It seems that nothing is hotter these days than the faith and religious practices of youth and young adults, and maybe the 20-somethings in general. Young adults leaving church is occasionally front page news. Major studies have been published by sociologists Christian Smith and Robert Wuthnow, as well as Christian publisher Lifeway, and books about young adult ministry methodology abound (by ministers of all ages, and various locations in Christian tradition). The Barna Group has been at this longer than most. In 2007, Barna research commissioned by Gabe Lyons confirmed what most Americans already know; that non-Christians think that Christians are pretty unchristian (which resulted in the book by that title).
Another Barna research project has involved research into Americans’ adherence to “The Biblical Worldview” (BWV hereafter) and resulted in George Barna’s book Think Like Jesus. A 2003 article called A Biblical Worldview Has A Radical Affect On A Person’s Life, reported on some of the results of this research, which included levels of adherence to BWV (about 4% of the population in 2003, 9% in a 2009 article) as well as the implications for certain standards of behavioral compliance. Not surprisingly, Americans with a BWV were much more likely to adhere to the standards of morality affirmed by people with a BWV (which largely consists of disapproval of certain sexual behaviors, drunkenness and gambling). While it is highly unlikely that any American would possess a BWV under the Barna framework, it is much more likely if one is a White married Protestant, over 30 years of age who lives in Texas or North Carolina. Hm.
At this point, I suspect you’re wondering: What IS the BWV? I’ll tell you (although iterations vary from the 2003 to the 2009 article).
The Barna Group measures adherence to the BWV according to belief-agreement with 8 items:
Absolute moral truth exists; 34/46
- Such truth is defined by the Bible
The Bible is totally accurate in all of the principles it teaches. 50/79
Satan is considered to be a real being or force, not merely symbolic. 27/40
A person cannot earn their way into Heaven by trying to be good or do good works. 28/47
Jesus Christ lived a sinless life on earth. 40/62
God is the all-knowing, all-powerful creator of the world who still rules the universe today. 70/93
Christians have an obligation to share their faith with others.
So, what does this mean and why is it important? What does it have to do with young adults?
And what are those numbers about? I’ll tell you what I think in my next post.
Another Barna research project has involved research into Americans’ adherence to “The Biblical Worldview” (BWV hereafter) and resulted in George Barna’s book Think Like Jesus. A 2003 article called A Biblical Worldview Has A Radical Affect On A Person’s Life, reported on some of the results of this research, which included levels of adherence to BWV (about 4% of the population in 2003, 9% in a 2009 article) as well as the implications for certain standards of behavioral compliance. Not surprisingly, Americans with a BWV were much more likely to adhere to the standards of morality affirmed by people with a BWV (which largely consists of disapproval of certain sexual behaviors, drunkenness and gambling). While it is highly unlikely that any American would possess a BWV under the Barna framework, it is much more likely if one is a White married Protestant, over 30 years of age who lives in Texas or North Carolina. Hm.
At this point, I suspect you’re wondering: What IS the BWV? I’ll tell you (although iterations vary from the 2003 to the 2009 article).
The Barna Group measures adherence to the BWV according to belief-agreement with 8 items:
Absolute moral truth exists; 34/46
- Such truth is defined by the Bible
The Bible is totally accurate in all of the principles it teaches. 50/79
Satan is considered to be a real being or force, not merely symbolic. 27/40
A person cannot earn their way into Heaven by trying to be good or do good works. 28/47
Jesus Christ lived a sinless life on earth. 40/62
God is the all-knowing, all-powerful creator of the world who still rules the universe today. 70/93
Christians have an obligation to share their faith with others.
So, what does this mean and why is it important? What does it have to do with young adults?
And what are those numbers about? I’ll tell you what I think in my next post.
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