Knowledge of the Bible is in decline with fewer than one in 20 people able to name all Ten Commandments, according to a Durham University survey.
Sixty-two per cent didn’t know the parable of the Prodigal Son and 60 per cent couldn’t name anything about the Good Samaritan, findings from The National Biblical Literacy Survey 2009 showed.
Forty per cent were unaware that among Christians the tradition of giving Christmas gifts came from the story of the Wise Men bringing gold, frankincense and myrrh to the infant Jesus. Only five per cent of people could name all the Ten Commandments and 16 per cent couldn’t name any.
More than 900 people, from faith and non-faith backgrounds, were surveyed at various locations throughout England and Wales about their knowledge of the Bible.
The study was funded by a consortium of national churches, charitable trusts and Bible agencies.
The survey also showed that despite the success of the musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, 57 per cent knew nothing about Joseph and his brothers.
One respondent said David and Goliath was the name of a ship while another thought Daniel – who survived being thrown into the lions’ den – was “The Lion King”.
The researchers say their findings show that the Church and politicians can no longer make assumptions about people’s knowledge of the Bible, which in under-45s is in decline.
Younger interviewees told the researchers that the Bible was “old fashioned”, “irrelevant” and “for Dot Cottons” – in reference to the church-going EastEnders’ character.
Reverend Brian Brown, a Methodist minister and Visiting Fellow in Media and Communication at St John’s College, Durham University, said: “The Church and political leaders should take serious note of the findings and recognise that we can not make the assumptions we used to make about the Bible and its place in contemporary people’s lives and culture.”
But he said that the survey results were no all “doom and gloom.” Three-quarters of respondents said they owned a Bible and 31 per cent said the Bible was significant in their lives today.
“Many respondents said they still turn to the Bible for support and guidance at key moments,” he added.