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    BARNA:  The 12 Most Significant Findings of 2006

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    Barna selected the following dozen outcomes as the most significant findings of 2006.

    Although large majorities of the public claim to be “deeply spiritual” and say that their religious faith is “very important” in their life, only 15% of those who regularly attend a Christian church ranked their relationship with God as the top priority in their life. As alarming as that finding was, its significance was magnified by research showing that on average pastors believe that 70% of the adults in their congregation consider their relationship with God to be their highest priority in life.

    Three out of every four teenagers have engaged in at least one type of psychic or witchcraft-related activity. Among the most common of those endeavors are using a Ouija board, reading books about witchcraft or Wicca, playing games involving sorcery or witchcraft, having a “professional” do a palm reading or having their fortune told. Conversely, during the past year fewer than three out of every ten churched teenagers had received any teaching from their church about elements of the supernatural.

    The notion of personal holiness has slipped out of the consciousness of the vast majority of Christians. While just 21% of adults consider themselves to be holy, by their own admission large numbers have no idea what “holiness” means and only one out of every three (35%) believe that God expects people to become holy.

    The growing movement of Christian Revolutionaries in the U.S. distinguished themselves from an already-select group of people – born again Christians – through their deeds, beliefs and self-views. Revolutionaries demonstrated substantially higher levels of community service, financial contributions, daily Bible study, personal quiet times each day, family Bible studies, daily worship experiences, engagement in spiritual mentoring, and evangelistic efforts. They also had a series of beliefs that were much more likely than those of typical born again adults to coincide with biblical teachings. Their self-perceptions were also dramatically different than that of other born again adults.

    Involvement in a house church is rapidly growing, although the transition is occurring with some trepidation: four out of every five house church participants maintain some connection to a conventional church as well.

    Evaluating spiritual maturity remains an elusive process for clergy as well as individuals. Across the nation, the only measure of spiritual health used by at least half of all pastors was the extent of volunteer activity or ministry involvement. Adults were no more consistent in their self-examination of their spirituality.

    Most Americans have a period of time during their teen years when they are actively engaged in a church youth group. However, Barna’s tracking of young people showed that most of them had disengaged from organized religion during their twenties.

    A comparison of people’s faith before and after the September 11 terrorist attack showed that five years after the momentous day, none of the 19 faith measures studied had undergone statistically significant change. Those measures covered aspects such as religious behaviors, beliefs, spiritual commitment and self-identity.

    Seven out of ten parents claim they are effective at developing the spiritual maturity of their children, but the Barna survey among 8-to-12-year-olds discovered that only one-third of them say a church has made “a positive difference” in their life; one-third contend that prayer is very important in their life; most of them would rather be popular than to do what is morally right. In fact, “tweeners” (those ages 8 to 12) deem their family to be vitally important in their life, but just 57% said they look forward to spending time with their family and only one out of every three say it is easy for them to talk to their parents about things that matter to them.

    Relatively few people – just one out of every six – believe that spiritual maturity is meant to be developed within the context of a local church or within the context of a community of faith.

    Five of the highest-profile Christian leaders – Rick Warren, Joel Osteen, James Dobson, Tim LaHaye and T.D. Jakes – were unknown to a majority of the population. Most of those leaders were also unknown to most born again Christians.

    The faith contours of America continue to shift substantially over the course of time. The proportion of adults who are born again has risen dramatically in the past quarter century, from 31% to 45%. During the past two decades, every spiritual behavior has fluctuated significantly, with recent upsurge in Bible reading, church attendance, and small group involvement.

    From Barna.org.  Read more details on these stories here:
    http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?PageºrnaUpdateNarrowPreview&BarnaUpdateID%2

    Even though George Barna has been conducting national public opinion surveys for a quarter-century, surprises emerge each year from those studies. The California-based researcher traditionally ends each year by identifying some of the unexpected and most significant findings of the passing year. Barna released his list of the twelve most noteworthy results of 2006, and described a few themes that ran through this year’s surveys. 

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    1. kent on Thu, December 21, 2006

      At the risk of sounding like a crabby middle aged man, I wonder if Barna’s own skeptisicm of the local church colors the finds he produces. What question and how you ask the question is every bit as important as the results you provide.

    2. Camey on Thu, December 21, 2006

      A few things stand out to me:


      1) 15 to 70% - I think this truly goes to show the disconnect between most pastors and their congregations. In my opinion, it is also why some pastors preach the way they do and why some preachers pastor in likewise fashion. In truth and love, this is why there are more churches that fit in the stagnant or already plateauted and now declining stages.


      2) “Conversely, during the past year fewer than three out of every ten churched teenagers had received any teaching from their church about elements of the supernatural.”  People are afraid to talk about such things in the church - at least in my experience and from those in which I am in contact with from other churches on a regular basis. I wonder if a survey was taken how many proclaiming Christian parents would think there’s nothing wrong with their teenagers “messing around with” the things listed. “It can’t really hurt them. It’s just pretend.”


      3) Personal holiness? I mentioned this one time at a retreat I was speaking at. The time I spent explaining that afterwards saddened me and also inspired me. In other words, dropped me on my knees more.


      6) Evaluating spiritual maturity….. The amount of time a person volunteers or is involved in a ministry does not prove to be an effective measuring tool at all in my experience. As for personal examination? Ever do a spiritual gift test in a class and notice how many people are done so quickly? Either they believe they already know their spiritual gifts and therefore, do not need to take the test… OR they do not want to know because then they might be expected to use them. Ever ask what issues are people are struggling with and get a blank stare?


      7) Ah the twenties? How many churches really reach out to this age group? And if they do, really accept them as leaders in the church? Today… not in twenty to thirty years from now.


      8) I’ll leave this one alone. http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/smile.gif


      9) Breaks my heart…. especially “most of them would rather be popular than to do what is morally right.” Oh, I could write a book on parents and kids. I’ll stop here though.


      10) While I do believe that spiritual maturity is meant to be developed in the church or within the context of the faith community…. I do NOT believe that is only where it is to be. (Trying really hard to not get on my soap box.)


      11) Little tidbit about Osteen? He wants his church members to receive “handwritten addressed” cards and such from his church. Just thought I’d throw that in there…. lol


      12) May we who believe already not be ashamed to share our faith with others. May we be found guilty of spreading the only news really worth hearing. May the numbers increase and not decrease on our watch.

    3. Dave on Thu, December 21, 2006

      I’m with Kent (and I don’t want to sound like a crabby middle aged man either).  Surveys questions are so subjective, and how someone asks a question (and there are so many ways an interviewer can “lead” the question, with body language, inflection, etc), how someone perceives a questions, and on and on.  It would be interesting to see the actual questions rather than just the interpreting of the data. 


      Sometimes I wonder what responses Barna would have received from the disciples themselves (and they walked with Jesus!), and what he would have made of that.


      Dave

    4. kent on Thu, December 21, 2006

      Dave’s got my back. atta boy Dave!!! http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/smile.gif  ya gotta like that.

    5. Camey on Thu, December 21, 2006

      Well there goes the “Old Boys Club” sound now….

      Please tell me you BOTH have a sense of humor?? http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/smile.gif

       

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