San Francisco’s Young Adults Are Reading Scripture More than Their National Peers
San Francisco may be known for its progressive culture, but new research from the American Bible Society reveals a surprising trend: more residents in the Bay Area read the Bible than you might expect -- and in some demographics, the numbers rival those in the broader United States.
The findings reflect national trends pointing to a growing spiritual movement across the country.
John Plake, chief innovation officer at the American Bible Society, unveiled the data Monday at the Evangelical Press Association's annual convention, held this year in Branson, Mo. That data, he said, surprised him.
"There's a big opportunity. There's an open door for fruitful ministry," he said of San Francisco and the surrounding area.
At first glance, the San Francisco data falls in line as expected, with 33 percent of Bay Area residents fitting the definition of being a Bible user compared to 41 percent of those in the United States.
Yet, upon further inspection, some key generational trends defy expectations.
In fact, Bible use among Gen Z residents of the Bay Area is higher than that of Gen Zers (18-28) across the country (37 percent to 36 percent, respectively). The same is true of Bay Area Millennials (29-44) -- 40 percent of whom are Bible users compared to 39 percent among U.S. Millennials. Even among Generation X (45-60), the numbers are close, with 38 percent considered Bible users compared to 42 percent among U.S. Gen Xers. Only among Bay Area residents ages 61 and over is there a disparity, with only 19 percent considered Bible users compared to 46 percent of the broader 61-and-over demographic.
The data reflects a growing hunger for the Bible nationwide. The American Bible Society's 2025 State of the Bible report found Bible use increasing in every region of the country compared to the previous year -- even in the Northeast and West, two regions typically resistant to spiritual matters.
The American Bible Society defines Bible users as individuals who engage with Scripture on their own at least three times a year outside of church settings. It's admittedly a "low bar," the society concedes, but nevertheless reflects a "personal decision to interact, at least occasionally, with the Bible."
Plake unveiled additional data that points to a spiritually open generation in San Francisco. When narrowing the focus to Gen Z, Millennials, and Gen X adults in the Bay Area, the percentage of Bible disengaged -- those who never interact with Scripture -- is roughly the same as the U.S. among that same demographic (57 percent to 56 percent for the U.S.). While it's true that the national average (17 percent) has more individuals considered "Bible engaged" than the Bay Area (11 percent), the region has more of what the American Bible Society considers the "Movable Middle" among this age group -- 32 percent for the Bay Area and 27 percent for the U.S. The Movable Middle are neutral but curious on matters of faith.
"The younger you are in the San Francisco Bay Area," Plake said, "the more likely you are to be using the Bible, the more likely you are to be beginning a meaningful journey of exploration with the Bible and even having your life transformed by the message of God's Word. And I bet you didn't know that. I didn't either, until just a little bit ago."
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/theverest
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
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Originally published May 06, 2025.
