News

Surprising Stats on Who Reads the Bible from Start to Finish

Also: 50 Shades of Grey and Game of Thrones have higher percentages of practicing Christian readers than The Hobbit?

Christianity Today June 4, 2013

During an analysis of whether or not Americans have read the books behind recent movies such as The Hobbit, The Hunger Games, and Twilight, the Barna Group found some interesting stats on who reads the most popular book of all: the Bible.

In its latest study, The Books Americans Are Reading—And What that Reveals About Us, Barna notes:

One in five of all American adults have read the Bible from start to finish. While it might not be shocking to discover well over half (61%) of evangelical Christians have read the Bible from start to finish, it may be surprising that nearly one in six (18%) of people with a faith other than Christianity and about one in eleven (9%) people with no faith claimed to have done the same.

Approximately one-third of politically conservative adults say they have read the Bible, compared with one-tenth of political liberals. Nearly one-third (29%) of black adults say they’ve read the Bible from start to finish, more than Hispanic adults (22%) and white adults (19%). Boomers are the group with the highest likelihood to have read the Bible from start to finish, with nearly one-quarter (23%) reporting they had done so.

Barna also examined the demographics of readers of popular books that have become (or are becoming) movies and TV shows, and found the following percentages of readers that are practicing Christians (per Barna’s definition):

Life of Pi: 37%

Twilight: 22%

The Hunger Games: 21%

50 Shades of Grey: 19%

Game of Thrones: 18%

The Hobbit: 16%

CT offers other stories on Bible reading, as well as many reviews of books and movies, including the links above.

Our Latest

News

Church of England Leaders Kept Evangelical Beatings Secret

Archbishop Justin Welby resigns after abuse report exposes cover-up dating back to 1982.

Review

New & Noteworthy Books

Chosen by Matt Reynolds, CT senior books editor.

News

Recovery Ministries Help Portland Get Clean

After an attempt to decriminalize drugs made the addiction crisis in Oregon even worse, local Christians are pleading with the sick—and the state—to let them help.

A Solution for Seasonal Overwhelm

Focusing on the few in front of us makes a tangible difference in our local communities.

News

Finding Sobriety—and Jesus—in Vietnam’s Christian Drug Rehabs

The country’s church-run addiction centers are so effective that communist officials are taking notice.

Review

The Black Church Has Five Theological Anchors

Walter Strickland’s sweeping narrative of African American Christianity portrays a big God who is strong to deliver.

Review

Tending and Keeping the Christian Past in an ‘Ahistoric Age’

Why the work of historical stewardship isn’t just for historians.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube