Scripture Engagement Linked to Higher Human Flourishing

It will come as no surprise to Christians that regular Bible reading contributes to human flourishing, as research by the American Bible Society confirms. This connection between scripture engagement and well-being is reflected in reports on the mental health and comfort benefits that many people experience through Bible use.

“The study of human flourishing, developed at Harvard, has been part of our own survey for several years now,” said John Farquhar Plake, chief innovation officer for the association. “This year we saw an encouraging uptick in flourishing overall and found high flourishing levels among scripture engaged Gen Z and millennials. These findings further support our research into the positive relationship between Bible engagement and holistic well-being.” The Harvard Human Flourishing Program provides the academic foundation for measuring and promoting well-being across populations.

The report defines human flourishing as “a state of thriving and well-being where all aspects of a person’s life are good.” Among the highlights of the research:

• Individuals who experience connection with God tend to exhibit greater human flourishing levels. High human flourishing was observed in 43 percent of Americans who strongly felt God was active in their lives. Conversely, 41 percent of those who disagreed about God’s involvement experienced low human flourishing. This finding echoes broader research showing that practices such as prayer, meditation, and faith can benefit mental health, even among those who are not religious.
• Regularly practicing one’s faith (such as consistent monthly church attendance among Christians who highly value their faith) is linked to higher human flourishing scores. Increased Bible reading frequency also correlates with greater flourishing.
• The boomer generation exhibits the highest average human flourishing, significantly surpassing other generations. By contrast, only 26 percent of Gen Z individuals reported high human flourishing scores, compared to 45 percent of boomers. However, both Gen Z and millennials who are actively engaging with scripture are flourishing.
• In the United States, human flourishing scores saw a modest but widespread increase in 2025, rising by one or two tenths in nearly every area compared to last year. According to recent analysis, younger adults engaging with Scripture now score significantly higher on the Human Flourishing Index, a metric developed at Harvard University.
• The Global Flourishing Study places the United States at 15th for human flourishing and 12th for secure flourishing among 22 nations. The top five flourishing countries are Indonesia, Mexico, the Philippines, Israel and Nigeria.
• Bible engagement across the United States has increased for the first time in four years, reversing a post-pandemic decline. Nearly 10 million more Americans have engaged with the Bible this year compared to 2024, with the largest gains among millennials, Gen Xers, and men.

These findings highlight the growing relevance of scripture engagement for overall well-being, especially as Americans seek new ways to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

Alan Goforth