Even though American teens think highly of the Bible, they do not really spend time reading it, according to a survey.
The poll, called "Teens State of the Bible" which was conducted by Barna Research in 2015, showed that teens' opinion of the Holy Book does not necessarily reflect their desire to read it.
"Sixty-nine percent of teens believe the Bible contains everything one needs to know to live a meaningful life; 89 percent of teens believe the Bible is a sacred text; and 44 percent of teens believe the Bible has too little influence in society," Andrew Hood, director of communications at the American Bible Society told The Christian Post.
"On the other hand, teens are not very engaged with the Bible. Only 64 percent of teens read the Bible three or four times a year or less; 71 percent of teens said they are too busy. When teens do read the Bible, 76 percent said they are influenced 'a lot' by it," he added.
The survey revealed that "teens have the same beliefs as their parents," so it is important for parents to set a good spiritual example. Another survey will be conducted again this 2016 to determine Bible trends. The American Bible Society is grateful that the research is being conducted so that they can assess the scriptural needs of teenagers.
"The question for us at American Bible Society, and others who work with teens, is how do we help teens become more engaged with the Bible and develop their own relationships with God," said Hood. "American Bible Society is tackling this challenge by providing teens with anytime, anywhere access to the Bible. This includes electronic resources like apps, games and social media content to meet teens where they are."
Back in October 2014, the American Bible Society released the results of a survey conducted on millennial-aged Americans (ages 18 to 30), which showed that millennial respondents have a positive perception of the Bible. Twenty-one percent found that the Bible is factual, while 44 percent believe it is the inspired Word of God. Meanwhile, 18 percent think that it is just another book of teachings written by men.
