A fresh report from the Norwegian Bible Society and the School of Leadership and Theology reveals a shift in Norwegian attitudes toward faith and the Bible. Young people under 30 are more open to God, more curious about Christianity—and eager to learn more about the Bible in new ways.
The report “God Is Back: Attitudes to the Bible in Contemporary Norway”, written by HLT Associate Professor Roald Zeiffert, is based on the extensive international Patmos World Bible Attitudes Survey. The survey was conducted across 85 countries with over 90,000 respondents. The Norwegian part of the study included 1,002 individuals and presents a nuanced picture of faith’s place in an increasingly secularized society.
Surprising Openness Among Young People
While earlier studies have shown a steady decline in Bible engagement and religious interest, the new numbers paint a more complex reality. The report highlights that people under the age of 30 stand out: they are more open to faith, more curious about the Bible, and show greater interest in the significance of faith compared to previous generations.
Roald Zeiffert says:
“We’re seeing a remarkable shift, where young people are much more interested than, for example, my own generation.”
At the same time, the report shows that many Norwegians still maintain a distant relationship with religion, particularly in the 30–49 age group. This group is the most likely to deny the existence of God and shows the least interest in learning more about the Bible.
New Approaches to Faith
Among those who are interested in learning more about the Bible, the main motivations cited include curiosity, personal growth, and a need for answers to life’s big questions. Young men under 30 stand out as especially open and interested, while women over 70 remain the most familiar with the Bible.
“What I’ve found is that young people seem uninterested in traditional worship services, but prefer to talk about faith with friends. They also prefer watching, for instance, YouTube clips instead of reading the printed Bible,” Zeiffert explains.
Ethical Compass and Sacred Texts
One of the most striking findings in the report is where people turn to determine what is right and wrong. Family and personal values rank the highest, while sacred texts, prayer, and religious teachings play a much smaller role—even among those who identify as religious. This raises important questions about how Christian ethics are communicated and which practices need to be strengthened.
What Does This Mean for Theology and Church Life?
The report challenges churches, academia, and Christian organizations to rethink how they approach Bible use, faith communication, and ethical guidance. At the same time, it reveals new opportunities: young people are searching, open to conversations about faith, and curious about the message of the Bible.
Karl Inge Tangen, Head of Research and incoming Rector at HLT, comments:
“This important research shows that both churches and free churches truly have an opportunity to respond to people’s spiritual longing. The big question now is: Who will be able to show a genuine Christian faith, help people personally experience God’s grace, and speak honestly about what it means to follow Jesus today?”
Key Findings:
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27% are interested in learning more about the Bible
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53% own a Bible – more common among young people than in the 30–49 age group
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Only 3% cite sacred texts as an important ethical guide
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70% believe children should learn Bible stories
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Young men under 30 are among the most interested in the Bible
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Young people under 30 are more likely to own a Bible than those aged 30–49
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Many find the Bible meaningful—especially when facing life’s big questions
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Regular Bible readers report a stronger sense of closeness to God and greater strength in times of crisis
You can hear more about the survey in the bonus episode of the HLT podcast featuring Roald Zeiffert – available on YouTube:
embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ujSLt3qhPE[/embedyt]
You can read the complete survey via this link (in Norwegian)
This article was developed with the help of ChatGPT and quality-checked by the HLT staff.
Photo: Tore Hjalmar Sævik
