Posted on 12/08/2001 6:06:40 AM PST by RnMomof7
Tuesday, December 04, 2001
VENTURA, Calif. (EP) -- Social analysts say that people turn to religion in times of crisis. That was certainly the case in America after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. A surge in church attendance and Bible sales was recorded immediately after that tragic day. But has that had any lingering effect on people's religious beliefs and practices?
The Barna Research Group examined that question. Using 21 indicators of the nation's spiritual climate, the study gives a comprehensive look at how people's faith has changed in the aftermath of the terrorist attack.
The post-attack surge in church attendance has been widely reported. But while current levels of adult attendance are higher than before the attack, they are not statistically different than the numbers recorded last November, thus reflecting a typical seasonal increase. It appears that attendance, which nationwide increased by perhaps 25 percent immediately after the attack, is back at normal levels. The November survey found 48 percent of adults attending on a typical weekend.
According to the Barna survey, the types of adults who seemed more inclined to be attending church services two months after the attack were women (up eight percentage points since August), people 55 or older (up 10 points), Catholics (also up 10 points), and atheists, whose church participation tripled from just 3 percent in August to 10 percent in November.
While some religious leaders posited that the attacks had caused many to turn their lives over to Jesus Christ, the survey found that the pre- and post-attack statistics of those who have made a "personal commitment to Jesus Christ that is still important in your life today" were identical: 68 percent.
Other measures of religious behavior were at identical levels to those noted in August. Bible reading remained at 39 percent of adults pursuing the Bible, other than at church, during a typical week. Church volunteerism, after an initial outpouring of involvement, is back at pre- attack levels (23 percent invest some time in church-related service during a typical week). Prayer, also alleged to have escalated, is currently at its normal level, with 85 percent praying to God in a given week. Adult Sunday school attendance moved up slightly (to 22 percent) but not enough to be considered a statistically significant change. Participation in a small group other than a Sunday school class that meets during the week for Bible study, prayer or Christian fellowship remained static, as did having a private devotional time during the week.
Not surprisingly, there has been a significant upturn in people's concern about the future. In August, 73 percent of adults said they were concerned about the future; by November, that figure had increased to 82 percent. The population segment that expressed the greatest concern was adults 35 and younger, among whom nearly nine out of 10 said they were concerned. The biggest increases in concern were registered among people 55 and older (up 17 points from the pre-attack level) and atheists (also up 17 points).
People's religious identification did not change by any statistically significant amount after the attacks. In August, 86 percent of all adults said they thought of themselves as Christian. The post-attack study found 84 percent embracing that label -- a change well within the study's margin of error. The survey also showed that the proportion of Americans who think of themselves as Muslim or Islamic remained stable, as well, at less than 1 percent of the aggregate adult population.
Adults were also asked to rate their level of commitment to the Christian faith. Using a four-point scale, in the late summer survey 42 percent of adults said they were "absolutely committed" to Christianity. That number remained virtually unchanged (44 percent) eight weeks after the attacks.
Perhaps the most startling shift has been in people's views about moral truth. Given the nature of the terrorist attack, one might have expected Americans to become more convinced of the presence of good and evil, and that there are absolute moral principles that exist regardless of cultural realities and personal preferences. However, Barna's research showed exactly the opposite outcome.
Prior to the attacks the most recent inquiry into views of truth was in January 2000, some 20 months earlier. At that time, people were asked if they believed that "there are moral truths that are absolute, meaning that those moral truths or principles do not change according to the circumstances" or that " moral truth always depends upon the situation, meaning that a person's moral and ethical decisions depend upon the circumstances." At the start of 2000, almost four out of 10 adults (38 percent) said that there are absolute moral truths that do not change according to the circumstances. When the same question was asked in the just-completed survey, the result was that just two out of 10 adults (22 percent) claimed to believe in the existence of absolute moral truth.
The people groups least likely to believe in absolute moral truth were Baby Busters (i.e., those 36 and younger -- only 13 percent embrace the idea of absolute truth), Catholics (16 percent) and adults who are not born again Christians (15 percent). The groups most likely to endorse the existence of absolute moral truths include Baby Boomers (i.e., people 37 to 55 years of age -- 28 percent of whom embrace absolute truth), adults who attend non-mainline Protestant churches (32 percent) and born again individuals (32 percent).
