Does the Bible still matter in 2012?

After all the very visible fighting about public displays of religious symbols— from 10 Commandments plaques to graveyard crosses to faith-themed war memorials to holiday manger displays—you might have developed the impression that most Americans don’t think the Bible matters today and they like it that way.

You’d be wrong. That makes me feel better

There is a lot of speculation about both the current role and the appropriate role of the Bible in America. But each year, American Bible Society puts the guessing aside and asks a sampling of Americans to tell us how they view and use the Bible and what they believe its role should be in America.  Recently, American Bible Society released this year’s results from that research in the 2012 State of the Bible report.

The State of the Bible in America in 2012 can be summed up in a two words: encouraging and unsettling. I would think that this has always been the case

The research, commissioned by American Bible Society and conducted by Barna Research, found that the majority of Americans (69%) believe the Bible provides answers on how to live a meaningful life. Depending on how you view this, could be bad, could be good. Good that 69% believe, bad that only 69% believe...But while 79% believe they are knowledgeable about the Bible, 54% were unable to correctly identify the first five books of the Bible.  And approximately half of Americans surveyed didn’t know the fundamental differences between the teachings of the Bible, Koran and Book of Mormon, with 46% percent saying they believe all three books teach the same spiritual truths. Proving what? That people know about the bible but don't know the bible...

The State of the Bible in America in 2012 can be summed up in a two words: encouraging and unsettling.

-

While nearly half of Americans (47%) believe the Bible has too little influence in society—Well, that is good, would be better if 95% believed the Bible has too little influence in America a far cry from the anti-faith picture often painted in culture—approximately half (46%) say they read the Bible no more than once or twice a year. Because it is not in vogue 

What The State of the Bible report also confirmed is that the lack of engagement with the Bible among Americans isn’t caused by a lack of access to it. Here in the United States, 85% of households own a Bible. Actually, most families own more than one, with a household average of 4.3 Bibles. Why is it that we can't open it, read it and share it with our families everyday? Everyday the Bible speaks to what we are experiencing. You just need to open it and find the example, it is there!

Looking more closely at the data, something really interesting emerges. When we examine responses to the question “Do you believe the Bible contains everything a person needs to live a meaningful life?”, we find that older respondents agreed at a much higher rate than did younger respondents. While 61% of those surveyed between ages 18-27 agreed, those 47 years and older agreed at a rate of 75%. Why? because they do not understand the Bible. They need to read and study the Bible, then through thoughtful consideration, they can make intelligent and informed decisions. Their eyes will be opened.

Before you assert that older people are just naturally more traditional, remember that the older group is made up of the Woodstock generation, free-love ‘70s kids and the MTV generation. The data seems to say that the older you are, the more likely you are to value the Bible. Maybe it’s that our own life experiences prove the value of the Bible’s wisdom? Ha ha, you think? 

There is no doubt that the findings in The State of the Bible lead to some obvious questions. For instance…

 If Americans believe in the value of reading and applying the Bible, why don’t more of us do so? Perhaps it is pressure from the world, reading the Bible is not cool in the main stream. 

 If we believe that the Bible has the right amount of—or too little—influence in society, why is so much negative attention given to expressions of the faith in the God of the Bible? Because it is true. The Bible is truth. It's writings are proven without doubt and that scares people who do not want to fully submit to the facts

When survey participants were asked what frustrated them most about reading the Bible, the most oft-cited response was that they “never had enough time to read it.” Hmmm, I wonder if they will have time to die? Perhaps, they are to busy to live??? The busy-ness of our lives often make it difficult for us to follow through on what we say we value. BULL! Another reason I often hear from non-Bible readers is that they find the sheer size of the Bible to be overwhelming. Try just reading a few pages a day. Rome was not built in a day

So where does someone start who wants to be a Bible reader but doesn’t have a lot of time? Go to a bible study. When you are having fun and learning, you will find the time  A good place to begin is with the “Essential 100.”  This list of 100 key verses and related stories do not contain everything the Bible has to say.  What it does provide is a concise way to understand the bigger arc of the Bible without getting bogged down. For all of those who wonder what the Bible is really all about, The Essential 100 (available at e100.americanbible.org) is a great starting point.

So is the Bible really relevant in 2012? You won’t know until you read it.

