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Competing Worldviews Influence

Today’s Christians

A new study conducted for Summit Ministries

Report of Findings May 2017
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Contents

q Background and Methodology p.3

q Summary of Findings p.4
q Biblical worldview p.7
q New Spirituality p.15
q Post Modernism & Secularism p.19
q Marxism p.26
q Islam p.31
q Practicing Christians profile p.35

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Background and Methodology
q To assess the degree to which non-Christian worldviews have been adopted by
Christians in the U.S., Summit commissioned Barna Group to conduct a survey with
“practicing Christians”
¢ Practicing Christians are defined as attending church in the past month and considering their
Christian faith “very important” in their life. This group consists of 57% Protestants and 43%
Catholics
¢ Barna worked closely with Summit to develop a survey tool with questions devised to capture
perspectives aligned with various world views as defined in Summit’s published resources and
teaching.
¢ This survey was conducted online with 1,456 practicing Christians from a nationally
representative consumer panel in March 2017
q The margin of error on this sample is 2.3% at the 95% confidence level
¢ Comparison groups shown throughout the report (such as over/under age 45) indicate
statistically significant differences

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Summary of Findings
• 61% of practicing Christians agree with ideas rooted in New Spirituality
• 54% resonate with Post-Modern views
• 38% are sympathetic to some Islamic teachings
• 36% accept ideas associated with Marxism
• 29% believe ideas based on Secularism
q The findings from this study suggest that indeed a sizeable minority – up to a majority –
of practicing Christians have firmly accepted the ideals of non-biblical worldviews.
Meanwhile, only one in five (19%) hold a purely biblical worldview.
q It is worth noting that some of the questions tested could have been interpreted through
a biblical lens: for example, the karmic concept “If you do good, you will receive good. If
you do bad, you will receive bad.” might be understood as “God is a just God and there
is ultimately justice for evil.” However, this also reveals how Christians may be
deceived by tenets that sound like biblical concepts but are only half-truths or distorted.

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Summary of Findings, cont’d
q Christians reveal a broad range of contradictions in their thinking, suggesting that they
are not really comprehending what they are asserting…
¢ For example, of the 10% who say a belief has to be proven by science to be true, 82% believe “Jesus
is the divine Son of God,” three-quarters say “the Bible communicates the truth about God,” and half
believe in young-earth, six-day creationism
¢ One-fifth of Christians say there is no one “true religion, that many religions can lead to eternal life,”
yet of these, two-thirds also say “God is the all-powerful, all-knowing, perfect creator of the universe
who rules the world today” and “Faith in Jesus is the only way to God,” and three-quarters strongly
agree that “the Bible is the inspired word of God that contains truth about the world"

q One of the most important factors influencing the degree to which practicing Christians
believe in these other world views is whether they are Catholic or Protestant. Nearly
half (43%) of practicing Christians – those whose faith is important to them and they
attend church regularly – are Catholic. In many cases, Catholics are twice or three
times as likely or more to agree with non-biblical worldviews as defined in this survey.
This means that those more likely to be defined as “evangelical” are significantly less
likely to espouse non-biblical world views.
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Summary of Findings, cont’d
q There are several key demographic differences that emerge in the data:
¢ There is a stark divide between Millennials and Gen-Xers, who came of age in a less
Christianized context, and Boomers and Elders. These younger Christians are, in some cases,
up to eight times more likely to accept other worldviews.
¢ Males are generally more open to these worldviews than women, often at a 2:1 ratio.
¢ Americans who live in cities, often melting pots of ideas and cultures, are more accepting of
these views than those in either suburban or rural areas.
¢ Looking at ethnicity, Americans of color are, in about half of the cases, more likely than white
Americans to embrace these worldviews.

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Biblical worldview

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Who do Christians say God is? a

Older Christians have a more orthodox view of God, while younger Christians are generally more likely
to ascribe to a more narcissistic version of New Spirituality (everyone is God).

