An extensive international study is set to shed new light on global perspectives regarding the Bible and faith. This research, hailed for its unprecedented depth and scope, will be released soon, offering insights gathered over three years.
The British and Foreign Bible Society (BFBS) and United Bible Societies (UBS) commissioned Gallup to conduct this comprehensive survey, titled “The Patmos Initiative.” It involved 90,000 participants across 85 countries, delving into their views on Christianity and religious practices.
Described as the most thorough examination of attitudes towards Christianity, the Bible, and religion in recent decades, the study promises to reveal significant findings when it is published.
Initial insights from the survey suggest a notable interest in the Bible, even among non-Christian communities. The research will also highlight generational differences and similarities in religious attitudes.
Findings are expected to offer a deeper understanding of how Christianity is practiced globally and reveal unexpected trends in Bible engagement across both secular and religious societies.
Richard Powney, who leads The Patmos Initiative at BFBS, stated, “This study provides the first truly global picture of how people view and interact with the Christian Bible, arguably the most stable marker for understanding global Christianity, and paints a fascinating picture of attitudes to God and faith more generally.”
The research predominantly utilized face-to-face interviews, with about 1,000 participants from each of the surveyed countries.
Powney emphasized the value of the findings, saying, “Getting a better understanding of global attitudes to the Bible, Christianity and faith is going to be of immense value to the Church, as well as the global understanding of religion in society. All of us benefit from robust, trustworthy data about religion.”
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
