Bible reading and human flourishing

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The Bible is the best-selling book of all time.[1]

Between 5 to 7 billion Bibles have been published, and 80 million new copies are printed annually as sales have sharply increased in recent years.

Historical and scientific evidence show that Bible reading has greatly increased human flourishing. Bible purchases in the United States increased 22% in 2024.[2] See also: Bible

Scientific evidence related to Bible reading and human flourishing

See also: Scientific evidence related to Bible reading and human flourishing

The abstract for the 2023 journal article Assessing the Link Between Bible Reading and Flourishing Among Military Families: Preliminary Findings published in the journal Armed Forces & Society indicates:

“ This study examines whether participating in a Bible reading program for military families (called “Hero Squad”) is positively related to overall human flourishing among children, family units, and parents/caregivers. Previous research shows salutary associations between multiple dimensions of religiosity (including reading sacred texts) and different aspects of flourishing (e.g., physical health, psychological well-being, character and virtue, social connections and support), so it was hypothesized that program participation would promote flourishing over time. Two waves of survey data were collected on a sample of 175 U.S. military families in 2021 and 2022, and differences between pretest and posttest surveys were analyzed. As hypothesized, improvements in indicators of flourishing were observed over time. These findings contribute to published work on religious participation by showing that Bible reading may promote overall mental, physical, and social well-being. Implications and limitations of these preliminary findings are discussed.[3][4] ”

See also: Bible reading and human flourishing among U.S. military families

The abstract for the 2024 journal article Increased Bible Reading, Religious Beliefs, and Prosociality During College published in the journal Review of Religious Research indicates:

“ Religious self-socialization theory posits that chosen exposure to religion can impact future attitudes and behaviors via the internalization of religious messages, but emerging adults in the United States tend to decrease their participation in religious activities during college. Therefore, unique outcomes may arise for the few that maintain or increase religious activity. The present longitudinal study examines whether and how an increase in Bible reading during college impacts various religious and prosocial outcomes for a sample of 295 college students at a Christian university. On average, Bible reading frequency, closeness to God, and social altruism remained constant from first year to senior year, whereas Christian orthodoxy and civic engagement decreased. Multiple regression analyses revealed that an increase in Bible reading was associated with increases in Christian orthodoxy and closeness to God as indicators of religiosity as well as civic engagement and social altruism as indicators of prosociality. Reading the Bible more may help college students grow in their faith and their service to others.[5][6] ”
Alcoholism was a serious social problem in the former atheistic Soviet Union.[7] Between 1940 and 1980, this atheist state had the largest increase of the amount of alcohol usage in the developed world.[8]

See: Atheism and alcoholism

According to the Center for Bible Engagement (CBE):

"The data collected by CBE attest to many of these effects. For example, statistical analyses reveal that, controlling for other factors, such as age, gender, church attendance, and prayer, Christians who are engaged in scripture most days of the week have lower odds of participating in these behaviors:
  • Getting drunk = 57% lower odds
  • Any of these habits = 57% lower odds
The “power of 4” is evident when we consider that for some of these behaviors (getting drunk and sex outside marriage) examined there is no statistical difference between Christians who read or listen to the Bible two to three days a week and those who do not engage Scripture at all or only once a week. For those behaviors where there is an effect for engaging scripture two to three days a week, the effect is much smaller than for four or more days a week."[9]

The article 4 Great Reasons to Read Your Bible in 2024 reported concerning the Center for Bible Engagement study and its "power of 4" effect findings that people who read the Bible four times a week had: better mental health ("30% less chance of struggling with loneliness, and 32% less chance of experiencing anger issues. Destructive thoughts were also noticeably less likely for those with good Bible reading habits."); better relationships ("They experienced relational issues, especially in marriage, 40% less than their peers. They were also much less likely to engage in sex outside marriage. Perhaps most significantly, they had 231% higher odds of discipling other people."); better behavior and a better spiritual life ("They were 60% less likely to feel spiritually stagnant, 228% more likely to share their faith with others, and 407% more likely to memorise Scripture).

