With the “fall of Christianity” threatening to end the faith as we know it (yeah right), The Barna Group conducted a study of 1,002 U.S. adults, discovered:
- Two out of every three adults (67%) claimed to have a “personal relationship” with Jesus that is currently active and that influences their life.
- While a majority of most demographic segments said they had such an active and personal relationship with Jesus, some segments were more likely than others to claim such a connection.
- Women (72%) were more likely than men (62%) to do so.
- Protestants were more likely than Catholics to cite such a relationship (82% versus 72%).
- People who describe themselves as mostly conservative on social and political matters were far more likely than those who see themselves as liberal on such issues to connect with Jesus (79% compared to 48%).
- And one of the most instructive findings was that the younger a person was, the less likely they were to claim to have an active and influential bond with Jesus. Specifically, while 72% of adults 65 or older and 70% of Boomers (i.e., ages 46 to 64) had such a relationship in place, 65% of Busters (i.e., ages 27 to 45) and only 52% of Mosaics (ages 18 to 26) did, as well.
- A large majority of Americans (59%) also believes that Jesus gets personal in their lives, going so far as to feel their pain and share in their suffering.
via The Barna Group – Americans Feel Connected to Jesus.
Comments
4 Comments
Alan, kudos on another topic that makes me go ‘hmmm’. As a woman of 53, I certainly feel that I fall right in step with the survey’s results. ‘I claim a personal relationship with Jesus, it’s active and it currently influences my life’. While having this relationship works well for both my husband and myself, I see vast differences in what and how people around me classify their relationships with Christ or even religion itself. It seems to me that many people are more interested in being ‘spiritual’ than in belonging to an organized religion. Perhaps our overly busy lives are partially to blame…I know that sleeping in on Sunday can be blissful. I see this with my own children. While I would love to go to church and see their bright smiling faces every week, that is not the choice that they make for themselves. As adults, they must walk their own paths and find their own way to Jesus. I know that He lives within each of them by their actions, their love and their lives. When, how or if they change the status of their relationships is between them and Him.
Simply put – “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
– Matthew 7:7-8
I look forward to reading “Imaginary Jesus” as mentioned in the article…have you read it?
Diane, thank you for the response. Your statement, “I see vast differences in what and how people around me classify their relationships with Christ or even religion itself.” is indicative of the spectrum with in Christianity. Though a struggle, belief in Christ has always been within the context of community. The early Christians who lived an ascetic life of isolation, missed out on the very nature of the Church: the body of Christ. You are also right to say that that adult children have to make their own decisions concerning their walk with Christ. Everyone has their own timing with God.
I haven’t read “Imaginary Jesus”, but it is on the reading list.
Reverend Rudnick and Diane–
I hope you enjoy Imaginary Jesus. I think the Barna Group did some great work putting together the research, and it’s fascinating to extrapolate what it really means to people that they have a real, important connection to Jesus.
Have a great day, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts about Imaginary Jesus.
Thanks Matt. I just watched the trailer and I have to say I’m more intrigued than ever. I’ll let you know where I come out after reading it.
Diane