Bible Belief Down Despite History Channel Mini-Series

Bible belief down, despite hit History Channel miniseries [Excerpts]

When Zack Domangue talks about world views with folks, the topic of the Bible typically inspires a host of questions.

"I think when you get to questions about the Bible, the biggest questions are can I trust it is legit?" said Domangue, president of Cal State Long Beach's Cru Club, formerly known as Crusade for Christ. "Is it the inspired word of God? Is it sacred and does it matter anymore? The values learned in the stories written down, can they be applied today? Is the Bible historically accurate? "

The 22-year-old business management major would answer yes to those questions. But an increasing number of people aren't so sure.

Though the most popular book in the history of mankind recently got free advertising from a wildly popular cable miniseries, a new report shows rising antagonism toward the Bible.

A survey by the Barna Group and the American Bible Society shows 17 percent of adults in the U.S. have a negative attitude toward the Bible. That's up from 10 percent just two years ago, even as the History Channel miniseries "The Bible" drew 13.1 million viewers for its first episode in March, making it the most-watched entertainment cable telecast of the year.

The report defines antagonism as viewing the Bible only as a collection of stories and advice from men -- and rarely or never reading it.

An upswing in negative views about the Scriptures may have less to do with its message and more with who is delivering it, according to Clint Jenkin, vice president of research for the Barna Group. "What the Bible has become attached to is unpopular in society and politics," Jenkin said.

Perhaps surprisingly, the Barna Group found young people have a relatively high interest in the Bible's teachings on some aspects of life when compared with other age groups. Forty percent of those between the ages of 18 and 28 said they were interested in what the Bible teaches about dealing with illness and death, compared to 28 percent of all adults.

(Dulaney, "Bible belief down, despite hit History Channel miniseries," Long Beach, CA Press Telegram, 05/04/2013)