"Gen Z also reports the lowest levels of hope and scores the lowest on the Human Flourishing scale, with especially low scores in the “meaning and purpose” category. When young adults are Scripture Engaged, however, they flourish just as much as adults in older generations, demonstrating that frequent interaction with Scripture is a key component in overall wellbeing (pages 58-61)." - New Study Shows Engaging with the Bible Provides Hope Amid Decrease in Mental and Physical Health, American Bible Society

"Using data from the State of the Bible 2020 research, the researchers established the first-ever nationally representative norms for human flourishing using Harvard's Human Flourishing Measure. The research team determined that measurements of happiness and life satisfaction, mental and physical health, meaning and purpose, and financial and material stability have all declined from January to June this year. However, the State of the Bible 2020 analysis shows the decline was more modest for those who engaged with the Bible or continued to attend church. (Virtual gatherings were taken into account.) Their findings suggest faith has helped sustain Christians through this pandemic." - American Bible Society and Harvard Researchers Partner to Quantify the Impact of COVID-19 on "Human Flourishing"

"The religious practice of reading scripture passages from The Bible is a mental health-promoting strategy used during stressful life events. The findings of this study have practical uses for nurses and can be used to inform acceptable and sensitive approaches in addressing mental health issues and spiritual care needs in African American patients." - Reading the Bible for guidance, comfort, and strength during stressful life events, Nursing Research, 2013 May-Jun;62(3):178-84. doi: 10.1097/NNR.0b013e31828fc816.

Barna Group research indicates: "Regular Bible reading has profound impacts on individuals’ spiritual growth and daily lives. Research indicates that those who engage with the Bible regularly report higher levels of spiritual well-being and personal fulfillment. For example, a significant majority of practicing Christians believe that the Bible contains everything a person needs to live a meaningful life, which underscores its perceived value and influence."[10]

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In happiness study, Harvard University agrees With the Bible

See also: Happiness

Harvard Univesity study: In happiness study, Harvard University agrees With the Bible, Benedictine University

American Bible Society/Harvard University study on Bible reading and human flourishing

The prophet Moses authored the book of Leviticus

The Bible and health practices

See also: The Bible and health

Max Neuberger, writing in his "History of Medicine" states concerning the Mosaic laws:

“ The commands concern prophylaxis and suppression of epidemics, suppression of venereal disease and prostitution, care of the skin, baths, food, housing and clothing, regulation of labour, sexual life, discipline of the people, etc. Many of these commands, such as Sabbath rest, circumcision, laws concerning food (interdiction of blood and pork), measures concerning menstruating and lying-in women, and those suffering from gonorrhoea, isolation of lepers, and hygiene of the camp, are, in view of the conditions of the climate, surprisingly rational.[11] ”

The Bible indicates that healing is a primary attribute of God's nature, grace, and power, encompassing both physical and spiritual restoration, with many examples and promises of healing throughout both the Old and New Testaments (Exodus 15:26; Psalm 103:2-3; Psalm 147:3; Jeremiah 30:17; Matthew 4:23-24; James 5:14-15; 1 Peter 2:24, etc.)

Historical evidence related to Bible reading and human flourishing

See also: Historical evidence related to Bible reading and human flourishing and Christianity and social stability and Works (theology) and Virtue and Character and Protestant cultural legacies and Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism and Christianity statistics

The Lutheran Ascension Church at Augusta Victoria Foundation, Jerusalem

While Catholics are encouraged to read Scripture (Second Vatican Council encouraged Catholics to read the Bible more frequently. The Bible is read at every Mass, and the Liturgy of the Hours also includes scriptural readings.), studies indicate that Catholics read the Bible less frequently than Protestants. According to a U.S. 2009 poll, 25 percent of Evangelical Protestants read the Bible daily, as do 20 percent of other types of Protestants.[12] In the United States, daily Bible-reading is done by 7 percent of Catholics. 44 percent of Catholics "rarely or never" read the Bible, while this is the case of 7 percent of Evangelicals and 13 percent of non-Evangelical Protestants.[13]

