American Bible Society
Advocacy in Culture
Advocacy in Culture

The Bible is the most famous book in human history, influencing billions of lives and shaping the formation of societies across the world. Yet many in American culture today feel that the Bible is antiquated, irrelevant or even dangerous.

By highlighting the influence and message of the Bible within culture, we have the opportunity to foster authentic exploration and renewed attitudes about what the Bible has to offer human society.

Opportunity

In the United States, negative attitudes toward the Bible are on the rise. Between 2011 and 2015, the number of American adults engaging with the Bible dropped from 20 percent to 17 percent. In the same period, the number of American adults with an antagonistic attitude towards the Bible rose from 10 percent to 21 percent.

Yet there are also signs of hope. Half of all Americans believe that the Bible has too little influence on American society today. And three out of five U.S. adults say they wish they read the Bible more often than they do.

By using culture as an avenue to communicate authentically about the message of the Bible, Americans will have the opportunity to engage with the Bible’s message, and potentially move one step closer to reading that message for themselves.

Transformation

Thanks to the support of financial partners, American Bible Society is rallying with partners around the nation to launch a multi-platform Bible advocacy campaign. This action-oriented campaign will highlight the message and impact of the Bible through seven channels of American culture:

  • Business
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Education
  • Church
  • Social Sector
  • Government
  • Media

By winsomely championing the power of God’s Word through a variety of media, including the digital space provided through the new .Bible domain, God’s Word will gain cultural credibility, and the nation will be one step closer to seeing 100 million Americans actively engaging with the Bible by the year 2025.

Icon of a stopwatchQuick Facts

321 million

people live in the United States

78%

of the American population identifies with the Christian faith

17%

of American adults actively engage with the Bible

21%

of American adults have an antagonistic attitude towards the Bible

Icon of hands prayingPrayer Points

  • Please pray that God would use the digital space offered by the new .Bible domain to rally financial, cultural and ministry partners around this Scripture advocacy project.

  • Pray that God would work through culture to reach the hearts of the 21 percent of Americans who hold a negative view of the Bible.

  • Ask God to bless our partners with creativity, humility and winsomeness as they champion the Bible in American culture.