77 Percent of Americans Think Morality is On the Decline; 1 in 3 Think the Bible is the Answer

A new report finds Americans overwhelmingly -- 77 percent -- believe morals are declining in the U.S., with the most-cited cause for the decline a lack of Bible reading, the Religion News Service reports. The American Bible Society's annual State of the Bible survey, which details Americans' beliefs about the Bible and its role in society, found that the Bible remains a highly valued, influential force in America, but also uncovered a significant disconnect in belief versus behavior. While 66 percent of those surveyed agreed that the Bible contains everything a person needs to know to live a meaningful life, 58 percent said they do not personally want wisdom and advice from the Bible, and about the same amount -- 57 percent -- read it fewer than five times per year. More than half (57 percent) of Americans ages 18 to 28 report reading the Bible less than three times a year or never. "Americans overwhelmingly recognize the decline of morality in our nation," said Doug Birdsall, president of American Bible Society. "The good news is the Bible is the ultimate instruction guide on how to live a moral life. Unfortunately, more than half of Americans rarely, if ever, read it. If we had a cure for cancer, wouldn't everyone with cancer take it? Americans are telling us that the cure for declining morality is sitting on our bookshelves. But more than half of Americans are simply letting the cure gather dust."