of dominating social media it’s going to be an uphill fight to win just your love ones. You need no other explanation as to how current president could possibly be re-elected than to know hollywood and the media hates our God and Creator.
Dan McDonald

Too many Christians are unable to tell right from wrong. A poll shows
that 82% of evangelical Christians believe torture is ok. 25% would
throw a homosexual child out of the house. Then there are those psychotics
to picket the funerals of dead soldiers .Who needs Christians? Good
riddance.

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