The article "The Surprising Discovery About Those Colonialist, Proselytizing Missionaries" published in Christianity Today notes:

“ In his fifth year of graduate school, Woodberry created a statistical model that could test the connection between missionary work and the health of nations. He and a few research assistants spent two years coding data and refining their methods. They hoped to compute the lasting effect of missionaries, on average, worldwide...

One morning, in a windowless, dusty computer lab lit by fluorescent bulbs, Woodberry ran the first big test. After he finished prepping the statistical program on his computer, he clicked "Enter" and then leaned forward to read the results.

"I was shocked," says Woodberry. "It was like an atomic bomb. The impact of missions on global democracy was huge. I kept adding variables to the model—factors that people had been studying and writing about for the past 40 years—and they all got wiped out. It was amazing. I knew, then, I was on to something really important."

Woodberry already had historical proof that missionaries had educated women and the poor, promoted widespread printing, led nationalist movements that empowered ordinary citizens, and fueled other key elements of democracy. Now the statistics were backing it up: Missionaries weren't just part of the picture. They were central to it...

Areas where Protestant missionaries had a significant presence in the past are on average more economically developed today, with comparatively better health, lower infant mortality, lower corruption, greater literacy, higher educational attainment (especially for women), and more robust membership in nongovernmental associations.

In short: Want a blossoming democracy today? The solution is simple—if you have a time machine: Send a 19th-century missionary."

...at a conference presentation in 2002, Woodberry got a break. In the room sat Charles Harper Jr., then a vice president at the John Templeton Foundation, which was actively funding research on religion and social change. (Its grant recipients have included Christianity Today.) Three years later, Woodberry received half a million dollars from the foundation's Spiritual Capital Project, hired almost 50 research assistants, and set up a huge database project at the University of Texas, where he had taken a position in the sociology department. The team spent years amassing more statistical data and doing more historical analyses, further confirming his theory.

...Woodberry's historical and statistical work has finally captured glowing attention. A summation of his 14 years of research—published in 2012 in the American Political Science Review, the discipline's top journal—has won four major awards, including the prestigious Luebbert Article Award for best article in comparative politics. Its startling title: "The Missionary Roots of Liberal Democracy."

...over a dozen studies have confirmed Woodberry's findings. The growing body of research is beginning to change the way scholars, aid workers, and economists think about democracy and development.[14]

”
John Wesley

David Beidel wrote in his article The Bloodless Revolution: What We Need to Learn from John Wesley and the Great Awakening

“ In the 18th Century, most of Europe was on fire. Bloody civil wars and revolutions were decimating nation after nation. Unrestrained injustice, government and Church corruption, slave trade and the oppression of the poor created a powder keg for violence. Miraculously, Great Britain escaped the horrors of civil war and the brutal savagery that revolutionary anarchy engenders.

Few ancient monarchies are still in place today. The mystery of the UK’s capacity to honor the old guard, while raising up a more democratic system without a revolution, is a sociological wonder. Many credit the Great Awakening, in particular the Methodist movement, launched by John Wesley, for this extraordinary and peaceful transition.

Methodism unleashed an army of “little Christ’s” all over Europe. They cared for the poor, took in unwanted and abused children, fought unjust laws and labor conditions, visited prisoners, and battled against slavery; They joined hands with the Apostles and “turned the world upside down.” Eventually compassion became fashionable...

America is in desperate need of a Christ-infused revolution of compassion. We are a land of churches, who are well positioned to hear and answer the cries of our struggling communities. If a critical mass of congregations committed themselves to radically sharing the Gospel and passionately serving under-resourced/at-risk communities, we will see peace powerfully rise in these times of trouble. This will also enable, as in the days of John Wesley, wise reformation to take place because the true Christian Church is theologically hardwired to bring about peaceful, meaningful change that benefits all. I have written much about this in my book, Samaria, The Great Omission, and treasure every opportunity to strategize with churches who have a heart to minister in this way.

