A new Barna poll (January 12 2009) claims to show that most American Christians are adopting a pick and mix attitude towards Christianity and (indeed) other faiths.1
In itself, such a claim might not appear particularly surprising. It is certainly part of a long observed trend from objective truth to subjective interpretation, and from acceptance of authority to individual choice of belief.
Startling numbers
Still some of the numbers are quite startling. While over 70% agree that their faith is becoming ever more important to them, this is balanced by the individualisation of this faith. Barna himself describes their attitude as, ‘Growing numbers of people now serve as their own theologian-in-residence’. For, the poll claims, 71% of American adults are more likely to develop their own set of religious beliefs than accept those from a church. Among ‘born again’ Christians this figure is still at 61%. And, for people under the age of 25, it rises to 82%. Half of those surveyed accepted that Christianity is no longer the default faith of Americans.
