A new study by the American Bible Society, detailed in its “State of the Bible USA 2024 Report,” reveals that the willingness to forgive is a significant indicator of human flourishing.
The report, released last week, examined responses to the statement: “I am able to sincerely forgive whatever someone else has done to me, regardless of whether they ever ask for forgiveness or not.” Respondents’ agreement with this statement provided insights into the link between forgiveness—a central tenet of Christianity—and personal well-being.
“People who agreed most strongly with that forgiveness statement scored significantly higher than others in Human Flourishing and Hope Agency,” the report states. “People who disagreed scored lower.”
Human flourishing, as defined in the report, encompasses happiness, health, purpose, character, and relationships. Forgiveness was found to positively influence each of these aspects.
“Those who ‘agree strongly’ that they can forgive others are a full two points higher on the overall flourishing score (7.6 to 5.4) than those who ‘disagree strongly,’” the report continues. “We find a similar pattern when we turn to Hope Agency, with a huge disparity between the scores of those who strongly agree or disagree with the forgiveness statement.”
In essence, individuals who strongly believe in forgiving others, regardless of receiving an apology, also exhibit higher levels of hopefulness, reinforcing the idea that forgiveness contributes to a more positive life experience.
The research also sheds light on Generation Z, young adults aged 18 to 27. Despite concerning statistics indicating that this generation is less connected to the Bible and church, and faces more stress and less hope, the study found that engagement with Scripture significantly improves their lives.
Dr. John Plake, editor-in-chief of the State of the Bible series, emphasized this point. “What about those in Gen Z who do engage with Scripture?” Plake said in a statement. “Not only do they score higher on the Human Flourishing scale than other young adults who don’t read the Bible — but they have the highest score of any generation.”
The Christian Post noted that Scripture-engaged Gen Zers perform as well as Baby Boomers and Elders (those born in 1964 or earlier) on the Human Flourishing Index, tying for the highest averages.
Plake indicated that while more research is needed, the current data suggests that regular engagement with Scripture helps counter the unique challenges that prevent young adults from flourishing.
As reported by CBN News, Plake also expressed optimism about the Gospel’s impact on young people, stating that 21% of Generation Z adults reported increasing their use of the Bible within the last year.
This study underscores the potential of a regular connection with God and the Bible to foster forgiveness, hope, and overall well-being, especially among younger generations.