Young Men Increasing Their Bible Reading

Shifts in Bible Reading Trends Among Young American Men

There’s an interesting trend emerging regarding how Americans engage with the Bible, particularly among young men. Recently, weekly Bible readership among adults has reached 42%, marking a notable 12-point increase from 2024, which had seen its lowest rates in 15 years.

This poll’s results surprised many, considering that women have typically been more regular in their Bible reading habits. According to Barna, 54% of Gen Z men and 57% of Millennial men now read the Bible weekly. Comparatively, 46% of Gen Z women and 43% of Millennial women do the same.

“Engagement Beats Conviction,” Says Barna CEO

However, it’s worth noting that a significant portion of these readers does not necessarily view the Bible as fully accurate. Only 44% of respondents strongly affirm its accuracy.

“Engagement is outpacing conviction,” explained Barna Group CEO David Kinnaman. “People are turning to the Bible more frequently, but their beliefs about it are still in flux. The disconnect between reading and belief is significant.”

Kinnaman encourages religious leaders to appreciate this growth in Bible readership. “We need to help these readers genuinely connect with God through their readings and apply those lessons in everyday life. That’s where meaningful change occurs.”

Preference for Digital Platforms

It appears that Gen Z and Millennials favor electronic platforms and video content for engaging with the Bible and supplementary materials. This trend, according to various sources, may be fueling renewed interest in biblical teachings. For instance, the series *The Chosen* reportedly reached over 280 million viewers worldwide, with a substantial portion of them identifying as non-religious.

“Young people are quite hungry for spiritual truth,” observed Greg Rory from Harvest Fellowship. “This generation, often called the iPhone generation, juggles entertainment but also seeks deeper meaning in life.”

Raymond Chan, who directs the TENx10 Collaboration with Fuller Theological Seminary, pointed out that many are searching for clarity in a complex world full of conflicting messages. “People just aren’t sure what’s true anymore,” he noted.

Struggles with Identity

Particularly, many young men are grappling with questions of identity and what constitutes healthy masculinity, likely due to a lack of male role models in their lives.

A national research poll highlighted that 47% of men aged 13 to 30 look up to celebrities or entertainment figures as role models. Interestingly, 43% said they don’t really grasp what it means to be a man in today’s society.

One way this issue is being addressed is that individuals are now reading the Bible more directly, rather than relying solely on media interpretations. Some excellent online resources offer the Bible in digital format, like BibleGateway.com and BibleHub.com. For audio enthusiasts, BibleStudyTools.com provides various versions for free, and there are even full New Testament readings available on YouTube. If someone is interested in buying a study Bible, ChristianBooks.com is a good place to start.