rush-to-press
The Week's News in Christian Publishing
  • Industry News
  • Milestones
  • Media Announcements
  • Product News
  • Other News

Historic Gallup research for British and Foreign Bible Society (BFBS), in partnership with United Bible Societies (UBS), offers new insights into real religious attitudes, behaviours and groupings  

Survey of 90,000 people in 85 countries and territories offers most comprehensive and rigorous picture of attitudes to Christianity, the Bible and religion in a generation. 

1 April 2025 — BFBS, in partnership with UBS, announces the upcoming launch of the Patmos World Bible Attitudes Survey, an unprecedented research initiative that has captured the views of over 90,000 people across 85 countries, primarily through in-depth, face-to-face interviews. The Survey, conducted by Gallup for the Bible Society in England and Wales, and presented in partnership with United Bible Societies, represents the most comprehensive analysis of attitudes to the Bible and faith ever undertaken at this scale.

“Throughout history, religion has always played a significant role in shaping the global landscape and today is no different. That is why we need to see beyond simple census demographics or assumed narratives,” says Richard Powney, project lead on The Patmos Initiative at BFBS. “This study provides the first truly global picture of how people view and interact with the Christian Bible, arguably the most stable marker for understanding global Christianity, and paints a fascinating picture of attitudes to God and faith more generally.”

Key findings from the research reveal:  

  • Surprising patterns of Bible engagement across secular and religious societies
  • Unprecedented insights into generational similarities and differences in attitudes to religion
  • Evidence of significant interest in the Bible among non-Christian populations
  • The clearest research-based picture ever offered of audience groups based on their religious attitudes across national contexts
  • A sense of what Christian faith looks like around the world – and where the differences lie

The Patmos Survey took three years and used a rigorous research framework. The questionnaires were tested to ensure clear language and cultural understanding before being translated into 89 languages and used in the field.. Most interviews were conducted face-to-face, asking questions about attitudes to the Bible and to religion, church attendance, Bible use, the influence of the Bible and people’s confidence around the Bible.

The results are based on nationally representative surveys of approximately 1,000 respondents per country. Gallup, as the source research agency, has worked closely with BFBS, as well as United Bible Societies representatives with key local knowledge, to ensure the survey’s results are representative, accurate and trustworthy.

Powney says: “We were clear from the start that we were not interested in a survey that told us what we wanted to hear, which is why we partnered with Gallup, to ensure the survey was undertaken without agenda, and the results could be trusted. Getting a better understanding of global attitudes to the Bible, Christianity and faith is going to be of immense value to the Church, as well as the global understanding of religion in society. All of us benefit from robust, trustworthy data about religion.”

The Patmos Initiative will launch on April 30, 2025, with a global online event presenting the initial findings of the research and its potential implications, particularly for Christian communities and organisations.

“The research focuses on the Bible, but it tells us so much more than that,” adds Powney. “The insights we have begun to draw out are offering paradigm-shifting understandings of cultural and generational differences, as well as cross-border similarities in terms of how societies engage with religion in a changing and divided world.”

The Patmos Initiative is brought to you by:

The British and Foreign Bible Society is referred to in England and Wales as ‘Bible Society’, or ‘Bible Society in England and Wales’. Bible Society was the initiator and primary funder of The Patmos Survey, and led the Patmos research. https://www.biblesociety.org.uk/

United Bible Societies (UBS) is a global fellowship of 155 Bible Societies operating in over 240 countries and territories, dedicated to ensuring everyone can access and engage with the Bible. UBS is interconfessional, serving and collaborating with all church traditions – Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, and emerging. As a Fellowship, it unites independent national Bible Societies in an interdependent global organisation. UBS provides integrated Bible ministry, supporting translation, publication, and distribution efforts to make Scripture accessible and meaningful worldwide. https://unitedbiblesocieties.org/

Media requests, additional information, etc.