God is the all-powerful, all-knowing, perfect, 86%

Christian, Islam 74% 92%
creator of the universe who rules the world today

New Spirituality Everyone is God 8% 20% 2%

God represents a state of higher consciousness 3%
New Spirituality 1% 4%
that a person may reach
God refers to the total realization of personal, 2%
New Spirituality 3% 1%
human potential

Agnosticism No one can know if God truly exists 1% 1% 1%

There are many gods each with different power
Poly-theism
and authority
0% 1% 0%
Marxism, Secularism,
There is no such thing as God 0% 0% 0%
Post modernism

There are many beliefs about God, or a higher power. Please choose which one of the following descriptions comes closest to what
you, personally, believe about God.
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What do Christians believe about the a
origins of the earth?
Older Christians are more likely to believe in a “God-initiated” version of creation (30% vs 15%),
whereas younger Christians are more likely to ascribe to a “young earth” six-day creation (50 vs 33%).
Similarly, belief in God-initiated creation is more common in the more highly educated suburbs, while
belief in young-earth creation is slightly higher in urban and rural areas.

As recently as six thousand years ago, God created the universe in six
Christian, Islam twenty-four-hour days. Living organisms were created distinct and 39%
separate in much their present forms
God created the universe long ago and created basic kinds of living
Christian, Islam organisms separately, in something like their present forms, with some 27%
(limited) capacity to change and adapt to their circumstances over time
God initiated the first life long ago and then worked through the natural
Christian, Islam process of evolution to bring about the diversity of life we see today. Thus, 25%
evolution is a God-guided process, not random or purposeless
The universe and the Earth came into being billions of years ago; all life,
Marxism, Secularism, including humans, evolved over millions of years from earlier life forms 2%
Post modernism due to environmental pressures to adapt. There was no God or intelligent
force involved in either the creation or evolution of life

Other 8%

Which of the following comes closest to describing your beliefs about the origins of the earth? If you are not sure, please select your
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best guess.
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Do Christians believe they reflect a
their Creator?
Similarly, young Christians and those in urban areas are less likely to ascribe their personal value to
their Creator

Christianity I am a unique person with value regardless of what I do 65% 56% 70%

Secularism,
I am the sum total of my experiences 16% 14% 16%
Marxism

I am part of a larger “mind” that encompasses the 8%

New Spirituality universe 12% 6%

Post modernism I am a highly evolved, complex animal 6% 9% 5%

Secularism
I am a physical body with a brain that works like a 5% 9% 3%
computer

At the most basic level, what it means to be “me” is: 10

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What do Christians believe about a
God’s role in history?
Secular thinking is more likely to have seeped into younger Christians’ world view, while older
Christians are more likely to reflect a “notional” Christian perspective – that God leaves us to our own
capacity when it comes to the course of history

Christian, Islam God has worked through history to bring us to this point 54% 46% 58%

Notional Christian, God doesn’t get involved in history; he expects us to

16% 8% 20%
Islam learn from it and make the best decisions we can

Each society needs to decide for itself what is the best

Secular
course of history
16% 31% 8%

There is no real direction for history—things just 4%

Post modernism 9% 2%
happen

None of these / something else 10% 5% 12%

Which of the following views most accurately describes your understanding of the course of history? 11
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Christian world view summary a

Believe in any Christian statements 100%

Believe in all Christian statements 19%

Average # Christian statements believe in (of 13) 10

All practicing Christians espouse at least one biblical worldview – in fact, the average
number of statements believed is 10. For most of the biblical worldview questions tested,
between 75% and 92% of practicing Christians strongly agree with central tenants, such as
“Faith in Jesus is the only way to God.”
However, only 19% embrace ALL of the 13 biblical worldview statements tested,
suggesting that the vast majority of Christians have a softer stance on one or two of these
topics / questions. This finding is commensurate with separate research conducted by
Barna on biblical worldviews, encompassing six beliefs, with which 17% of practicing
Christians agree*. The latter data is relatively stable over the past 20 years.

