Historic Gallup research for British and Foreign Bible Society (BFBS), in partnership with United Bible Societies (UBS), offers new insights into real religious attitudes, behaviours and groupings
Survey of 90,000 people in 85 countries and territories offers most comprehensive and rigorous picture of attitudes to Christianity, the Bible and religion in a generation.
BFBS, in partnership with UBS, announces the upcoming launch of the Patmos World Bible Attitudes Survey, an unprecedented research initiative that has captured the views of over 90,000 people across 85 countries, primarily through in-depth, face-to-face interviews. The Survey, conducted by Gallup for the Bible Society in England and Wales, and presented in partnership with United Bible Societies, represents the most comprehensive analysis of attitudes to the Bible and faith ever undertaken at this scale.
”Throughout history, religion has always played a significant role in shaping the global landscape and today is no different. That is why we need to see beyond simple census demographics or assumed narratives,” says Richard Powney, project lead on The Patmos Initiative at BFBS. “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.”
Key findings from the research reveal:
- Surprising patterns of Bible engagement across secular and religious societies
- Unprecedented insights into generational similarities and differences in attitudes to religion
- Evidence of significant interest in the Bible among non-Christian populations
- The clearest research-based picture ever offered of audience groups based on their religious attitudes across national contexts
- A sense of what Christian faith looks like around the world – and where the differences lie
The Patmos Survey took three years and used a rigorous research framework. The questionnaires were tested to ensure clear language and cultural understanding before being translated into 89 languages and used in the field.. Most interviews were conducted face-to-face, asking questions about attitudes to the Bible and to religion, church attendance, Bible use, the influence of the Bible and people’s confidence around the Bible.
The results are based on nationally representative surveys of approximately 1,000 respondents per country. Gallup, as the source research agency, has worked closely with BFBS, as well as United Bible Societies representatives with key local knowledge, to ensure the survey’s results are representative, accurate and trustworthy.
Powney says: “We were clear from the start that we were not interested in a survey that told us what we wanted to hear, which is why we partnered with Gallup, to ensure the survey was undertaken without agenda, and the results could be trusted. 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.”
The Patmos Initiative will launch on April 30, 2025, with a global online event presenting the initial findings of the research and its potential implications, particularly for Christian communities and organisations.
“The research focuses on the Bible, but it tells us so much more than that,” adds Powney. “The insights we have begun to draw out are offering paradigm-shifting understandings of cultural and generational differences, as well as cross-border similarities in terms of how societies engage with religion in a changing and divided world.”