  • The launch event is aimed at Christian leaders, and journalists are also welcome. Register for admittance at https://patmos.bfbs.org/launch
  • For media inquiries, contact project lead, Richard Powney: richard.powney@biblesociety.org.uk 
  • Articles about The Patmos Initiative and The Patmos Survey will be published at https://patmos.bfbs.org/

Methodology 
Gallup is the source research agency for this project. The results are based on computer-assisted telephone (CATI), in-person (CAPI) and opt-in panel web interviews (CAWI) with adults aged 15 and older in 85 countries and areas in 2023 and 2024. The results in 62 countries are based on nationally representative telephone or face-to‑face surveys of approximately 1,000 respondents. In 23 countries, data were collected from approximately 1,000 respondents in each country via web using an online non-probability panel. The data were weighted to ensure each sample is nationally representative. For results based on the total sample of national adults in 2023, the margin of sampling error for the surveys ranges between ±2.1 and ±5.1 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.

 

Sign Up To Receive Industry News Each Week

Subscribe

This Month’s Bestsellers

VIEW BY GENRE
1 JESUS CALLING
SARAH YOUNG
2 KJV STANDARD LESSON COMMENTARY® LARGE PRINT EDITION 2025-2026
STANDARD PUBLISHING
3 FORGIVING WHAT YOU CAN'T FORGET
LYSA TERKEURST
4 THE 5 LOVE LANGUAGES
GARY CHAPMAN
5 PRACTICING THE WAY
JOHN MARK COMER
6 NEW MORNING MERCIES
PAUL DAVID TRIPP
7 BREATH AS PRAYER
JENNIFER TUCKER
8 IMAGINE HEAVEN
JOHN BURKE
9 THE CASE FOR CHRIST
LEE STROBEL
10 LIVING FEARLESS
JAMIE WINSHIP
View All
1 THE ISRAEL DECREE
AMIR TSARFATI
2 60 DAYS OF PROPHECIES
DAVID JEREMIAH
3 JOY BOMB
TAUREN WELLS
4 YOU ARE CALLED
JOHN BEVERE
5 THE KINGDOM OF CAIN
ANDREW KLAVAN
6 HOW TO READ THE BIBLE
DAVID PLATT
7 A JESUS-SHAPED LIFE
LISA HARPER
8 HOMESCHOOLING
GINNY YURICH
9 FIVE MERE CHRISTIANS
JORDAN RAYNOR AND KALEIGH COX
10 HOW TO SPEAK LIFE TO YOUR HUSBAND
ANN WILSON WITH DAVE WILSON
View All
1 VANISHED
DAVID JEREMIAH WITH SAM O'NEAL
2 WHEN CRICKETS CRY
CHARLES MARTIN
3 REDEEMING LOVE
FRANCINE RIVERS
4 THE SUMMER OF YES
COURTNEY WALSH
5 WHAT NOT TO DO ON VACATION
RACHEL MAGEE
6 HINDS' FEET ON HIGH PLACES
HANNAH HURNARD
7 PERILOUS TIDES
ELIZABETH GODDARD
8 THE PRETENDER
WANDA E. BRUNSTETTER
9 THE SHACK
WILLIAM PAUL YOUNG
10 THE WATER KEEPER
CHARLES MARTIN
View All
1 JESUS CALLING
SARAH YOUNG
2 KJV STANDARD LESSON COMMENTARY® LARGE PRINT EDITION 2025-2026
STANDARD PUBLISHING
3 FORGIVING WHAT YOU CAN'T FORGET
LYSA TERKEURST
4 THE 5 LOVE LANGUAGES
GARY CHAPMAN
5 PRACTICING THE WAY
JOHN MARK COMER
6 NEW MORNING MERCIES
PAUL DAVID TRIPP
7 BREATH AS PRAYER
JENNIFER TUCKER
8 IMAGINE HEAVEN
JOHN BURKE
9 THE CASE FOR CHRIST
LEE STROBEL
10 LIVING FEARLESS
JAMIE WINSHIP
View All
1 THE ACTION BIBLE
SERGIO CARIELLO
2 THE BEGINNER'S BIBLE
THE BEGINNER'S BIBLE
3 THE JESUS STORYBOOK BIBLE
SALLY LLOYD-JONES
4 GREAT AND SMALL PRAYERS FOR BABIES
PAMELA KENNEDY
5 THE WORLD NEEDS WHO YOU WERE MADE TO BE
JOANNA GAINES
6 MOSTLY WHAT GOD DOES IS LOVE YOU
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE
7 GOD GAVE US YOU
LISA TAWN BERGREN
8 THE COMPLETE ILLUSTRATED CHILDREN'S BIBLE
JANICE EMMERSON
9 THE WORLD NEEDS THE WONDER YOU SEE
JOANNA GAINES
10 JUST IN CASE YOU EVER FEEL ALONE
MAX LUCADO
View All
1 LIVE ON PURPOSE
SADIE ROBERTSON HUFF WITH BETH CLARK AND TAMA FORTNER
2 SINGLE, DATING, ENGAGED, MARRIED
BEN STUART
3 THE 5-MINUTE BIBLE STUDY FOR TEEN GIRLS
CAREY SCOTT
4 GOD IS WITH YOU EVERY DAY
MAX LUCADO
5 YOURS, NOT HERS
KARI KAMPAKIS
6 DO HARD THINGS
ALEX HARRIS AND BRETT HARRIS
7 MANGA BIBLE
SIKU
8 THE PRAYER MAP FOR TEENS
COMPILED BY BARBOUR STAFF
9 THE CASE FOR CHRIST STUDENT EDITION
LEE STROBEL WITH JAME VOGEL
