A low percentage of Americans attend church weekly, according to research by George Barna published in his new book “The State of the Church: 2000.”
Barna research shows that fewer than one out of three adults attends church every week. The 2002 data revealed that weekly church attendance stayed at a steady 43 percent among adults, up from a five-year low of 40 percent. While church attendance saw a spike immediately following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the rate returned to normal within a few weeks.
A Barna Research statement noted that the low attendance numbers were “partially due to a noteworthy decline in regularity among Catholics.” The statement added, “The explosion in the number and quality of lifestyle diversions, combined with the nationwide decline in acceptance of rules and absolutes, has diminished people’s sense of commitment and spiritual urgency regarding worship participation.”
Unchurched adults
Barna’s research shows that the number of unchurched adults in America has increased considerably since the early 1990s. In 1991, just 24 percent of adults were considered unchurched, meaning they had not attended a regular church service in the past six months (not including a funeral, wedding or other special church ceremony). By contrast, a decade later 34 percent of adults are considered unchurched. Barna attributes the rise to decreased church attendance among baby boomers, women, Hispanics and residents of the nation’s Northeast and West coast.
Barna also found that currently only about 50 percent of adults who call themselves Christians say they are “absolutely committed” to the Christian faith. While that number has remained steady since 1996, one significant finding was that only 38 percent of the “baby buster” generation (the one following the baby boomers) claimed to be committed Christians.
Barna explained that while young adults are typically comfortable with making faith a part of their lifestyles, “the data portray busters to be generally disinterested in typical faith pursuits, long-accepted Christian beliefs and institutions.”
One shocking finding from Barna’s survey was that millions of Americans who claim to be Christians believe that Jesus was sinful like the rest of humanity. Presently 25 percent “strongly agree” that Jesus Christ sinned while he was on earth. Another 19 percent agree with that notion somewhat less emphatically. Barna found that 8 percent “somewhat disagree” that Jesus Christ was sinful, and only 40 percent of those surveyed “strongly disagree” that while “He lived on earth, Jesus Christ committed sins. …” Eight percent of those claiming to be Christians were not sure what to think. Barna noted that if the “‘agree’ and ‘disagree’ opinions are combined and compared, the survey suggests that 44 percent agree that Jesus sinned and 48 percent reject that notion.”
Young adults were most likely to say that Jesus sinned, according to Barna’s findings. Catholics were slightly more likely to have this view than Protestants, and, among Protestants, those attending mainline churches were more likely to strongly agree that Jesus was sinful on earth than those attending congregations not considered mainline.
Surprising discovery
Among nonevangelical, born-again Christians, some 20 percent “strongly agree” that Christ sinned, while nearly 13 percent agree less emphatically, and 6 percent “somewhat disagree.” Another 5 percent are not sure what to believe. Noted Barna, “In other words, nearly half of the nonevangelical born-again segment [46 percent] did not strongly disagree with the notion that Christ sinned.” Barna said perhaps the most surprising revelation from data in “The State of the Church: 2000” is the paradox of living in a culture defined by constant change, with a nation of people who admit to confusion regarding purpose, meaning and truth, and yet finding that there has been no real change in the spiritual views and endeavors of the people.
Layer on top of that the fact that churches raised and spent more than $500 billion in the past decade to try to influence America’s spiritual life, and it seems pretty obvious that it takes more than good intentions and a menu of popular programs to make a dent in the nation’s religious identity and consciousness.
“The State of the Church: 2000” is available from the Barna Research Group (www.barna.org). (EP)
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