Let us stand in the gap as cultural/community peacemakers and healers in this season of sorrow and division. May our magnificent obsession be Jesus, the everlasting, ever loving, rescuer of the oppressed and Father of all.[15]

”
Jesus Christ and his apostles taught a gospel of love.[16] For example, the New Testament teaches that a husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the church (Ephesians 5:25).

In his article The Triumph of the Gospel of Love, Monk Themistocles (Adamopoulo) wrote:

“ It is generally agreed by scholars and saints that the teaching of "love" and charity represent one of the essential dimensions of the Gospel of Jesus and the Gospel of Paul. Accordingly, from the extant words and parables of Jesus many concern themselves with the message of love. For example on the Sunday of Meat Fare, from the Gospel of Matthew, we hear Jesus identifying Himself and in solidarity with the destitute, the suffering, the rejected and the oppressed, calling for and rewarding altruistic philanthropy:

"... I was hungry and you fed me, when I was thirsty you gave me drink, when I was a stranger you took me in, when naked you clothed me, when I was ill you came to my help, when in prison you visited me ... I tell you this anything you did for one of my brothers here, however humble, you did it for me." (Matt 25:35-36, 40)...

Christians undertook a great deal of almsgiving to the poor not only to fellow believers but to pagans as well. So amazed was the anti-Christian pagan emperor Julian the Apostate (361-363 AD), with the sheer benevolence and excellence of Christian philanthropy that he was forced to admit in wonder their superiority over paganism in matters of charity:

"These godless Galileans (ie. Christians) feed not only their own poor but ours: our poor lack our care" (Ep. Sozom. 5:16).[17]

”

The Catholic areas of Liechtenstein, Luxembourg and Monaco are among the top geographic areas when it comes to the most productive countries per capita income. The wealthy country of Switzerland is 32% Catholic and 20% Swiss Protestantism in 2022 (See: Cultural characteristics of the most productive countries per capita)

Countries with the lowest divorce rates in the world and Christianity.png


The Harvard University historian Niall Ferguson declared: "Through a mixture of hard work and thrift the Protestant societies of the North and West Atlantic achieved the most rapid economic growth in history."[18] See: Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism

The Harvard University historian Niall Ferguson declared: "Through a mixture of hard work and thrift the Protestant societies of the North and West Atlantic achieved the most rapid economic growth in history."[19]

Biblical theology and Bible verses related to human flourishing

Saint Augustine

The article Is the Pursuit of Human Flourishing Scriptural? states:

“ ...Dr. Jonathan Pennington offers a comprehensive definition of human flourishing which spans the Old and New Testaments and is rooted in the revelation of God through Jesus Christ.

Specifically, he uses Biblical etymology to demonstrate flourishing intertwines with fundamental elements of the Bible’s message–including God’s redemptive purpose in Christ (which assures believers of eternal, abundant life)...

Saint Augustine underscored the intimate relationship between human flourishing and a trinitarian God. It was contingent on centering one’s life around God, with happiness emanating from harmonious fellowship with Him and others.[20]

”

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Bible verses related to human flourishing

Christian theology, optimism and the best of all possible worlds

See also: Optimism and Gottfried Leibniz and Theodicy and Problem of evil

Christian theologians commonly declare that the world was the best of all possible worlds, as it was created by God. Therefore, even what appears to many as bad is actually part of God's perfect plan. For example, adversity improves Christian character/virtue.

Gottfried Leibniz

Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz (1646-1716) was a German, Christian philosopher who was born into a pious Lutheran family close to the end of the Thirty Years’ War, which had laid Germany in ruins.[21]

Encyclopedia Britannica's article Best of all possible worlds states:

“ Best of all possible worlds, in the philosophy of the early modern philosopher Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (1646–1716), the thesis that the existing world is the best world that God could have created.