10 OUTDATED
JONATHAN POKLUDA AND KEVIN MCCONAGHY
View All
1 365 READ-ALOUD BEDTIME BIBLE STORIES
DANIEL PARTNER
2 THE GOSPEL STORY
MARY WILEY
3 ONE-MINUTE INSPIRATIONS FOR WOMEN
ELIZABETH GEORGE
4 KNOW YOUR BIBLE
PAUL KENT
5 THE BIBLE PROMISE BOOK - KJV
BARBOUR PUBLISHING
6 199 PROMISES OF GOD
BARBOUR PUBLISHING
7 LOTS OF KNOCK-KNOCK JOKES FOR KIDS
WHEE WINN
8 ONE-MINUTE INSIGHTS FOR MEN
JIM GEORGE
9 BIBLE PROMISES FOR MOMS
HEIDI ST. JOHN
10 IS GOD SPEAKING TO ME?
LYSA TERKEURST
View All
1 NIV ADVENTURE BIBLE, Hardcover
ZONDERVAN
2 NIV THE WOMAN'S STUDY BIBLE
THOMAS NELSON
3 KJV BIBLE GIANT PRINT FULL SIZE BIBLE
CHRISTIAN ART PUBLISHERS
4 ESV CHURCH BIBLE
CROSSWAY
5 NKJV PERSONAL SIZE LARGE PRINT REFERENCE BIBLE
THOMAS NELSON
6 NIRV ADVENTURE BIBLE FOR EARLY READERS, Hardcover
ZONDERVAN
7 CSB SHE READS TRUTH BIBLE, Grey
RAECHEL MYERS AND AMANDA BIBLE WILLIAMS AND CSB BIBLES BY HOLMAN
8 ESV STUDY BIBLE
J. I. PACKER AND MARK DEVER AND JOHN PIPER
9 NIV THE JESUS BIBLE
ZONDERVAN
10 KJV LARGE PRINT PERSONAL SIZE REFERENCE BIBLE
HOLMAN BIBLE PUBLISHERS
View All
1 ESV ECONOMY BIBLE
CROSSWAY
2 ESV ECONOMY HOLY BIBLE FOR KIDS
CROSSWAY
3 ESV LARGE PRINT ECONOMY BIBLE
CROSSWAY
4 KJV GIFT & AWARD BIBLE, Black
THOMAS NELSON
5 NLT LARGE PRINT HOLY BIBLE ECONOMY OUTREACH EDITION
TYNDALE
6 NIV LARGER PRINT HOLY BIBLE ECONOMY EDITION
ZONDERVAN
7 KJV ECONOMY BIBLE
HENDRICKSON PUBLISHERS
8 NIV ECONOMY BIBLE
ZONDERVAN
9 KJV ECONOMY BIBLE
THOMAS NELSON
10 NLT ECONOMY BIBLE
TYNDALE
View All
1 New International Version
2 English Standard Version
3 King James Version
4 New Living Translation
5 New King James Version
6 Christian Standard Bible
7 Reina Valera
8 New International Reader's Version
9 Nueva Version International
10 New American Standard Bible
View All
1 UN ANO CON DIOS
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
2 PERDONA LO QUE NO PUEDES OLVIDAR
LYSA TERKEURST
3 LOS 5 LENGUAJES DEL AMOR EDICION REVISADA
GARY CHAPMAN
4 UNA MUJER SABIA
WENDY BELLO
5 UNA VIDA CON PROPOSITO, Bolsillo
RICK WARREN
6 EL PODER DE LA MUJER QUE ORA
STORMIE OMARTIAN
7 DESTINADO AL EXITO
DANTE GEBEL
8 DICCIONARIO BIBLICO ILUSTRADO HOLMAN
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
9 LA MUJER EMOCIONALMENTE SANA
GERI SCAZZERO AND PETER SCAZZERO
10 JESUS TE LLAMA, Tapa dura
SARAH YOUNG
View All
1 RVR1960 BIBLIA PARA REGALOS Y PREMIOS, Tapa dura, Negro
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
2 RVR1960 BIBLIA LETRA GRANDE TAMANO MANUAL EDICION TIERRA SANTA, CAFE SIMIL PIEL MASS MARKET
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
3 RVR1960 BIBLIA DEL PESCADOR LETRA GRANDE
LUIS ANGEL DIAZ-PABON
4 RVR 1960 BIBLIA PARA REGALOS Y PREMIOS, ROSA
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
5 RVR1960 BIBLIA PARA REGALOS Y PREMIOS, IMITACION PIEL, Negro
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
6 RVR1960 BIBLIA PARA REGALOS Y PREMIOS, TURQUESA
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
7 RVR1960 BIBLIA DE APUNTES
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
8 BIBLIA CATOLICA EDICION ECONOMICA
EDITORIAL CATOLICA
9 RVR1960 BIBLIA DE ESTUDIO ARCO IRIS, NEGRO
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
10 RV1960 SANTA BIBLIA DE PROMESAS EDICION PARA NINOS
EDITORIAL UNILIT
View All
1 365 HISTORIAS BIBLICAS PARA LA HORA DE DORMIR
COMPILED BY BARBOUR STAFF
2 LA GRAN HISTORIA DEL EVANGELIO
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
3 PREOCUPATE MENOS Y ORA MAS
DONNA K. MALTESE
4 EL SECRETO DE LA PAZ PERSONAL
BILLY GRAHAM
5 JESUS SALVA AL MUNDO
VIDA
6 ¿PARA QUE ESTOY AQUI EN LA TIERRA?
RICK WARREN
7 DEMASIADO BENDECIDA PARA ESTAR ESTRESADA
DEBORA M. COTY
8 ESTRESATE MENOS, ORA MAS
DONNA K. MALTESE
9 EL VALLE DE LOS HUESOS SECOS
YIYE AVILA
10 199 PROMESAS DE DIOS
COMPILED BY BARBOUR STAFF
View All

