The Good Book
Take that, Glenn Beck. A new study finds that reading the Bible may help make American Christians more concerned about social justice. David Briggs reports for the Association of Religion Data Archives:
What daily practice may help American Christians become more concerned about issues of poverty, conservation and civil liberties?
Reading the Bible.
The answer may come as a surprise to those locked into viewing religious practices in ideological boxes. However, a new study by Baylor University researcher Aaron Franzen found frequent Bible reading predicted greater support for issues ranging from the compatibility of science and religion to more humane treatment of criminals.
The study, one of the first to examine the social consequences of reading Scripture, reveals the effects of Bible reading appear to transcend conservative-liberal boundaries.
Thus, even as opposition to same-sex marriage and legalized abortion tends to increase with more time spent with the Bible, so does the number of people who say it is important to actively seek social and economic justice, Franzen found.
The study found that among Biblical literalists, those who read the Good Book are more concerned about social justice than those who don’t.
even as opposition to same-sex marriage and legalized abortion tends to increase with more time spent with the Bible, so does the number of people who say it is important to actively seek social and economic justice . . .
The study found that among Biblical literalists, those who read the Good Book are more concerned about social justice than those who don’t.
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So — what you are saying is that social justice is opposition to same-sex marriage and legalized abortion.
What is says is James 2:17.
Bender makes a fair point. How can you advocate for social and economic justice for someone that the Church teaches you’ve just allowed to be killed?
I like the old phrase about sociology being the study of the obvious by methods that are obscure.
It stands to reason Bible reading Christians would be more responsible regarding God’s creatures and tending His garden, the earth.
That anyone would be surprised at this says more about surprised person than anything else. Those who are consumed or soaked in ideology of liberal vs conservative are often surprised when common sense rears its head. In this case it seems liberals have the notion that Bible reading Christians – those worrisome “fundamentalists” or “evangelicals” and even some “orthodox Catholics” – are somehow ogres who ought not be trusted with much of anything. Tolerated in the sense of classical liberal notions of democracy yes, but trusted; no.
Of course serious Christians are concerned with their Christian duty; with all of God’s children and humility steers us toward conserving the environment. Loving thy neighbor and taking care of the earth so as to hand it off to our children (i.e., tending to the common good) are fundamental and important things.
All the same, I am glad someone took the time and made the effort to crank the numbers and verify this. In all the various discussions on societal and practical political matters, that so-called conservatives and liberals have these important things common is something very much worth keeping in mind.
I agree with Ken; the Gospels always seem to me to be very direct about our obligations to each other and to all God’s creatures. (Though the homilies I hear at Mass sometimes make the message more opaque). It makes sense that the more you read the Gospels, the harder it would be to duck what Jesus commands.
I should clarify a bit:
“It stands to reason Bible reading Christians would be more responsible regarding God’s creatures and tending His garden, the earth.”
It is more accurate for me to say:
“It stands to reason that regularly reading the Bible would help Christians to be more responsible regarding God’s creatures and tending His garden, the earth.”
A distinction with a difference I think.