GLENDALE, AZ (June 16, 2026) — Most Americans hold clear beliefs about humanity and the supernatural, but those beliefs often conflict with biblical teaching, according to the latest report from the American Worldview Inventory 2026, released by the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University.
The survey posed seven questions about humanity, on matters such as the value of human life, the human condition and life’s purpose, and seven about the supernatural, including the nature of God, the holiness of Christ and the existence of the Holy Spirit and Satan. A majority held the biblical view on just two of the 14 questions.
Dr. George Barna, Director of Research at the Cultural Research Center, said the findings point to a deeper confusion within the American church.
“Increasingly, American Christianity is based on feelings rather than biblical truth or knowledge. Stunningly few adults in national survey after national survey qualify as biblically-defined disciples. That relates to the small percentage of adults who have established knowing and imitating Christ as their chief goal in life,” Barna said.
“More often, people’s chief objective—even among regular churchgoers or people who say they are deeply committed to their faith—is to experience life on their terms, in the quest for control, popularity, comfort, or pleasure.”
As the nation marks its 250th anniversary, the report shows that the deeply biblical faith that shaped its founding no longer holds majority standing in the American mind. In fact, just half of U.S. adults (50%) believe God is the all-powerful, all-knowing, perfect and just Creator of the universe who rules it today. Other foundational beliefs have also shifted.
Barna, veteran researcher and author of the study, pointed to a broader drift behind the numbers. “Americans meander through life with a broad assortment of vague religious beliefs and volatile religious behaviors. That religious amnesia has produced a nation where the dominant worldview—adopted by nine out of 10 adults—is Syncretism, not biblical Christianity.”
Looking to the milestone year ahead, Barna framed it as an opportunity for church leaders, especially pastors, parents, and educators.
“Imagine the spiritual momentum that could be generated if all of those leaders devoted themselves to an energetic, focused effort to renew believers in the fundamentals of biblical faith,” encouraged Barna.
“As America celebrates its 250th anniversary of the freedom to pursue the genuine Christian faith without interference and manipulation, what a tremendous homage it would be to the nation’s founders, and to those who have fought and even died to maintain that freedom, to return to its spiritual roots and both strengthen and deepen that commitment to biblical faith,” he said.
The study found that a majority of American adults rejected biblical teaching in answering 14 questions about humanity and the supernatural. In addition to a majority rejecting the biblical view of God and 90% holding Syncretism as their primary worldview, here are other findings from the new AWVI 2026 report:
- Only 57% of adults believe that humans are God’s creation, made in His image, fallen, and in need of redemption—despite 70% identifying as Christians.
- Less than one-third of adults (30%) hold the biblical view that people are born into sin and can only be saved by Jesus Christ. Among Catholics, that figure drops to 24%.
- One in four adults strongly agrees that Jesus Christ sinned while on Earth. Among Notional Christians — roughly half of all churchgoers — more strongly agreed He sinned than strongly disagreed.
- By a nearly two-to-one margin, Americans are more likely to firmly believe the Holy Spirit is merely a symbol than to strongly affirm the Holy Spirit as a living entity.
- A majority of Americans (52%) consider abortion morally acceptable. Only 1 in 3 adults (33%) describes themselves as passionately pro-life.
- Only one in four adults (27%) believe human life is sacred. An equal share says human life has no intrinsic value.
- Twice as many adults agree that animals, plants, wind, and water have unique spirits (35%) as disagree (16%).
The data in this report are taken from three national surveys conducted by the Cultural Research Center. The most recent is the American Worldview Inventory 2026, which evaluated the worldview of U.S. adults using a survey of 2,000 individuals whose demographic profile reflects that of the U.S. adult population.
The full report, American Worldview Inventory 2026: Report #4: “Most Adults’ Beliefs about Humanity and the Supernatural Stray from Biblical Teaching,” is available here.