Leibniz’s argument for the doctrine of the best of all possible worlds, now commonly called Leibnizian optimism, is presented in its fullest form in his work Théodicée (1710; Theodicy), which was devoted to defending the justness of God..

In rough outline, the argument proceeds as follows:

1. God is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnibenevolent;

2. God created the existing world;

3. God could have created a different world or none at all (i.e., there are other possible worlds);

4. Because God is omnipotent and omniscient, he knew which possible world was the best and was able to create it, and, because he is omnibenevolent, he chose to create that world;

5. Therefore, the existing world, the one that God created, is the best of all possible worlds.[22]

”

Why Bible reading is important

"The Resurrection" by Carl Heinrich Bloch.

Key reasons why consistent Bible reading is important:[23]

1. It’s how God reveals His character. See: Holy and Righteousness and Virtue and Morality

2. It teaches you How to trust God

3. It reveals how much God loves you and how important it is to love others.

4. It shows what God’s will is. Better understanding of God and biblical principles; and way to better avoid sin.

5. Spiritual food to make one spiritually grow and become spiritually stronger

6. "So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ." - Romans 10:17

7. It’s full of truth and wisdom

8. It contains a life-changing message of freedom. It dramatically shares how humans are capable of very great things with God's grace, but also terrible things who depart from God's will.

9. For those who follow its teachings it connects them to the most important figure in history - namely God Almighty.

10. It gives instruction for daily life. It shows what God’s will is

11. It teaches you how to pray.

12. It explains the gospel. See: Salvation

13. It explains how to share the gospel

14. It’s historically accurate and gives an entirely accurate account of the most important events in ancient human history. It tells the story of God's creation. It shows us how much the Creator cares for his wayward creation and what he has done to rescue it.

15. It asks and answers vitally big and important questions

16. The Bible has transformed the world

17. It’s culturally relevant and it's also important to better understand Western civilization

18. It teaches you how to forgive

Key reasons to read the Bible.png
Effect of Bible reading - research
Reasons to read the Bible
Source: Bible and human flourishing

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Bible reading schedule:

Dangers of not reading the Bible

Last Judgment by Johann Georg Unruhe - Damned souls going to Hell.

Below are the dangers of not reading the Bible:[24]

1. Spiritual malnourishment: Spiritual weakness and stunted spiritual growth (Matthew 4:4)

2. Stunted spiritual transformation (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

3. Lack of Discernment: Discernment is the ability to tell the difference between truth/error, good/evil, and right/wrong.

4. Weakened defense against sin (Psalm 119:11)

5. Susceptibility to false teaching

6. Misunderstanding/misinterpreting the Bible (See: Bible exegesis)

7. Biblical Illiteracy: "Biblical illiteracy is defined as a lack of core knowledge of scripture, which leads to a misunderstanding of God's character, promises, and directions for life." (2 Timothy 3:16-17)[25]

8. Spriritual Immaturity (1 Corinthians 3:2)

9. No conviction to live in accordance to God's will

10. Compromise: "Compromise occurs when we change our views or practices to conform to society norms, personal wants, or traditions that do not match with Scripture."[26]

11. Drift away from God and shipwreck your faith (Hebrews 2:1; 1 Timothy 1:19)

12. Poor decision making due to lack of God's wisdom (Proverbs 3:5-6)

13. Increased anxiety and fear. Lack of courage. (Proverbs 3:5-6; Proverbs 28:1)

14. Diminished ability to share the Christian faith

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Benefits of memorizing Scripture

St. Thomas Aquinas was a Bible memorization practitioner.

