TORONTO, Canada, April 8, 2003 — "Substantial" changes have been occurring in the religious beliefs and practices of Americans over the past five to 10 years, which have gone almost unnoticed by the people who monitor such things.
Until recently, that is. That word comes from the Barna Research Group, (www.barna.org), a California-based marketing research company that specializes in studying cultural trends related to values, beliefs attitudes and behaviours.
Barna's most recent report, titled "America's Faith Is Changing - But Beneath the Surface", says discernible transitions (in religious habits and perspectives), have occurred across various age, ethnic and geographic subgroups, but went unnoticed until recently because, "changes across people groups cancel each other out, resulting in stable national norms".
Among the changes noted in the report are a gradual departure from organized religious activity among older Americans; a gradual acceptance of Christian orthodoxy and organized religious activity among young adults; a dissipation of evangelical beliefs in the South; an increase in liberal theological perspectives among Catholics; and a substantial redefinition of faith among blacks.
Older Americans vacating the pews
The survey grouped the two oldest generations (Builders and Seniors) together and called them 'Elders', and found that the group is dropping out of organized faith activity in significant numbers. For example, church attendance among the group is down by six percentage points over the past five years, evangelizing is down eight points (since 1997), and church volunteerism is off by seven points over the past ten years.
The report indicates these declines are due to the limited mobility and declining health among Senior Americans, and the erosion of commitment among Builders.
Young adults are jumping in
Among the group Barna calls 'Baby Busters', (those born between 1969 and 1983), there's been a growing acceptance of "more traditional Christian activity". As proof, the report cites: a seven-percentage point increase in Sunday school attendance (since 1996), a six-point rise in church volunteerism (since 1998), a four-point increase in church attendance; a six-point jump in participation in small group participation and a seven-point hike in Bible reading.
Barna attributes these changes to the fact the generation is aging and becoming more family-oriented.
Southerners abandoning spiritual heritage
The Barna report indicates a significant shift in religious beliefs and practices among Southerners. For example, weekly church attendance has fallen by six points (since 1997), church volunteerism has dropped eight points (since 1998), and evangelism has decreased seven points over the past three years.
Twice as many Catholics go to Sunday school; fewer believe in God as all-powerful
According to Barna, one quarter of the American population are Roman Catholics; making Catholicism the largest denomination in the country. The report indicates the percentage of Catholics attending a Sunday school class has doubled since 1996. Protestant participation remained stable over the same period. In terms of Catholic theological views; there has been a four-point loss in the belief in God as the all-powerful, all-knowing Creator.
Most substantial changes noted among African-Americans
The survey's most substantial changes were noted in the Black community. Today's African-Americans are ten percentage points less likely to read the bible and six points less likely to share their faith with non-believers than they were only three years ago. They are four points less likely to attend a Sunday school class than they were in 1996. In terms of actual beliefs among black American adults, there has been a nine-percentage point drop in the number who believe God is the all-powerful, all-knowing creator of the universe.
The Barna report indicates such changes could be evidence of a "seismic faith reorientation within the black community".
'It's no wonder most adults confess to being confused'
In summing up his organizations' findings, George Barna said, "Americans have not abandoned the importance of religious faith in their lives." But, he also said, given "the competing forces that make their choices so difficult: transitions in life stages, geographic mobility, influence by the media and public policy, economic shifts, ethnic diversity and history, and even the conflicts within the religious community, it's no wonder that most adults confess to being confused about truth and meaning."
The Barna Research Group has been monitoring the religious beliefs and practices of Americans in an annual tracking study since 1984. Their data are based on a nationwide telephone survey involving interviews with 1010 adults during the last week of January and first week of February.
This information used by permission from Barna Research Group, to see the original article in its entirety at, please click here.
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