*Barna has tracked beliefs that make up a “biblical worldview” since 1995: this figure comes from an OmniPoll conducted in an online study of 1,066 U.S. adults in July 2015.
Our “biblical worldview” includes believing that absolute moral truth exists; the Bible is totally accurate in all of the principles it teaches; Satan is considered to be a real being or force, not merely symbolic; a person
cannot earn their way into Heaven by trying to be good or do good works; Jesus Christ lived a sinless life on earth; and God is the all-knowing, all-powerful creator of the world who still rules the universe today. 12
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Beliefs about Jesus a

Jesus is the divine Son of God Faith in Jesus is the only way to God I believe that Jesus Christ was
crucified and raised from the dead to
conquer sin and death
92% 75% 90%

82%
85% 95% 72% 82% 93%
74%

90% 90% 97% 77% 67% 83% 84% 89% 96%

Agree strongly (darkest shade plus flag), Agree somewhat (next lighter shade),
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Disagree somewhat (next lighter shade), Disagree strongly (lightest shade)
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Christian beliefs and values a

The Bible is the inspired word of God Human life begins at conception Meaning and purpose come from
that contains truth about the world loving God as completely and deeply
as possible
81% 75% 78%

83% 75%
78% 84% 70% 78% 83%
76% 79%
78% 76% 90% 70% 75% 81% 81% 71%

Agree strongly (darkest shade plus flag), Agree somewhat (next lighter shade),
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Disagree somewhat (next lighter shade), Disagree strongly (lightest shade)
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New Spirituality

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New Spirituality world view summary a

Believe in any New Spirituality statements

(includes overlap with other world views) 61%

Believe in any New Spirituality statements 61%

(no overlap with other world views)

Average # New Spirituality statements believe in (if believe any) 3

New Spirituality is the most commonly, widely accepted non-biblical ideology. More than
half of practicing Christians indicate alignment with this worldview, with the average number
of statements or perspectives espoused at three out of 11 tested.
While some of these statements could be misconstrued as biblical (for example, “the root of
society’s problems is our failure to recognize our own God-like natures” may be interpreted
as recognizing that we are made in God’s image), others such as “many religions can lead
to eternal life” are distinctly un-Christian.
There are some distinctions by age, but the most dramatic differences occur between
people in cities vs. suburban and rural areas.

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New Spirituality
All people pray to the same god or Many religions can lead to eternal If you do good, you will receive good.
spirit, no matter what name they use life; there is no ‘one true religion’ If you do bad, you will receive bad.
for that spiritual being

28% 23% 32%

25% 29% 52% 50%

33% 26% 31% 42%
22% 20% 27% 24%
39% 25% 22% 33% 22% 14% 43% 28% 26%
Agree strongly (darkest shade plus flag), Agree somewhat (next lighter shade),
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Disagree somewhat (next lighter shade), Disagree strongly (lightest shade)
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New Spirituality
The root of society’s problems is: Meaning and purpose come from Which of these books communicates
failure to recognize our own God-like becoming one with all that is the truth about God?
natures

29% 27% Bible: 99%

Torah: 13%
Koran: 8%
Book of Mormon: 5%
Selected 3 or
more: 6%...
35% 38%
36% 26% 34% 3% 10%
25% 22%
41% 26% 21% 37% 25% 19% 7% 7% 4%
Agree strongly (darkest shade plus flag), Agree somewhat (next lighter shade),
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Disagree somewhat (next lighter shade), Disagree strongly (lightest shade)
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Post Modernism &

Secularism

Because there is significant overlap in parts of these

ideologies, beliefs are shown together in this section

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Post Modernism world view summary a

Believe in any Post-Modern statements 55%

(includes overlap with other world views)

Believe in any Post-Modern statements 54%

(no overlap with other world views)

Average # Post-Modern statements believe in (if believe any) 3

Post Modernism is the second most commonly accepted non-biblical ideology. More than half of
practicing Christians indicate alignment with this worldview, with the average number of statements or
perspectives espoused at three out of 12 tested.
These beliefs align with data that Barna has been tracking for years, indicating a pervasive culture of
relativism and “political correctness” that clearly has taken root in Christians’ thinking. Such values likely
have caused some Christians to question even foundational beliefs such as the absolute truth of
Christianity as a whole.
Additionally, moral relativism and a reticence to speak up for one’s own beliefs and opinions undergirds a
creeping acceptance of non-Christian values and helps explain, for example, recent widespread
acceptance among the Christian community of gay marriage and other issues related to gender identity.

