Survey: Online Churchgoers Read the Bible More Than In-Person Attendees, Digital Bible Readers Read More But Comprehend Less
If we do make time for Bible reading, the traditional paper Bible is superior to the digital version. When we take notes while reading the Bible, reading becomes a dialogue. However, to encourage Gen Z to develop a Bible reading habit, we can recommend Bible apps and be prepared to answer the “most frequently searched spiritual questions” online, instead of sharing Bible-related videos or podcast links.
[Special Correspondent Chen Rongyi, Compiler Yu Youmei / Report] The best Bible is the one we actually open and read, but is it a paper Bible or a digital Bible? Swedish theologian Joel Halldorf points out that research suggests paper reading has a deeper impact.
In October 2023, the cultural editors of six of Sweden’s largest newspapers jointly called for an increase in printed books, libraries, and reading in schools. In September of the same year, a survey by the National Literary Trust (NLT) published by the British newspaper The Guardian found that more than half of British children and young people do not enjoy reading in their free time.
Halldorf further points out that before people abandon other books, they have already stopped reading one book – the Bible. In 2022, the American Bible Society reported that 26 million Americans stopped reading the Bible that year alone.
Bibles Sit on Shelves Unread
In other countries, the decline has been slower but steady. In 1949, 16% of Swedes regularly read the Bible, but by 1970, that number had dropped to 10%. A 2016 survey showed that 7% of people read the Bible every month, but only 2% read it daily.
Halldorf says most Christians own a Bible, but it sits on the shelf unread. Churches have also noticed the decline in Bible reading and many are trying to address the issue.
On the other hand, there are high hopes for digitalization and Bible apps. Judging from the survey data, they have all achieved great success. The most popular, YouVersion, has been downloaded to 500 million phones, iPads, and computers.
This technology has several advantages: if you have a Bible app on your phone, it is always in your pocket, making it convenient to read anywhere; you can also set it up so that you receive “push notifications” reminding you to read. Additionally, people can easily create Bible reading plans and see some inspirational verses on the screen every day.
Online Churchgoers Read the Bible More Than In-Person Attendees
According to a study released by the American Bible Society in October 2023, a majority of Americans who attend online church services read the Bible at least once a week, more often than those who attend in-person services.
Chapter 7, “Bible Use and Technology,” of the “State of the Bible 2023” report shows that 39% of respondents meet the definition of “Bible users,” meaning they have a habit of reading the Bible at least 3-4 times a year, not just during large church gatherings.
25% of respondents “read the Bible at least once a week” outside of church services; 9% “read the Bible daily”; and 38% “never” read the Bible outside of church services.
In terms of denomination, Evangelical Christians have the highest percentage of weekly Bible users (53%), followed by African American Christian communities (44%), then larger Christian churches such as the United Church of Christ (UCC), Episcopal Church, Presbyterian Church, Lutheran Church, etc. (36%), and Catholics (21%).
Additionally, among respondents who primarily attend online services, more than 70% read the Bible at least once a week (74%), compared to about 30% of those who regularly attend in-person services (32%).
The report notes, “This finding may seem somewhat surprising, as many assume that online church attendees are less spiritually mature. However, the data suggests that online attendees may be more focused on hearing from God, often alone or with immediate family. It’s individual, just as Bible reading is often individual.”
As for the way the Bible is used, nearly 70% of respondents use a paper Bible at least once a month (69%), half use a Bible app at least once a month (50%), and nearly 50% read the Bible or search for related data online (48%). Some people watch Bible-reading videos (44%), and 30% listen to Bible audio or podcasts (32%).
American Evangelicals Make Good Use of Bible Apps
After observing the results of this study, John Farquhar Plake, president of the American Bible Society, said, “We found that Americans use specific technologies to enrich their Bible study, and we also found significant differences in Bible reading methods between generations.”
