New research into how communities might think about the Bible 

Insights into how people across the world engage with and relate to the Bible have been released by Bible Society - and can be used by local churches with intercultural congregations 

The Patmos Typology Report, created in partnership with United Bible Societies, is part of The Patmos Initiative, aimed at fostering a global Bible engagement movement. It follows on from The Patmos World Bible Attitudes Survey, released in April.

The Patmos Survey groups countries in 'Clusters' according to their shared values, cultural contexts and attitudes to the Bible. 

The follow-up Typology Report provides exclusive data for each of the 85 countries and territories surveyed, exploring their relationship with the Bible and religion. It also includes stories from each Patmos Cluster, sharing how insights from the research are already making a difference across the world.

Rich Powney, Senior Research Manager at Bible Society explained the significance of the new report - and how it can be used by local churches. 

‘Effective Bible engagement requires us to understand our specific context,’ he said. 

‘That's why we’re so excited about this new report. We’re going deeper into how the insights drawn from the Patmos Clusters can inform Bible engagement approaches that lead to real lives being transformed by the Bible.

'The Patmos Typology Report isn't just for large-scale mission agencies, it can definitely be used on a local level as well. More churches than ever before have intercultural congregations or are reaching out to diaspora communities. 

‘We hope they can use this report to see how those communities might think about the Bible and use the data to help people in their communities encounter the Bible for themselves.’
 

For more visit patmos.bfbs.org/Patmos-the-report