Spiritual Progress Hard to Find in 2003

Barna Research ^ | 12/24/03 | George Barna

[truthandlife]

After analyzing more than 10,000 personal interviews conducted during 2003, researcher George Barna identified four critical outcomes that emerged from those interactions regarding faith and lifestyle.

Millions of Americans Are Spiritually Satisfied – and Confused

Contradictions and confusion permeate the spiritual condition of the nation. Studies conducted during 2003 indicate, for instance, that while 84% of adults say their religious faith is very important in their own life, 66% also say that religion is losing influence in the nation. While people are clearly spending less time involved in religious practices such as Bible reading, prayer, and participating in church activities, 70% claim that their own religious faith is consistently growing deeper.

Further, at the same time that 84% of adults claim to be Christian, three out of four say they are either absolutely or somewhat committed to Christianity, and three-fifths say they believe the Bible is totally accurate in all that it teaches, the moral foundations of the nation are crumbling. This year brought about increases in the proportions of people who contend that cohabitation (60%), adultery (42%), sexual relations between homosexuals (30%), abortion (45%), pornography (38%), the use of profanity (36%) and gambling (61%) are “morally acceptable” behaviors.

Even perceptions regarding eternal salvation reflect confusion. Nearly nine out of ten Protestant churches claim to be “evangelical,” almost six out of ten born again Christians claim to have shared their faith in Christ with a non-believer during the past twelve months, and virtually every Christian church says it pursues the Great Commission (i.e., spreading the good news about the availability of eternal salvation through the grace of God via Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection for those who embrace Him as savior). Yet, although just 38% of the adult public have confessed their sins and accepted Christ as their savior, 99% claim they will not go to Hell after they die. In fact, a majority of Americans do not believe that Satan exists and most adults are leery about the existence of Hell.

America’s spiritual confusion undoubtedly relates to the fact that most people own a Bible but few know what’s in it. Research showing that only 4% of adults, and just 9% of born again Christians, have a biblical worldview sheds light on the distorted viewpoints that reign in the U.S.

(For more detail on these research findings, see Barna Updates released February 24, March 18, April 24, May 19, October 21, November 3 and December 1 of 2003.)

Children Are Loved But Not Well-Served Spiritually

Despite a range of public policies designed to protect and nurture children, ranging from compulsory public education to protection from abuse and neglect, Americans seem willing to overlook the spiritual development of children. The research discovered that tens of millions of parents are satisfied by simply enrolling their children in church programs; they demonstrate little concern about the quality or effectiveness of those experiences.

The significance of focusing on the development of children is underscored by findings showing that the moral foundations of children are typically solidified by the age of nine, that lifelong spiritual choices regarding one’s faith and one’s relationship with Jesus Christ are generally made before they reach age 13, and that a person’s religious beliefs are usually worked out prior to becoming a teenager – and that those beliefs rarely change to any meaningful degree after age 13.

Unfortunately, “exit interviews” with teenagers reveal that the spiritual foundation laid by families and churches when they were younger is often inadequate. (For instance comparatively few early teens say that they learned enough Bible content to enable them to make important life decisions on the basis of biblical principles. Further, most teenagers have already made up their minds that once they become independent of their parents they will abandon church.)

Several Barna studies pointed out that most Christian churches evaluate success in terms of program attendance, child satisfaction and parental satisfaction, but do little to examine individual spiritual advancement. However, the ministries having the greatest success at seeing young people emerge into mature Christians, rather than contented church-goers, are those that facilitate a parent-church partnership focused on instilling specific spiritual beliefs and practices in a child’s life from a very early age. Sadly, less than one out of every five churches has produced such a ministry.

(For more detail on these research findings, see Barna Updates released May 6, July 8 and November 17 of 2003.)

Baby Busters March to A Different Drummer

As Baby Boomers get closer to their retirement years, the Baby Bust generation is spreading its wings in the marketplace. But as the generation of people in their twenties through mid-thirties accepts greater responsibilities, research data indicate that they are shifting many of our nation’s core values and perspectives.

This year’s research showed that Busters are the adult generation least likely to embrace the existence of life after earthly death; least likely to maintain views related to moral behavior that are consistent with the Bible; least likely to devote time to serving people; least likely to engage in traditional religious activities such as Bible reading, attending church, praying to God, and attending religious education classes; and the least likely to tithe to a church. They are also the generation most likely to believe we can communicate with dead people, the most likely to engage in sex without being married, are far more likely to endorse postmodern lifestyle perspectives, and are the most likely to hold theological views that conflict the Bible.

