Why Are Bible Sales Soaring? – Scholars Speculate
on Jan 24, 2025
Bible Sales Have Skyrocketed In 2024, Leaving Many People Wondering Why?
Bible sales have soared in the fourth quarter of 2024, leading scholars, pastors, and Christians to wonder what is driving this increase in Biblical interest.
According to the Wall Street Journal, there has been a 22% rise in Bible sales since October 2024 compared to the previous year. The Journal describes this as a “golden age of Bible publishing.”
Some attribute this phenomenon to trends like the “booktok” movement or a general increase in book sales. However, it has been noted that overall publishing sales have only increased by 1% since 2023, which raises questions about the specific reasons behind the 22% surge in Bible sales.
A Fox News Digital article points out that Americans bought 9.7 million Bibles in 2019, and this number jumped to 13.7 million in just the first ten months of 2024.
So, What Is Fueling This Growth?
Bishop Robert Barron speculated to Fox News Digital that “Some people, sure they’re not going back to church, but they are reaching out to the Bible.” This observation is noteworthy, especially since church attendance has declined over the last five years, while Bible sales have risen—an inverse relationship that is intriguing.
One theory suggests that as anxiety levels increase in the Western world, people are seeking hope and turning to the Bible. An example is Brianna Fitzpatrick, an artist who discussed her decision to buy her first Bible as an adult on Fox News Digital. She said:
“I do think people are hungry for truth, and hungry for purpose and meaning and a sense of direction, especially for the past few years. I think a lot of us are like, what is going on? Who do we trust? What do we turn to?”
Could It Be Because Of Gen Z?
Others believe that the younger generation, particularly Gen Z, is seeking Biblical truths after witnessing previous generations abandon faith.
CBN News reported a 2023 study supporting this idea, which found that nearly half of the Gen Z respondents said the Bible had transformed their lives. Additionally, 44% expressed they were either very or extremely curious about Jesus and the Bible. This growing curiosity among younger people could help explain the increase in Bible sales in 2024.
One publisher told the Wall Street Journal that TikTok might also be influencing this interest, as there are more then 8 million posts about the Bible on the app.
Whether it’s rising anxiety, the new generation’s curiosity, the current political climate, or a combination of these factors, the increase in Bible sales has left scholars curious about what this could mean for the future of the United States. Is a revival on the horizon?
Watch a full video report below.
