NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) Two-thirds of Protestant teens in the United States say they read the Bible alone less than once a week or not at all, according to a recent survey by the National Study of Youth and Religion.

Southern Baptist teens were third among Protestant groups, with 39 percent indicating they read the Bible alone once a week or more. Teens within the Church of God in Christ were first at 48 percent, while Assemblies of God teens were second at 44 percent.

Just 32 percent of Protestant teens report that they personally read the Bible alone once a week or more often, said the report released June 23.

“Most religious traditions teach that faith and spiritual maturity does not happen automatically, but that these must be intentionally cultivated and practiced,” Christian Smith, principal investigator of the study, said in the news release.

Smith, associate chair of sociology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, said a reason for the pattern may be that many Protestant adults fail to read the Bible regularly.

“It could be that most Protestant adults are not very good role models for their teenagers when it comes to basic, personal religious practices like reading the Bible.”

Southern Baptist teenagers did lead the pack when asked whether they attend church services regularly. Just under half, 48 percent, said they did.

The study, funded by Lilly Endowment, Inc., was based on random telephone interviews with more than 3,350 teens along with one of their parents. The full report may be viewed at www.youthandreligion.org.