Interestingly, when people were further queried as to the source of the principles or standards on which they base their moral and ethical decisions, the post-attack survey discovered that only one out of eight adults -- just 13 percent -- cited the Bible. The most common sources of guidance regarding moral decisions trusted by Americans are feelings (25 percent) and the lessons and values they remember from their parents (14 percent).
Responding to the disappointment of Christian leaders who have been exposed to these findings, George Barna, who directed the study, explained that, "after the attack, millions of nominally churched or generally irreligious Americans were desperately seeking something that would restore stability and a sense of meaning to life. Fortunately, many of them turned to the church. Unfortunately, few of them experienced anything that was sufficiently life-changing to capture their attention and their allegiance. They tended to appreciate the moments of comfort they received, but were unaware of anything sufficiently unique or beneficial as to redesign their lifestyle to integrate a deeper level of spiritual involvement. Our assessment is that churches succeeded at putting on a friendly face but failed at motivating the vast majority of spiritual explorers to connect with Christ in a more intimate or intense manner."
Barna noted that the post-attack measures emerging from his research are remarkably consistent with the levels recorded each quarter since the beginning of 2000. "Christian churches have had two incredible opportunities to instigate serious transformation in people's lives this year. Earlier, the faith-based initiative proposal by President Bush afforded a great chance to impact millions of lives, but that opportunity was squandered. The September 11 tragedy was another amazing opportunity to be the healing and transforming presence of God in people's lives, but that, too, has now come and gone, with little to show for it."
Barna stated that he hopes churches can learn some sobering lessons from these events. "These situations, especially the terrorist attacks, bring to mind Jesus' teaching that no one knows the time and day when God will return for His people, so we must always be ready. These two events are a wake up call to church leaders, emphasizing the particular need to enhance their efforts in the areas of outreach and discipleship. We may never again have such grand opportunities to reach the nation for Christ -- but then, we may have an even greater opportunity tomorrow. How many churches have leaders and believers who are poised to take advantage of such a pending opportunity?"
The data on which this report is based are from telephone interviews with a nationwide random sample of 1,010 adults conducted in late October and early November 2001. The maximum margin of sampling error associated with the aggregate sample is plus or minus 3 percentage points at the 95 percent confidence level.
Frank M. Newport, editor in chief of the Gallup research group, also found little indication of "great awakening or profound change in America's religious practices," according to a report in the New York Times. "It looks like people were treating this like a bereavement, a shorter-term funeral kind of thing, where they went to church or synagogue to grieve," Newport said. "But once past that, their normal churchgoing behavior passed back to where it was." In the 10 days following the terrorist attacks, Gallup found national attendance at worship services rose to 47 percent of the population. But by earlier this month, it had fallen back to its usual 42 percent.
This surpises me. How can a born again Christian not believe there are absolute truths? I would like to see a comparison with our Jewish brothers and sisters--those who take their religion to heart. I bet the number would be higher than 32% and I would bet a greater number would base their standard of truth on God's word.
But the overall tone of this piece is smug and all too reminiscent of nearly every poll about Christianity in this country.
When was the last time you read a nationally-syndicated, positive poll about Christians? They may be out there; but they don't get front page headlines above the fold, if they're published at all.
Newspapers and the media are determined in their liberal, secular bias. Just like on December 24, when the majority of stories on the front page of your evening newspaper depict the homeless, the swindled, the jailed, the cold and lonely, the bereaved and the heartless. Just like any other day.
I'd like to see 100% of the world become strong, reformed Christians who believe in Biblical absolutes. But even if that were to happen, the polls would print that 85% of us still don't floss regularly.
We find it very easy discard the parts of His message which run counter to our secular, pleasure-based and materialistic way of life.
As with a Chinese restaurant menu, we pick and choose those elements of Christianity we find "tasty" and ignore the rest- ala carte Christianity!
You wouldn't expect the American people to buy into the whole thing, would you? Who wants an American religion that doesn't make some allowance for abortion, fornication and adultery?
