Bible Reading Shapes a More Loving and Generous America
Bible Reading Shapes a More Loving and Generous America
More Americans are showing love and giving more when they spend time with the Bible. That is the central message in the eighth chapter of the new State of the Bible report from the American Bible Society.
The chapter draws from a national survey by NORC at the University of Chicago. Researchers spoke with 2656 adults across all states between January 2 and 21, 2025. Their findings point to a clear link between Scripture engagement and the way people treat others.
The American Bible Society describes loving behavior as action that helps others. It includes welcoming immigrants, building friendships across race and religion, caring about social injustice and looking after the environment. The chapter also looks at financial giving to churches and charities.
John Plake, the Society’s Chief Innovation Officer and editor of the State of the Bible series, said the numbers speak for themselves. He explained that the more people read Scripture, the more likely they are to share their time, energy and resources. He added that people often act out what they fill their minds with, and Scripture inspires them to love well.
The survey shows that people who read the Bible at least four times a week are far more likely to say Scripture pushes them toward loving behavior. Sixty six percent of them strongly agreed, compared to twenty two percent of those who read it once a month.
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People who are deeply engaged with Scripture also show higher support for pro social habits than those in the movable middle or those who rarely read the Bible. The only exception is care for the environment, where Bible disengaged adults show a slightly stronger response.
The report notes that the movable middle remains the least enthusiastic group when it comes to pro social behavior. Generational differences also appear. Gen Z shows the strongest concern for the environment. Millennials stand out in their support for oppressed communities. Older adults lead in building friendships across race and religion.
The chapter highlights major differences in giving. Almost half of practicing Christians who read the Bible monthly or more say Scripture makes them more generous. This is twice the level seen among casual or nominal Christians.
Money given to churches and charities mirrors this pattern. The median amount donated by Scripture engaged adults is two thousand dollars. That is four times the five hundred dollars recorded among the Bible disengaged. Eighty six percent of Scripture engaged Americans give, compared to fifty one percent of the Bible disengaged. The movable middle stands at seventy five percent.
Among Christian groups, Evangelical Protestants give at the highest rate. Black Protestant churches show a strong median level of giving and direct most of their support to their local congregations. Mainline Protestants give the lowest share of their gifts to their churches.
The American Bible Society will release the final chapter of the 2025 report next month. It will wrap up the year’s findings and offer a look at what to expect in 2026.
Content Credit : Boluwatife Abiola
Image Credit : Google. Com