Busters generally describe themselves as “spiritual” but have less interest in church activity than do any other adults. As the current parents of most of the nation’s under-13 population, the long-term implications of their departure from orthodox Christianity are significant.

(For more detail on these research findings, see the Barna Update released September 24, 2003.)

Lots of Religious Activity But Limited Gains Are Evident

What makes all of these realities so hard to grasp is the substantial level of religious activity in the United States. Although there has been no change in the percentage of adults or teenagers who are born again in many years, the fact that four out of every ten adults attends a church service in a typical week; that a similar proportion read the Bible outside of church services; or that eight out of ten people claim to pray to God during a typical week minimizes people’s sensitivity to other indicators of spiritual decay. Christian ministries will raise nearly $60 billion for domestic ministry in 2003, and there is an estimated $3 billion of new construction work occurring on church properties to facilitate expanded ministry activities. All of these figures lend an air of security and stability to the religious condition of the country.

(For more detail on these research findings, see the Barna Update released March 18, 2003.)

However, it is that very degree of continuity, when connected with the moral decay, family and parenting struggles, financial challenges and educational demise, that gives reason to question the spiritual health of the nation. The fact that there has not been any measurable increase in church involvement or personal spiritual depth in the past decade challenges the widespread notion that the U.S. is as spiritually healthy and focused as ever.

“This has been an intriguing year regarding the spiritual character of the nation,” explained George Barna, whose firm conducted the various studies relating faith and culture. “The news was filled with stories that directly and indirectly related to faith and morality, including such high profile events as the war in Iraq, further allegations of physical abuse by Catholic priests, legal changes regarding the definition of family, pending splits over moral issues within several major Protestant denominations, questions about the Islamic faith and even challenges to the President’s policies in relation to his faith.

“Many of these incidents have pushed Americans to re-consider the content and the implications of their faith. Our research clearly indicates that Americans are aware of and, to some extent, connected to their spiritual side. One of the greatest challenges of 2004 will be to upgrade the priority of personal and communal spiritual development so that positive transformation may continue.”

Research Source and Methodology

The data described above are from telephone interviews with a nationwide random sample of more than 10,000 adults conducted during throughout 2003. The maximum margin of sampling error associated with the aggregate sample is ±2 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. All of the interviews were conducted from the Barna Research Group telephone interviewing facility in Ventura, CA. Adults in the 48 continental states were eligible to be interviewed and the distribution of respondents coincided with the geographic dispersion of the U.S. adult population. Multiple callbacks were used to increase the probability of including a reliable distribution of adults.

“Born again Christians” were defined in these surveys as people who said they have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ that is still important in their life today and who also indicated they believe that when they die they will go to Heaven because they had confessed their sins and had accepted Jesus Christ as their savior. Respondents were not asked to describe themselves as “born again.” Being “born again” is not dependent upon any church or denominational affiliation or involvement.

The Barna Research Group, Ltd. is an independent marketing research company located in southern California. Since 1984, it has been studying cultural trends related to values, beliefs, attitudes and behaviors. If you would like to receive regular e-mailings of a brief overview of each new bi-weekly update on the latest research findings from the Barna Research Group, you may subscribe to this free service at the Barna Research web site (www.barna.org).

[LS]

Well, there is a reasonable explanation for one "contradiction": I admit I spend less time in study than I did when I first was coming into a real knowledge of the Word 15 years ago. However, once I laid that foundation, I can now gain new insight and revelation in less time because, for one thing, I know where to look.

It's no different with my secular education. I don't spend nearly as much time reading history books now because I've read many, and know where to go to get the information I want.

Likewise, when I was growing up in the Southern Baptist Church, people spent every waking hour in church, yet I didn't see much spiritual growth at all. It can be argued (and is argued by my pastor) that church is where Christians should spend a MINIMAL amount of time: the place for the salt is not with the rest of the salt in the container, but in the "meat."

[AmericanInTokyo]

Good points. Here are some other thoughts I have, though. Merry Christmas.

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IMHO, this country, the United States of America, is more or less back to the way it was on September 10th, 2001 and the months and years before that date.

