It may be difficult to remember anything about 2001 except
the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11. But there was other news to consider for
the year – and important trends to note.
Based on various studies from the past year, George Barna has
offered a look at some of those trends, releasing an annual list of vital statistics
related to faith.
It may be difficult to remember anything about 2001 except
the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11. But there was other news to consider for
the year – and important trends to note.
Based on various studies from the past year, George Barna has
offered a look at some of those trends, releasing an annual list of vital statistics
related to faith.
Barnas list focuses on the most important, most controversial,
most surprising and most challenging faith-related insights.
“Based on our on-going assessment of the spiritual climate
and religious gyrations in America, these outcomes give a pretty dynamic summary
of what happened in the U.S. in its religious life this year,” said Barna,
president of the California-based Barna Research Group.
“Such lists are always subjective, but the breadth of
revelations represented by these factors may be helpful in reviewing the true
spiritual condition of America,” Barna added.
The lists released on Barnas Web site at www.barna.org
are:
Most important or revealing statistical results
When people who regularly attend Christian church
services were asked to describe the importance of various spiritual endeavors,
only a minority described evangelism, having meaningful relationships with other
people in their church and tithing their income as very important endeavors.
After studying some three dozen different faith
practices and beliefs, adults under the age of 35 were the least likely to have
a biblical perspective or consistent participation in each area examined.
Forty-one percent of the adults who attend Christian
church services in a typical week are not born again Christians.
A study of Protestant churches showed only three
– Pentecostal, Assembly of God and non-denominational churches – had
a majority of members who had shared their faith with a non-Christian during
the past year.
A study of moral issues showed that Americans are
comfortable legalizing activities which they feel are immoral, including abortion,
homosexuality and pornography.
Religious teaching or values minimally affect peoples
moral choices. Their major influences are the expected personal outcomes of
choices, minimizing conflict and the values taught by their parents.
The number of Americans who believe that the absolute
moral truth exists has dropped from 38 percent in January 2000 to only 22 percent
in November 2001.
The findings suggest that “faith is just one component
in peoples lives that helps them to interpret and cope with reality –
and it certainly is not the central shaping influence for most people,”
Barna noted. “The data regarding young adults also pose the possibility
that churches are losing ground in terms of influence and may need to consider
new approaches to making ancient truths more vivid and comprehensible.”
Most controversial statistics
Among married adults, born again Christians and
non-Christians have essentially the same probability of divorce.
Mormons are more likely to read the Bible each
week than Protestants or Catholics.
Adults who attend charismatic or Pentecostal churches
are more likely to possess biblical beliefs than those attending other Protestant
and Catholic churches.
By 2010, 50 million Americans will seek a spiritual
experience solely through the Internet, not at a church, and as many as 100
million Americans will rely on the Internet for some aspect of a religious experience.
Roman Catholics represent the second-largest denominational
group of born again Christians in the nation – trailing Southern Baptists
but ahead of Methodists, Lutherans, Presbyterians and other denominations.
One-third of born again adults claim to tithe their
income but only 12 percent actually do so.
Just half of all home schooling parents said they
consider themselves born again Christians.
“One of the greatest values of research is that it can
identify myths that we hold on to – myths that often prevent us from seizing
opportunities or that prevent us from responding appropriately to the world
around us,” Barna explained. “A lot of the anger that was expressed
to us in reaction to these findings reflects the difficulty we sometimes have
in changing our predispositions and coming to grips with a world that is rapidly
changing. … Knowing the reality – rather than the myth – can
help us address reality and, if need be, redirect it.”
Most surprising findings
The percentage of American Hispanics tied to the
Catholic church has declined from 68 percent to 53 percent since 1991.
Since 1993, the number of pastors who say they
have the spiritual gifts of preaching/teaching, pastor/shepherd, discernment
and leadership has risen significantly.
Despite their evangelistic reputation, just four
out of 10 adults attending a Baptist church shared their faith in Christ with
a non-believer in the past year.
More adults are against legalized abortion in all
or most circumstances (55 percent) than support it (42 percent).
A plurality of adults support the legalization
of same-gender sexual relations, and even one-third of born again Christians
say they support this aspect of gay rights.
Four out of ten senior pastors do not have a seminary
degree.
Despite sales that top 5 million units, “The
Prayer of Jabez” was known to only 13 percent of adults. Despite sales
exceeding 20 million units, the “Left Behind” books were known to
only 24 percent. In contrast, the Harry Potter books were known to 69 percent
of Americans.
These findings tend to remind persons that American culture
as well as peoples faith is constantly changing, and assumptions need
to be continually re-examined to assess their validity, Barna said.
Most challenging outcomes
There has been a substantial deterioration regarding
peoples understanding of spiritual gifts. There has been a five-fold increase
in born again adults who are aware of gifts but say God did not give them one.
Also, half of all born again adults list personal gifts that are not among those
in the Bible. Even one-quarter of all Protestant pastors listed one or more
gifts they possess, which are not identified in the Bible.
Financial support of churches dropped substantially
between 1998 and 2000 – and will likely decline again this year as a result
of changed giving related to Sept. 11 events.
At least three out of 10 born again adults say
that co-habitation, gay sex, sexual fantasies, breaking the speed limit or watching
sexually-explicit movies are morally acceptable behaviors.
Half of all adults maintain a non-biblical perspective
on the moral acceptability of four or more of eight core moral behaviors.
Attending church as a child raises the likelihood
of a person attending as an adult, but that effect is declining substantially.
The religious beliefs of people who have attended
church since their childhood are not much different than those of people who
did not attend when young but attend while as adults.
Compared to teenagers in the past 20 years, todays
youths have the lowest likelihood of attending church when they are living independent
of their parents.
Such findings underscore the magnitude of the challenges facing
American ministries, Barna said.
“This is an exciting time to be alive for religious leaders
who understand the spiritual search that millions of Americans have embarked
upon and are willing to engage with people who do not necessarily accept pat
answers or traditional solutions to spiritual problems,” he stressed.
“Our society offers people a plethora of choices,” Barna pointed
out. “Helping people to comprehend that spectrum of options and the consequences
of their choices is one of the exciting challenges facing the religious leaders
of our nation.”