BTW this group does studies for churches..not for the public..so it is probably without the anti Christian bias of most we se in the papers
I once thought to myself, "What if there were no Rapture, or it was a Pre-Wrath Rapture? Would that shake my faith in Jesus Christ?"
I came to the conclusion that it wouldn't. My home in Heaven is secured not by if and when the Rapture happens, but by the sufficiency of the Blood of Christ to cleanse my sins.
-ksen
We agree GW..no end time revival...more likely one of the feel good any belief will do churches will florish..
As it was in the days of Noah
They watched this man build this strange thing..what was it? They were in the desert...It had never rained on the earth,so they asked about it.I would think Noah told them "God said..",and they laughed....and went to the high places. Life went on till ..........well you know.....
Well the really good churches are disorganized :>)
There were many hollow sermons preached..too true.
But the answer is not in a church it is in your heart.Ask God to reveal the truth of Jesus to you....
Every one wants to build his own god..to his specs, a god with no absolutes.
God calls something an abomination..and they say,ahhhhhhhh He didn't mean this.This is "harmless".
"And every man will do what is right in HIS OWN eyes"....sounds like today to me!
Another survey shows that it is not the mere numbers that differ, but the depth of religious belief: Prayer etc is more intense. Similarly, although religion has been hidden from view in the past, people are now feeling more comfortable with public expressions of their faith.
I personally believe the scriptures bear out a Pre-tribulational position, but still agree with you. My faith (and even my system of theology) would not be irrevocably damaged by a pre-wrath, or even a post-trib view. I agree with you, though, that an undue emphasis in the church is placed on prophetic speculation and too little on the Gospel.
Other measures of religious behavior were at identical levels to those noted in August. Bible reading remained at 39 percent of adults pursuing the Bible, other than at church, during a typical week. Church volunteerism, after an initial outpouring of involvement, is back at pre- attack levels (23 percent invest some time in church-related service during a typical week). Prayer, also alleged to have escalated, is currently at its normal level, with 85 percent praying to God in a given week. Adult Sunday school attendance moved up slightly (to 22 percent) but not enough to be considered a statistically significant change. Participation in a small group other than a Sunday school class that meets during the week for Bible study, prayer or Christian fellowship remained static, as did having a private devotional time during the week.
Catholics don't usually go to Sunday school, and many don't read the bible. They don't meet in fellowship or prayer meetings. He doesn't measure if a person prays longer, or goes to mass during the week, or if someone who goes to church twice a month out of habit now actually prays. (Catholics consider mass a worship service, not a prayer service).
If the answers are skewered against Catholics, how can he measure Jews, Muslims, Wiccans or non believers who whisper more to "God if you are there?"
Great! How many of them will turn to God with their whole heart? People need a non-hostile relationship with their Creator and not religion. I had religion for my first 16 years.
I find nothing suprising about this article. People are coming to church seeking a selfish gratification. When they don't find it or the shock wears off, they leave. Those who cry out to Him from the depths of their soul stay.
I find it not suprising at all that moral Truth is still on the decline. The Word divides. I would expect a polarization to take place.
The people groups least likely to believe in absolute moral truth were Baby Busters (i.e., those 36 and younger -- only 13 percent embrace the idea of absolute truth),...
Being a "Baby Buster" Gen-X, this is hard to swallow. Yet, it may mean that it is a sign and we should rejoice in the coming day of our Lord.
When I told them about the Christian persecution in Indonesia they got all indignant. I told them "What do you care your not Christian" (No response). I don't have much respect for them any more. With Christians like that who needs em? I wonder how many millions of Christians like that are skewing the polls? What percentage of Christians in those polls are worthless?
The same would hold true with the witches and the atheists.....if there were fewer atheists..it would have meant a movement...
Does that mean that this is a corporate study on the market penetration of brands of toothpaste ?
I personally have found a more fertile acceptance to open discussion with acquaintances.
I believe that this study is measuring the wrong metrics.
My understanding of the Word of G-d is that it is my job,
not some corporation's job, to reach one person at a time.
Barukh haba b'Shem Adonai
Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord
Y'shua haMashiach
XeniaSt
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