There were not only explosions of airliners and people's lives that day, there seemed to be a very noticeable national EXPLOSION of religous faith, unified, mystic, steeped in human nature perhaps, or based upon fear of further destruction or the thirst for self-preservation; that this had the churches and synogogues PACKED in America coast-to-coast and with all kinds of people reaching out, following 11 September 2001. It also saw the creation of a New Humbled Attitude you could reach out and touch, it was so clear in America back then.

I remember hearing about the long lines for "confession" for even busy stockbrokers in New York City at Catholic churches on their lunch hours, standing silently in their suits with their briefcases. Everyone thought we were just another terrorist away from another attack and their own obliteration.

The American TV shows got rid of filthy jokes and attitude, the violent movies were gone in favor of old, uplifting American classics or patriotic music. Firefighters and policemen got a thumbs up in anytown in America. A liberal could not even open his trap for a second with a bad word about our tested Commander-in-Chief President Bush. People were volunteering right and left. Madison Avenue discovered that the new national marketing theme for almost every product or service was "FAMILY", and "SECURITY" and "HOME" and "FAITH"--so-called "What Really Matters".

It is too sad there was a tremendous and cruel tragedy to bring this about, but for about a year or two there, I really liked this New America, which perhaps wasn't really "new" at all...it was America returning to the Old America we once really knew, and reversing it's course, it's slide into nihilism, it's slouching toward Gomorrah.

But gradually, we got away from "9-11 America", didn't we? The nasty and degrading movies and TV jokes, banal reality shows, filthy rap music, the unpatriotic comments by actors/actresses and country music stars, idiotic court rulings and Administration statements/trial balloons on national security and border protection, the churches started to thin out and people back to driving around town with their rushed, nasty, SUV attitude, 401(k) is God mindset and "me-first" syndrome. The social vomit returned to us, washing again up on our shores. And we welcomed it back it. It's the ECONOMY, Stupid! (Heard that before? What happened right after that attitude?) Oh well. Some "change".

Sorry to wax philosophical or judgemental a bit, but I think I have seen this American national characteristic change dramatically in the last three years, only to slowly but surely change back to its original position, if not worse. One only hopes a massive terrorist attack does not occur again, but I wonder if America will get serious about its spiritually and take it down from the Sunday shelf for good this time, to be used (as a weapon against the evil out there) every day of the week and everyone one goes?

Can we reverse course?

Why does it take terrible acts of massive destruction and human cruelty to get us back on track and in the right direction?

[qam1]

This year’s research showed that Busters are the adult generation least likely to embrace the existence of life after earthly death; least likely to maintain views related to moral behavior that are consistent with the Bible; least likely to devote time to serving people; least likely to engage in traditional religious activities such as Bible reading, attending church, praying to God, and attending religious education classes; and the least likely to tithe to a church. They are also the generation most likely to believe we can communicate with dead people, the most likely to engage in sex without being married, are far more likely to endorse postmodern lifestyle perspectives, and are the most likely to hold theological views that conflict the Bible.

Busters generally describe themselves as “spiritual” but have less interest in church activity than do any other adults. As the current parents of most of the nation’s under-13 population, the long-term implications of their departure from orthodox Christianity are significant.

We (Gen-Xers or Busters?) tend to be the most conservative out of any group.

While I will agree that Gen-Xers are probably much less religious than other groups but being religious and being moral doesn't necessary correlate.

Just recently in the news

Drug use by teenagers declines, continues its decline

More Teenagers Say No to Sex

So while as a whole we are less religious it appears as Gen-Xers are starting to replacing the baby boomers as the majority of parents of today's kids even though we might be less religious we are doing a better job at raising more moral / better behaved kids so this doom and gloom about the future doesn't hold water.

[qam1]

Xer (Or in this case "Buster") Ping

Ping list for the discussion of the politics and social aspects that directly effects Generation-X (Those born from 1965-1982) including all the spending previous generations (i.e. The Baby Boomers) are doing that Gen-X and Y will end up paying for.

New: Freep mail me to be added or dropped. See my home page for details.  

[LS]

Oh, I agree (and Barna's own research has confirmed) that there was only a bried "burst" of "religiosity" after 9/11. I certainly don't think America is "more spiritual" now than before.

