New ‘State of the Bible’ Study Digs Deeply for Answers

Nearly 75 percent of American adults experience moderate to high levels of loneliness, according to newly released State of the Bible research from the American Bible Society. That’s serious. But the new report also suggests three antidotes to loneliness: Developing a closer connection with God, Bible engagement and forgiveness.

Loneliness is a major problem for many Americans. As recently as last year, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy issued an advisory report – “Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation” – that warned the “lack of social connection poses a significant risk for individual health and longevity.”

The advisory report explained that loneliness may “increase the risk of premature death as (much as) smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day” because it may contribute to strokes, depression, anxiety and dementia.

God, Bible engagement and forgiveness — combined with church attendance – may decrease loneliness by more than 50 percent, according to the American Bible Society.

Through Scripture, people can interact with a loving God. Through church, they can grow closer to God while having greater opportunities for meaningful relationships. And through meaningful relationships, people tend to feel less lonely.

Quotable Quotes on Loneliness

John Farquhar Plake, the American Bible Society’s chief innovation officer and editor-in-chief of State of the Bible, said the need to address the problem is urgent. He called on churches to “respond with care and creativity, offering a safe space to develop meaningful Christian relationships.”

Beliefnet contributor Dr. Linda Mintle, a national expert on mental health, says this about loneliness in her new post, Lonely and the Need to Fight It:  “For those struggling with loneliness, faith can offer powerful solace…. Even in the moments of deep loneliness, we are never truly alone.”

She offers practical advice for breaking free of loneliness and Scriptures that give hope. She also examines loneliness and the breakdown of the community, health dangers, hidden costs and steps for reconnecting.

Author and Patheos contributor Paul Bane also talks about hope in his article Loneliness, The Despair of Being Alone. He says, “One of the underlying ways of overcoming loneliness is having the awareness and hope, you and I are never alone. God with us is paramount in offering comfort and hope….” Read more of his post here.

Digging Deeply into An Epidemic of Loneliness

Looking at the “epidemic of loneliness,” the American Bible Society asked this question: “If the nation is indeed experiencing an ‘epidemic of loneliness,’ what happens when people form a meaningful relationship with the God they meet in Scripture?”

To answer the question, researchers divided participants in the study into three groups and asked a series of questions. The groups were:

• Scripture disengaged
• Movable middle
• Scripture engaged

Researchers found that in three of four generations surveyed, scripturally engaged participants had lower – sometimes significantly lower – levels of loneliness than people who had little to no involvement with Scripture.

So, let’s see what other takeaways the report offers American Christians, especially churches, church leaders and church members.

Which Americans Are Loneliest?

Among the scripturally disengaged, 22 percent reported the greatest levels of loneliness, and 52 percent suffered moderate loneliness. Looking at the movable middle – who are open to the Bible though not fully engaged with it — 59 percent experienced high levels of loneliness and 17 percent reported moderate levels. Only 11 percent of biblically engaged people reported high levels of loneliness, and 50 percent experienced moderate levels.

In addition, the study examined whether church attendance reduces loneliness. It found that 25 percent of study participants who never attended church had the highest levels of loneliness. Next highest were people who had attended church within the past year but not within the last month (20 percent); and then came people who hadn’t attended in over a year (16 percent).

The ability to forgive others also affects loneliness levels, the American Bible Society found. Only 16 percent of people who are strongly able or somewhat able to forgive reported high levels of loneliness. That compares to 36 percent of participants who are strongly unable to forgive and 22 percent of those who are somewhat unable to forgive.

To determine these findings, researchers examined the frequency of Bible readership and its impact on a person’s life. Learn more by downloading the 2024 State of the Bible report.

How Do Loneliness Levels Differ by Generation?

Loneliness levels varied slightly by generation, according to the study.

Gen Z adults: Some 11.1 percent of scripturally involved Gen Z’ers — America’s youngest adults — had low loneliness scores, as compared to 12.3 percent in the movable middle and 13.4 percent of the Bible disengaged in their age group.

Millennials (ages 28-43): In comparison, 10.1 percent of biblically involved millennials had low levels of loneliness, as did 12.3 percent in the movable middle and 10.3 percent of the biblically disengaged in the millennial generation.

Baby Boomers+: Of the oldest Americans surveyed, 10.6 percent of the scripturally engaged had low levels of loneliness, while 10.5 percent of disengaged had similar results.

How Does Forgiveness Impact Loneliness?

The American Bible Society’s research found that the inability to forgive can make a fairly significant difference in whether people experience high levels of loneliness.

Only 16 percent of people who identified as strongly able to forgive and somewhat able to forgive suffered from high levels of loneliness. That compares to 36 percent of people who are strongly unable to forgive and 22 percent of those somewhat unable to forgive.

What about non-Christians?

Researchers also looked at participants’ “commitment to Christ.” They found that 26 percent of non-Christians and people who are “not currently interested in exploring” the Christian faith reported low levels of loneliness, and 22 percent suffered high levels.

This compares to 42 percent of non-Christians who are beginning to explore Christianity and experiencing high levels of loneliness and 10 percent with lower levels.

Forty-two percent of people who said they had an intimate relationship with Christ reported low levels of loneliness, as did 32 percent of people who said their relationship with Christ was the most important relationship in their lives.

Does Church Attendance Reduce Loneliness?

Church leaders and members should take note of the findings regarding church attendance and loneliness. The American Bible Society’s research found that 25 percent of study participants who never attended church suffered high levels of loneliness. This compares to 12 percent of weekly churchgoers.

This finding should remind churches that there are opportunities for outreach in certain identifiable segments of their communities. And many lonely people would welcome the human and Divine connections that churches foster.

There’s no better time than the Christmas season for Christians to reach out. Loneliness is a problem year-round, but the holidays and upcoming winter months are especially difficult for many people.

More about the State of the Bible

Studies into Americans’ relationships with God, faith and the Bible have consistently shown how reading and otherwise engaging with the Bible shape people’s choices and transform their relationships for the better, the American Bible Society said.

Findings in the 2024 State of the Bible report are based on a nationally representative survey conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago for the American Bible Society. Researchers carried out 2,506 online interviews with adults from all 50 states in January 2024.

The American Bible Society launched its landmark State of the Bible research in 2011 and has followed up with annual research and reports since that time.

The final chapter in the 2024 State of the Bible report, which will be released in December, will examine philanthropy and the Bible.