BIBLE LITERATE
Americans are among the world’s most ’Bible-literate’ people with Spaniards, French and Italians among the least, claims a Catholic Biblical Federation study. The 9-country poll (U.S., Britain, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Russia, Italy, Spain and Poland) found Americans are the most willing to give money to spread the Bible’s message. 75% of American respondents had read a phrase from the Bible in the past 12 months, compared with 20% to 38% of the other countries’ respondents. Results were similar when asked if they had read a book with a religious theme in the past 12 months. Americans also pray the most (87%) and the French the least (49%). Germany and the Netherlands had the highest percentage who said they believed the Bible was not divinely inspired but just "an ancient book made up of legends, historical facts and teachings written by men." The majority of respondents in all countries believed it was the direct word of God or inspired by God. 93% of Americans have a Bible at home vs. 48% of the French. 91% of Poles attend religious services regularly, followed by the U.S. (77%) and Russia (75%).
(The Church Report 4/29/08)