David G Ford

The Bible and Digital Millennials explores the place of the Bible in the lives of 18 to 35 year-olds who have been born into the digital age. As the use of digital media becomes increasingly pervasive, it should follow that it will have a significant effect on people’s engagement with religion and the sacred texts associated with it. Drawing on contemporary in-depth surveys, this study unpacks digital millennials’ stance towards, use of and engagement with the Bible in both offline and online settings.The book features results from a nationally representative survey of 2,000 young British people specifically commissioned for this project. The data is also compared with the findings of others, including a poll of 850 British Bible-centric Christians and recent Bible engagement surveys from the USA.This book investigates the relevance of the Bible to the lives of those who have grown up in the digital age. It will, therefore, offer fresh insight to any scholar of biblical studies, religion and digital media, and religious studies.

The Bible and Digital Millennials explores the place of the Bible in the lives of 18 to 35 year-olds who have been born into the digital age. As the use of digital media becomes increasingly pervasive, it should follow that it will have a significant effect on people’s engagement with religion and the sacred texts associated with it. Drawing on contemporary in-depth surveys, this study unpacks digital millennials’ stance towards, use of and engagement with the Bible in both offline and online settings.The book features results from a nationally representative survey of 2,000 young British people specifically commissioned for this project. The data is also compared with the findings of others, including a poll of 850 British Bible-centric Christians and recent Bible engagement surveys from the USA.This book investigates the relevance of the Bible to the lives of those who have grown up in the digital age. It will, therefore, offer fresh insight to any scholar of biblical studies, religion and digital media, and religious studies.

In many places in the Western world, churchgoing is in decline and it cannot be assumed that people have a good grasp of the Bible's content. In this evolving situation, how would ""the person on the street"" read the Bible? Reading the Bible Outside the Church begins to answer this question. David Ford spent ten months at a chemical industrial plant providing non-churchgoing men with the opportunity to read and respond to five different biblical texts. Using an in-depth qualitative methodology, he charts how their prior experiences of religion, sense of (non)religious identity, attitudes towards the Bible, and beliefs about the Bible all shaped the readings that occurred. ""This is a fascinating book, exploring detailed, practical, and careful research on how a variety of nonchurch-going men read the Bible. While some of the findings reinforce what many of us have long suspected, other findings cast intriguing new light on biblical interpretation. This is an important piece of work and well worth reading and reflecting on."" --Paula Gooder, Director of Mission Learning and Development, Birmingham Diocese, Church of England ""David Ford sits with readers outside the church to learn what the Bible looks like to them. First, Scripture appears through a maze of prejudgments and personal factors, but which ones matter most? Secondly, the text strikes back, refashioning readers rather than just confirming biases. Ford introduces us to bitter and detached readings, fair and doubting readings, and transformative counter-readings. A fascinating study opening up new worlds of potential scriptural engagement on our own doorsteps."" --Richard S. Briggs, St. John's College, Durham University, UK David G. Ford is a post-doctoral researcher at the CODEC research center (St. John's College, University of Durham).