Lamar Vest is the president and CEO of the American Bible Society. Founded in 1816, the American Bible Society exists to make the Bible available to every person in a language and format each can understand and afford, so all people may experience its life-changing message. Just be very careful that you do not follow a writing of belief that is contrary to the direct writings and teachings in the bible. Let the Bible be the final word and not someone else's interruption of it.  

A note on survey methodology: The State of the Bible 2012 report contains the findings from a nationwide study commissioned by American Bible Society and conducted by Barna Research (a division of the Barna Group).

By Lamar Vest

Published April 29, 2012

FoxNews.com

The 2012 National Debt Road Trip

I sure hope we change soon!

FOX NEWS - OBAMA IS A MUSLIM

SHEPPARD SMITH, FOX NEWS---- "If you check President Obama's last trip over-seas

SHEPPARD SMITH, FOX NEWS---- "If you check President Obama's last trip over-seas,

his wife left just after their visit to France . She has yet to accompany him to any Arab country.

Think about it. OK, we will Why is Michelle returning to the states when 'official' trips to foreign countries generally include the First Lady." Here's one thought on the matter. While in a Blockbuster renting videos I came across a video called "Obama" There were two men standing next to me and we talked about President Obama. These guys were Arabs, so I asked them why they thought Michele Obama headed home following the President's recent visit to France instead of traveling on to Saudi Arabia and Turkey with her husband.

They told me she could not go to Saudi Arabia,Turkey or Iraq . I said "Why not,(?) Laura Bush went to Saudi Arabia , Turkey and Dubai ." They said that Obama is a Muslim and therefore he is not allowed to bring his wife into countries that adhere to Sharia Law. Two points of interest here: 1) I thought it interesting that two American Arabs at Blockbuster believe that our President is a Muslim, 2) who follows a strict Islamic creed.

They also said that's the reason he bowed to the King of Saudi Arabia . It was a signal to the Muslim world, acknowledging his religion. For further consideration, here is a response from Dr.Jim Murk, a Middle Eastern Scholar and expert on Islam. This is his explanation of what the Arab Americans were saying. "An orthodox Muslim man would never take his wife on a politically oriented trip to any nation which practices Sharia law, particularly Saudi Arabia where the Wahhabi sect is dominant. An orthodox Muslim man...

This is true and it is why Obama left Michelle in Europe . She will stay home when he visits Arab countries. He knows Muslim protocol; this includes, bowing to the Saudi King. Obama is regarded as a Muslim in the Arab world, because he was born to a Muslim father; he acknowledged his Muslim faith with George Stephanopoulus.

Note that he downplays his involvement with Christianity, by not publicly joining a Christian church in D.C. And occasionally attending the chapel for services at Camp David . He also played down the fact that America is a Christian country and said, unbelievably, that it was one of the largest Muslim nations in the world, which is nonsense. He has publicly taken the side of the Palestinians in the conflict with Israel and he ignored the National Day of Prayer, something no other President has ever done. He is bad news! He conceals his true faith to the detriment of the American people." --- Jim Murk, Doctor of Philosophy in Middle Eastern Culture & Religion. ACTIONS speak louder than words. Another interesting item regarding Sharia Law.. Why has Barack Hussein Obama insisted that the U.S. Attorney General hold the trials of the 911 Muslim Terrorists in Civilian Courts as Common Criminals, instead of as Terrorists, who attacked the United States of America ?

If the Muslim Terrorists are tried in Military Tribunals, convicted and sentenced to death, by LAW, Barack Hussein Obama, as President of the United States , would be required to sign their Death Warrants. He would not be required to sign the death warrants if they are sentenced to death by a Civilian Court . Recently, Muslim Jihadist, Army Major Hassan

slaughtered non-Muslim, soldiers at Ft. Hood , Texas rather than go to Afghanistan and be a part of anything that could lead to the deaths of fellow Muslims. He stated that Muslims 'could not and should not kill fellow Muslims.' Is the motive for Barack Obama's insistence on civilian trials, to make sure he doesn't have to sign the death warrants for the Muslim Terrorists? Why would he, as President of the United States , not sign the death warrants for Muslim Terrorists who attacked the United States and murdered over 3,000 U. S. Citizens on 9/11? Because he is a Muslim that is bent on destroying America from within Could it be that he is FORBIDDEN by his RELIGION to authorize the execution of Muslims? Think about that! Open your eyes, ears and mind to who the President is, how he behaves and what he is doing. He just declared the war on terror over, think about that one