See also: Bible memorization

Martin Luther in 1529, painting by Lucas Cranach the Elder

Bible memorization can help an individual live a more faithful Christian life, improve their memory, and better understand God's plan for themself.[27]

Bible memorization has had a number of proponents and practitioners throughout Christian history. For example, Thomas Aquinas, Martin Luther, Hank Hanegraaff were advocates of memorizating the Bible. (Thomas Aquinas and Hank Hanegraaff memorized the entire Bible).

Source: Benefits of Bible memorization
Collection of several editions of the Thompson Chain Reference Bible, 1934-2022

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Benefits of children memorizing the Bible

What if Jesus had never been born?

Video: What If Jesus Had Never Been Born? by D. James Kennedy, Coral Ridge Ministries

D. James Kennedy (1930 - 2007)

Books

Painting: Sermon on the Mount by Carl Bloch (1877)
  • The Sermon on the Mount and Human Flourishing: A Theological Commentary by Jonathan T. Pennington. Baker Academic (June 20, 2017)
  • The Air We Breathe: How We All Came to Believe in Freedom, Kindness, Progress, and Equality (Discover the Christian roots of the values we prize in western society)
  • What If Jesus Had Never Been Born? by D. James Kennedy. Thomas Nelson; Revised edition (July 11, 2008)

See also

Essay:

References

  1. ↑ The Bible is the best selling book of all time, Guinness Book of Word Record
  2. ↑ Bible Sales Are Surging in the US
  3. ↑ Assessing the Link Between Bible Reading and Flourishing Among Military Families: Preliminary Findings, Armed Forces & Society, December 2023, DOI:10.1177/0095327X231211554
  4. ↑ Assessing the Link Between Bible Reading and Flourishing Among Military Families: Preliminary Findings. Armed Forces & Society. December 2023. DOI:10.1177/0095327X231211554
  5. ↑ Increased Bible Reading, Religious Beliefs, and Prosociality During College, Review of Religious Research, 2024, Volume 66, Issue 3, pages 260-269, https://doi.org/10.1177/0034673X241256281
  6. ↑ Increased Bible Reading, Religious Beliefs, and Prosociality During College, Review of Religious Research, 2024, Volume 66, Issue 3, pages 260-269, https://doi.org/10.1177/0034673X241256281
  7. ↑ Hazardous alcohol drinking in the former Soviet Union: a cross-sectional study of eight countries
  8. ↑ Alcoholism in the Soviet Union
  9. ↑ Understanding the Bible Engagement Challenge: Scientific Evidence for the Power of 4. Arnold Cole, Ed.D. & Pamela Caudill Ovwigho, Ph.D. December 2009
  10. ↑ The Power of Bible Reading: Insights, Statistics, and Tips for Spiritual Growth
  11. ↑ Neuburger, Max. History of Medicine. Oxford University Press, 1910, Vol. I, p. 38.
  12. ↑ Why Catholics Don't Read the Bible, CatholicCity.com
  13. ↑ Why Catholics Don't Read the Bible, CatholicCity.com
  14. ↑ Christianity Today, "The surprising discovery about those colonialist, proselytizing missionaries", January 8, 2014
  15. ↑ The Bloodless Revolution: What We Need to Learn from John Wesley and the Great Awakening by David Beidel
  16. ↑ The Triumph of the Gospel of Love by Monk Themistocles (Adamopoulo)
  17. ↑ The Triumph of the Gospel of Love by Monk Themistocles (Adamopoulo)
  18. ↑ The Protestant Work Ethic: Alive & Well…In China By Hugh Whelchel on September 24, 2012
  19. ↑ The Protestant Work Ethic: Alive & Well…In China By Hugh Whelchel on September 24, 2012
  20. ↑ Is the Pursuit of Human Flourishing Scriptural?
  21. ↑ Best of all possible worlds, Encyclopedia Britannica
  22. ↑ Best of all possible worlds, Encyclopedia Britannica
  23. ↑
  24. ↑
  25. ↑ Question: What are the dangers of not reading the Bible?
  26. ↑ Question: What are the dangers of not reading the Bible?
  27. ↑
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