Thinking the Faith

“Americans Describe Their Ideal Church.” Barna reports constantly survey the ever-changing U.S. religious scene. Churches find it more and more difficult to reach out to their communities. In his book, Thinking the Faith, John Douglas Hall pointed out that historically, until the 1960s, most Americans attended the church of their parents. Hall observes that faith …

Challenges for the Church: Strengthening the Foundations

Barna Research Reveals Four “Mega-Themes” in U.S. Culture (#4) As today’s young adults, teenagers and adolescents have become accustomed to radical individualism, they have introduced such thinking and behaviors into the realm of faith realm. Faith is an acceptable attribute and pursuit among most young people. However, their notions of faith do not align with …

Challenges for the Church: Strengthening the Family

Barna Research Reveals Four “Mega-Themes” in U.S. Culture (#3) Most parents want to do a great job of raising their children. However, Barna studies conducted among parents of children under 18 revealed that few parents have a strategy or plan for how they will accomplish that goal. Barna’s surveys point out that most parents underestimate …

Challenges for the Church: Redefinitions of Christianity

Barna Research Reveals Four “Mega-Themes” in U.S. Culture (#2) The research also reported that people are reframing Christianity to suit individual tastes. Fewer adults (and many fewer teens) identify themselves as Christians. The image of the Christian faith has taken a beating due to a combination of factors: harsh media criticism, “unchristian” behavior by church …

Challenges for the Church: Helping the Self-Satisfied

Barna Research Reveals Four “Mega-Themes” in U.S. Culture (#1) A Barna report from over 20 years ago (December 2007) identified four significant “mega-themes” in contemporary U.S. culture: high self-acceptance or self-satisfaction, new definitions of Christianity, increased challenges and concerns in parenting and family dynamics, and individualized “designer faith” with rootless values. The report noted that …