Upcoming Events

ECPA C-Suite Symposium
September 7-9, 2025 | Tucson, Arizona
The Christy Award® Finalist Reveal webcast
September 19 | 10 am central
Christian Book Award submission period
September 1-30, 2025
The Christy Award® Winners Gala webcast
November 7 | 7 pm central
ECPA PubU Online
Oct 31 through Nov 14, 2025

Career Center

VP of Finance & Administration
The Church Initiative (GriefShare / DivorceCare), Wake Forest, NC (Hybrid)
ECPA LOGO
submit icon

Submit a News Item

Submit industry related news releases to rushtopress @ecpa .org for consideration. Rush to Press is sent every Monday and eligible releases must be received by end of day Friday prior to the Monday’s publication.

announce icon

Career Posts

To announce a job opening in Rush to Press, post it first at the ECPA Career Center and your announcement will appear in the next issue.

subscribe icon

Subscribe

To receive Rush to Press, along with other industry updates from ECPA, please follow the instructions here to create or modify your ECPA community profile. To subscribe to Rush to Press without using a profile, subscribe here.

unsubscribe icon

Unsubscribe

If you would like to be removed from the Rush to Press distribution list, please edit your ECPA profile preferences or email info @ecpa .org.

advertise icon

Advertise

If you would like to reach over 3,300 industry subscribers and media contacts each week, consider advertising in Rush to Press. Contact sponsorship @ecpa .org for more information.

More news at RushtoPress.org. #RushtoPress @ECPA
This is a publication of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. For more information about ECPA, contact info@ecpa.org or visit ECPA.org.
Copyright © 2025 · ECPA