Religion: Bible Poll

Thomas Nelson & Sons, publishers of the new Revised Standard Version of the Bible, called on the advertising firm of Batten, Barton, Durstine & Osborn fof a market survey before deciding on the format. Among the facts & figures turned up in the B.B.D. & O. survey of 2,474 housewives:

¶Ninety percent of Protestant families and 70% of families of "other denominations" (principally Roman Catholic) own Bibles. Most Protestant homes have more than one.

¶Most Americans keep their Bibles in the living room—47% on a bookshelf, 28% on a table. Some (32%) keep their Bibles (or a second copy) on a bedside table.

¶Almost all Americans (95%) read the Bible at some time or other. Forty-one percent read it at least once a week; of this number, 18% (chiefly Protestants) say they read it every day.

¶ Fifty-two percent say they read the Bible to "study it"; 40% say they read it "as literature." The rest read it both ways.