In terms of age, it is not surprising that nearly 50% of Gen Z, born after 1997, read the Bible or search for Bible data online at least once a month (46%). Of millennial respondents born between 1981 and 1996, 60% read the Bible or search for Bible data online at least once a month (60%); and more than half of Gen X respondents born between 1965 and 1980 do so (52%).
Plake believes, “This finding can be applied practically to ministry, allowing ministry leaders to see that they can recommend Bible apps to Gen Z to develop a Bible reading habit, and also be prepared to answer the ‘most frequently searched spiritual questions’ online. However, sharing Bible-related videos or podcast links may have less effect on this generation.”
Digital Bibles Are Easier to Read But Harder to Understand
But what does it feel like to read the Bible on a screen? In “People of the Screen,” published by Oxford University Press, theologian and technology developer John Dyer explores this. In his research, he divided the congregations of three churches into two groups. One group read on screens, and the other group read on ordinary paper Bibles. The most significant advantage of digital Bible reading is ease. For example, people who follow a Bible reading plan read more frequently than those who use a paper Bible. The problem arises when it comes to comprehension. Numerous studies have shown that we comprehend less when we read on screens. People who read digital text remember less than those who read printed text. Even more digital readers said the text on the book was confusing.
One participant said, “It feels more like browsing an email than actually studying God’s Word.” As a result, the study reached a conclusion: digital readers read more, but comprehend less.
Swedish theologian Halldorf therefore says, “If we do make time for Bible reading, the traditional paper Bible is superior to the digital version. When we take notes while reading the Bible, reading becomes a dialogue.” This habit dates back centuries: in the 18th century, devout readers would write down important spiritual events in their lives, such as the date of their conversion. Through notes and annotations, the Bible continued to be intertwined with the reader’s personal life. (Data sources: Christian Post, Christian Today)
调查：参加在线主日者比实体主日信徒更多读经 数位圣经读者阅读更多但理解更少