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Secularism world view summary a

Believe in any Secular statements

(includes overlap with other world views) 37%

Believe in any Secular statements 29%

(no overlap with other world views)

Average # Secular statements believe in (if believe any) 3

Secularism has crept into the worldview of about one-third of practicing Christians, with the
average number of statements or perspectives espoused at three out of 11 tested.
Given the degree to which secular views have impacted the world in general, and the influence of
non-Christian scientists on popular thinking, one might have expected views such as “a belief has
to be proven by science to know it is true” to gain more than 10% strong agreement among
practicing Christians. However, it appears secular thought has most impacted the way we value
material things and comfort (making the most of life; getting as much as possible – 20% strongly
agree).
Differences in opinions are most dramatic by age group, with Millennials up to eight times more
likely than Boomers and Elders to strongly agree with certain statements.

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Morality
What is morally right and wrong What is morally right and wrong If your belief offends someone or hurts
changes over time based on society depends on what an individual believes their feelings, it is wrong

18% 23% 15%

24% 31% 31% 37% 22% 29%

21% 26% 17%
15% 11% 20% 16% 13% 8%
27% 14% 11% 31% 18% 18% 30% 10% 5%
Agree strongly (darkest shade plus flag), Agree somewhat (next lighter shade),
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Disagree somewhat (next lighter shade), Disagree strongly (lightest shade)
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Post Modernism
Each religion is true for those who Each person must decide for No one can know for certain what
practice it themselves what is meaningful and meaning and purpose there is to life
purposeful
33% 46% 19%

57% 49% 27% 32%

39% 31% 50%
42% 44% 19% 13%
39% 37% 24% 54% 41% 42% 31% 15% 12%
Agree strongly (darkest shade plus flag), Agree somewhat (next lighter shade),
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Disagree somewhat (next lighter shade), Disagree strongly (lightest shade)
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Post Modernism
The root of society’s problems is: Conflict My own life has a specific purpose People who are suffering from a painful and
between groups that insist they alone (Disagree = Post-Modern) untreatable disease should have the right to
possess the truth end their lives whenever they choose

30% 1% 19%
disagree

Agree strongly 89% 21% 26%

41% 24% (less Post-Modern):
80% 26%
73% 18% 16%
39% 26% 25% 78% 74% 82% 23% 16%
Agree strongly (darkest shade plus flag), Agree somewhat (next lighter shade),
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Disagree somewhat (next lighter shade), Disagree strongly (lightest shade)
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Secularism
A person’s life is valuable only if A belief has to be proven by science Meaning and purpose come from working
society sees it as valuable to know it is true hard to earn as much as possible so you
can make the most of life

13% 10% 20%

24% 37%
28% 7% 25% 3% 27%
18% 12%
27% 7% 6% 22% 5% 3% 31% 14% 14%
Agree strongly (darkest shade plus flag), Agree somewhat (next lighter shade),
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Disagree somewhat (next lighter shade), Disagree strongly (lightest shade)
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Marxism

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Marxist world view summary a

Believe in any Marxist statements

(includes overlap with other world views) 39%

Believe in any Marxist statements 36%

(no overlap with other world views)

Average # Marxist statements believe in (if believe any) 2

About one-third of practicing Christians indicate agreement with Marxist ideals, with the average number of
statements or perspectives espoused at two out of 11 tested.
The popularity of Bernie Sanders (particularly among young voters) suggests a discontentment with capitalism and
potential openness to Marxism. Though not a single practicing Christian says they would actually vote for a
communist party candidate and only 3 percent for the socialist party, some of the key economic and political tenets
of a Marxist worldview are supported by practicing Christians. Indeed, younger generations embraced Marxist
ideals at a rate of up to five times that of older Christians.
Additionally, a lack of trust in the impartiality of economic policies or businesses is more common among black
Americans than white Americans. However, such views could be seen as a pushback against a political and
economic system that has rendered them at a socio-economic disadvantage, rather than a rejection of biblical
perspective.

