Patmos Cluster 5

A secular context with low interest in learning more about the Bible and a declining Christian population.

Countries in Cluster 5

Opportunities for Bible engagement

Young people, especially those aged 18–24, show higher levels of interest in the Bible compared to older generations. This trend is seen among both young Christians and nonreligious individuals.

Young Christians report more regular Bible use and greater interest than older Christians. Nonreligious young people report a greater interest in learning more about the Bible than their older counterparts.

33% of Christians report using the Bible at least once a week. This increases to 50% of Christians aged 18–24

18% of nonreligious people are interested in learning about the Bible, increasing to 30% among 18–24-year-olds

‘To grow spiritually’ and ‘to help me know God better’ are the two main reasons people gave to explain their interest in learning more about the Bible

A smiley face in front of a book, showing an increase from 18% to 30% next to it. A calendar with a tick on it, showing an increase from 33% to 50% next to it.

Top three words

wisdom

guidance

historical artefact

Challenges for Bible engagement

The number of people who identify as Christian (53%) is in decline and most people show little to no interest in the Bible.

This Patmos cluster has the highest proportion of people identifying as nonreligious (34%). Among those who are not Christians, 59% disagree the Bible is personally relevant to them and three in ten agree the Bible is a source of harm in the world.

40% say that religion is an important part of their daily life, less than half the global average

52% are not interested in learning more about the Bible. This increases to 69% of people who are not Christians

‘It’s not relevant to me’ and ‘I’m not religious’ are the two main reasons people gave to explain why they’re not interested in learning more about the Bible

A line with 3 icons coming off it. At the bottom, two speech bubbles - one with a book and a neutral face, the other with a 'no entry' sign. In the middle, a book with a frowning face and an upwards arrow - 52%. At the top, praying hands - 40%.

How will this affect Bible engagement in North America, Western Europe and Australasia?

The Patmos data reveals two narratives. The first is one of indifference: people show little interest in the Bible, seeing it as irrelevant to their lives. Despite easy access to the Bible, the challenge lies in fostering greater demand.

The second story is one of hope and opportunity among young people. While fewer young people identify as Christian, those who do show signs of being deeply committed. Interestingly, nonreligious young people (18–24) show higher curiosity about the Bible and how it can help answer to life's big questions.

An open book with a neutral face in front of it. Below, a thought bubble with three dots in it.

Key question

How can we present the Bible in a way that captures the curiosity of young people to encounter the Bible for themselves?

Understanding our audience groups

We have identified audience groups within each Patmos Cluster. In Patmos Cluster 5, we found nine distinct audience groups. The chart below shows the distribution of these groups across Patmos Cluster 5.