However, I do have a problem with the AMOUNT of time one spends, for example, in Bible study or prayer as a measure of Christian effectiveness. After all, in any other line of work the LESS time you spend on a task is an indicator that you are becoming better at it. I know for a fact that my prayer life is briefer, but as effective, as before, because I learned how to pray. Get rid of the "thees" and "thous" and get to the point---say what the Father says, and believe!

[AmericanInTokyo]

I think you have the right approach.

You have to continually TURN OUTWARDLY, especially toward non-believers, with your charity and optimism and faith and good spirit and love, and shine your light, not just get so isolated like an island and turned self-inward, hanging only with Christians, with too much bible reading, Christian TV, and Christian music tapes. It gets self centered and non productive after a point, and does not spread the word externally or get more people into the fold (which is the 'commission' after all). Just preaching to the choir does not always build the church's attendence numbers!

[Mr Rogers]

From the statistics quoted in the study, I would conclude the reduced time reading the Bible is matched with a less biblical view of life. The point isn't that these 'quality time' Christians are now effectively evangelizing, but that these 'quality time' 'christians' are far more likely to support pornography, abortion, adultery & fornication (assuming they know the meaning of the last word...)

[Jack Black]

Here is a link on the same topic I found others may find interesting.

GENERATIONS

[Jack Black]

Here are some comments on all this. First off the "Baby Boom" is way too big. If it is supposed to be kids born to returning GI's but includes kids born in 1965, who could plausibly be children of people born at the start of the boom. Thus it is clearly not a generation. Its huge size is in part because it has so many years in it.

Silent = 18 years
Boom = 18 years
X = 11 years
Y = 17 years

The "X" seems like about the right age for a generation, about a decade. I know these are used by demographers, but I've also seen other breakdowns that show boom ending in 60, boom ending in 58, etc.

I also think that to say Gen Y is "amoral, has no values" is utter crap. Everyone has values, they may not be to the authors liking. I really don't believe there is a whole generation of amoral kids out there. Both my daughters are in that generation and they are anything but amoral. Most of their friends are good kids who work hard, go to school, are often drug / tobacco / alcohol free (unlike their parents). Lots of them go to church even though their parents don't, etc.

I guess I sceptical about anyones abiltiy to generalize about 75 million people based on the years they were born.

[Jack Black]

From the chart I linked they present this, which I also find hard to believe:

GI generations -65% Christian
Silent generations -65% Christian
Baby Boom - 35% Christian
Gen X (baby bust) - 15% Christian
Older Bridgers (age 17+) - 4% Christian

I don't think there is a 4% Christian generation out there now. Sorry.

[tortoise]

I would note that GenX is pervasively non-religious in my experience. It isn't that they are militantly anti-religion, they just don't have a religion, don't need a religion, and don't really want one either.

That said, to me they often seem more moral than the Boomer generation that preceded them, IMO, particularly to the extent that GenX is keen on the concept of personal responsibility for one's life and one's actions. Boomer Christians, such as they are, often seem to have a socialist streak a mile wide that doesn't work for GenX.

[LS]

You know, I like to use Jesus as my model for everything---not that I'm always successful at copying Him. But most of His prayers were pretty darn short. We don't have his Gethsemene prayer recorded, but obviously He prayed for about three hours before the most challenging circumstance in His entire life.

Often, however, He prefaced miracles with a VERY short prayer or command. With Lazarus, for example, He merely said (in the form of a prayer) "this sickness is not unto death." Later, He merely thanked God that He had "heard" His earlier prayer. Then He raised Lazarus. That's what I call effective prayer. I think many Christians measure themselves by how long they pray or how long they "study." Hey, nothing wrong with long prayer if you have a lot to pray about, but I have a formula where I pray first for my own spiritual and physical needs (because I can't help anyone else if I'm dead); then for my family and friends; then for the ministries; then for Pres. Bush and the USA; then for the lost that I know, that the "right witness" would be sent to them. Often I follow that with praying in tongues for 10-20 minutes---a total prayer time of 1/2 hour or so.

Now, if I have something else that really needs attention, of course I pray longer. But (this is just my belief here) when you pray in tongues, the Holy Spirit takes over what you pray about, and I believe I pray more effectively. Certainly from the RESULTS, it appears that way. Now, I understand some people don't believe in praying in tongues, and that's fine. That's why I have a "checklist" in English for the things I need to pray for.