如果我们确实抽出时间读经的话，传统纸本圣经优于数位版。当我们读经做笔记时，阅读变成了对话。但想要Z世代建立读经习惯可以推荐他们圣经APP，也要预备好回答网络上「最常被搜寻的属灵问题」，而不是分享读经相关影片或是播客连结。
【特约编译陈荣怡、编译余友梅／报导】最好的圣经是我们实际打开并阅读的圣经，但这是纸本圣经还是数位圣经？瑞典神学家约尔．哈尔多夫（Joel Halldorf）指出，研究表明，纸本阅读具有更深层的影响。
2023年10月，瑞典6家最大报纸的文化编辑联合呼吁增加印刷书籍、图书馆和学校阅读的量；同年9月，英国《卫报》公布的国家读写能力信托基金（the National Literary Trust ，NLT）的一项调查，超过一半的英国儿童和年轻人在空闲时间不喜欢阅读。
哈尔多夫更沉痛地指出，在人们放弃其他书籍之前，已经停止阅读一本书──圣经。2022年，美国圣经公会报告称，光是当年就有2,600万美国人停止阅读圣经。
圣经放在书架上无人阅读
在其他国家，下降则较缓慢但持续。 1949年，16%的瑞典人定期阅读圣经，但到了1970年，下降到了10%。 2016年的一项调查显示，7%的人每个月阅读圣经，但只有2%的人每天阅读。
哈尔多夫说，大多数基督徒都拥有一本圣经，但它却被放在书架上无人阅读。教会内部也注意到圣经阅读量的下降，许多教会力图解决此一问题。
另一方面，人们对的数字化和圣经APP寄予厚望。从调查数据来看，它们都取得了巨大的成功。最受欢迎的YouVersion已被下载到5亿支手机、iPad 和计算机上。
这项技术有几个优点：如果你的手机上有圣经APP，因为它总是在你的口袋里，这样就方便你在任何地方阅读；你也可以对它进行设定，以便你收到提醒你阅读的「推播」。此外，人们可以轻松地制订圣经阅读计划，并每天在屏幕上看到一些启发性的经文。
在线主日者比实体主日者读经多
另根据美国圣经公会（American Bible Society）2023年10月公布的研究调查显示，大部分参加在线主日聚会的美国人，一周至少阅读圣经一次，较参加实体主日聚会的人读圣经的次数更多。
在《2023美国圣经现况》第七章：〈圣经使用与科技〉显示，39%受访者符合「圣经使用者」定义，即他们有读圣经的习惯，一年至少3至4次，不是只在参加教会大型聚会时读经。
25%的受访者「每周至少阅读圣经一次」，而且是在教会聚会以外的场合阅读；9%的受访者「每日阅读圣经」；同时，38%的受访者「从未」在教会聚会以外的地方阅读圣经。
以宗派来看的话，福音派基督徒每周使用圣经至少一次的比例最高（53%），其次是非裔美国基督徒社群（44%），再来则是较大型的基督教教会，例如联合基督教会（United Church of Christ，UCC）、圣公会、长老教会、信义宗等（36%），以及天主教徒（21%）。
此外，平时参加在线聚会为主的受访者当中，逾七成每周读经至少一次（74%），相较于经常参加实体聚会的受访者来说，约三成的人每周读经至少一次（32%）。
该报告指出，「这样的调查结果似乎令人有点惊讶，许多人认为在线教会参加者的灵命较不成熟，然而从数据结果显示，在线聚会者可能更专注在听见从神来的话语，通常只有自己一人，或是和身旁家人一起。是个别的，正如读经通常也是个别的。」
至于使用圣经的方式，近七成受访者每月使用纸本圣经至少一次（69%），一半的受访者每月使用圣经APP至少一次（50%），另外将近五成的受访者透过网络读经或查询相关数据（48%），部分的人观看读经影片（44%）， 还有三成的人则是聆听圣经音档或播客podcast（32%）。
美国福音派信徒善用圣经APP
美国圣经公会主席约翰．普莱克（John Farquhar Plake）观察这项研究结果后表示，「我们发现美国人会运用特定的科技丰富圣经研读，也发现读经方式在世代之间有着显著的差异。」
从年龄来看，不意外的是，1997年以后出生的Z世代近五成每月至少一次在网络上读经或找圣经数据（46%）。出生于1981年到1996年的千禧世代受访者，六成的人每月至少一次在网络上读经或找圣经数据（60%）；出生在1965到1980的X世代受访者，近半数以上如此做（52%）。
普莱克认为，「这项发现可以实际运用在事奉上，让事工领袖看见，想要Z世代建立读经习惯可以推荐他们圣经APP，也要预备好回答网络上『最常被搜寻的属灵问题』。但分享读经相关影片或是播客连结对这世代的人来说可能效果较小。」
数位圣经较容易阅读 但较难理解
但是在屏幕上阅读圣经到底是什么感觉呢？在牛津大学出版社出版的《屏幕人物》（People of the Screen）中，神学家和技术开发人员约翰．戴尔（John Dyer）对此进行了研究。在研究中，他将3间教会的会众分成2组。一组的人在屏幕上阅读，另一组的人在普通的纸本圣经上阅读。数字圣经阅读最显著的优点是更容易。例如遵行圣经阅读计划的人比使用纸本圣经的人阅读得更频繁。当涉及到理解时，问题就出现了。无数研究表明，当我们在屏幕上阅读时，我们理解的内容较少。阅读数字版文字的人比阅纸本书文字的人记得更少。甚至更多的数字读者表示，书上的文字令人困惑。
一位受试者说：「感觉更像是浏览一封电子邮件，而不是真正研究上帝的话语。」因此，研究下了一个结论：数位读者阅读更多，但理解更少。
瑞典神学家哈尔多夫因此说：「如果我们确实抽出时间读经的话，传统纸本圣经优于数位版。当我们读经做笔记时，阅读变成了对话。」这种习惯可以追溯到几个世纪前：在18世纪，虔诚的读者会记下自己生活中重要的属灵事件，例如他们归信的日期。透过笔记和注释，圣经与读者的个人生活继续交织在一起。（数据源：Christian Post, Christian Today）