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Marxism a

Meaning and purpose come from The government, rather than individuals, If the government leaves them alone,
establishing a society that is equal for should control as much of the resources businesses will mostly do what’s right
everyone as necessary to ensure that everyone gets (Disagree strongly = Marxist)
their fair share
29% 14% 15%

43% 39% 23% 26% 12%

31% 9%
30% 14%
26% 24% 12% 6% 12% 17%
35% 27% 27% 8% 6% 11% 17%
Agree strongly (darkest shade plus flag), Agree somewhat (lighter shade),
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Disagree somewhat (light grey), Disagree strongly (dark grey)
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Marxism a

Private property encourages greed The root of society’s problems is: Rich People should be free to determine how
and envy people exploiting the system in a way they use their money and resources
that hurts the working class (Disagree = Marxist)

11% 32% 4%
disagree

45%
23% 5% 35% 43% Agree strongly
(less Marxist):

27% 26% 71%

58%
22% 6% 6% 43% 28% 24% 62%
Agree strongly (darkest shade plus flag), Agree somewhat (lighter shade),
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Disagree somewhat (light grey), Disagree strongly (dark grey)
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Willing to vote for candidate in this a
party in an election…
Add commentary

WHITE BLACK HISPANIC

REPUBLICAN 57% 49% 60% 70% 17% 36%

DEMOCRAT 49% 53% 48% 39% 84% 63%

LIBERTARIAN 10% 8% 11% 10% 4% 12%

SOCIALIST 3% 2% 3% 3% 1% 2%

COMMUNIST 0% 0% 0% 1% 0% 0%

GREEN PARTY 5% 3% 5% 5% 2% 7%

At the most basic level, what it means to be “me” is: 30

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Islam

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Islamic world view summary a

Believe in any Islamic statements 38%

(no overlap with Christian beliefs)

Average # exclusively Islamic statements believe in (if believe any) 2

About one-third of practicing Christians express sympathy for Islam, with the average
number of statements or perspectives espoused at two out of 6 tested. Note that
there is significant overlap between Islam and Christianity when it comes to beliefs
such as an Orthodox belief in God or Creationism; however, the following beliefs are
unique to Islam.
For the most part, sympathy to Islam has more to do with connecting God and Allah
and the Koran and the Bible. However, up to 13% agree with statements that sound
like the underpinnings of Sharia law (“the root of society’s problems is: Failing to
make society submit to God, by force if necessary”).

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Beliefs about the Koran and Allah a

Which of these books communicates The Allah of the Koran is the same The Koran teaches Islam as a
the truth about God? God as Yahweh of the Bible peaceful religion

19%
Bible: 99%
Yes
Torah: 13% 24%
Not
Koran: 8% No sure:
76%
Book of Mormon: 5%

Koran:

10% 7% 36% 18% 31% 13%

11% 8% 3% 38% 21% 13% 33% 17% 7%
Allah question is Yes or No/Don’t Know
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Islam is peaceful: Agree strongly (darkest shade plus flag), Agree somewhat (lighter shade), Disagree somewhat (light grey), Disagree strongly (dark grey)
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Islamic Beliefs a

The root of society’s problems is: The root of society’s problems is: Growing up, my household was
Failing to make society submit to God, Failing to appease God’s wrath by Muslim
by force if necessary punishing nonbelievers

11% 13% 0%

19%
27% 4% 11%
13%
22% 6% 6% 23% 11% 5%
Agree strongly (darkest shade plus flag), Agree somewhat (lighter shade),
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Disagree somewhat (light grey), Disagree strongly (dark grey)
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Practicing Christians
Profile

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Demographics of Practicing Christians Barn
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Generation Marital Status Living Education

Millennial 16% Married 63% City 33% Grade School/Part of High
5%
School
Gen-X 25% Single – Never Married 18% Suburb 35%
High School Graduate 29%
Boomer 44% Separated 1% Small Town 17% Attended Trade/
10%
Vocational School
Elder 15% Divorced 12% Rural 15%
Attended College but did not
26%
Widowed 6% Graduate
Gender Region
Graduated from College 18%
Male 43% Children (18 or younger) Northeast 18%
Some Graduate Studies 11%
Female 57% Yes 34% Southeast 40%

No 66% Midwest 24% Household Income

Ethnicity
Under $45k 38%
White or Caucasian 72% Faith West 18%

Protestant 57% $45k – $100k 37%

Black or African American 17%
Catholic 43% Over $100k 15%
Hispanic or Latino 11%

Asian or Asian-American 2%

Other 3%

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