[PW] Re: Bible Belt Bible

[Bill Davis]

A number on online sources said the New International Version (NIV) was the 
most popular version today, while one survey said the King James Version 
was still the most popular in the South, which is where "The Bible Belt" is.

Here is a reference connecting its orgins of the NIV with an Evangelical group:

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From:    http://tinyurl.com/uraa3

"Overall, however, the most popular Bible translation today is the New 
International Version.

"According to Biblegateway.com, as a gospel communications ministry, the 
NIV was assembled "by more than 100 scholars working from the best 
available Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts" to develop a contemporary 
English translation of the Bible. The process began in 1965, as a result of 
a decision by the Christian Reformed Church and the National Association of 
Evangelicals, which Biblegateway.com describes as "a trans-denominational 
and international group of scholars."

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And there is this from   http://tinyurl.com/y62nmq :

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MAY 10, 2004

PASTORS' FAVORITE VERSIONS OF THE BIBLE

New International (NIV)
King James Version (KJV)
New Revised Standard (NRSV)
New King James (NKJ)
New American Standard (NASB)

PASTORS' PREFERENCE BY REGION
Southern US - KJV
Midwest and the western US - NIV
Northeast - NRS

PASTORS' PREFERENCE BY DENOMINATION
Methodist - NIV, NRS
Lutheran - NRS, NIV
Southern Baptist - NIV, NKJ, KJV, NASB
Other Baptists* - KJB, NIV
Pentecostal/Charismatic - KJV, NIV
*includes: American Baptist, Conservative Baptist,
General Baptist

PASTORS' MOST LIKELY RECOMMENDATION
OF BIBLES TO PARISHIONERS
NIV
NKJ
NASB
KJB
NRSV

PASTORS' MOST LIKELY TO NOT RECOMMEND
Living Bible
Today's New International Version
The Message
KJV

Source: Ellison Research

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The Pentacostal/Charismatic line might also apply when you start referring 
to "Evangelicals," which are not limited to "The Bible Belt."


Bill Davis


At 01:41 AM 11/8/2006, you wrote:

>I was asked yesterday what Bible is used by the Evangelicals in the US
>today.  The patron then added, as a synonym, the Bible Belt.  I'm not sure
>the two terms are synonymous; I don't know if there is one particular
>translation that all evangelicals prefer. I can't think of any source to
>which I have access that will begin to answer this question, so I am passing
>it on to you.
>As always, any help will be appreciated.
>
>Tsviya Polani
>Reference Librarian
>Aranne Library
>Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
>Be'er Sheva, Israel

Bill Davis
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