Really, only 9% have a Biblical Worldview?
April 4, 2023
Katherine Schultz
I read a while back that only 9 percent of adults have a biblical worldview, and I thought that was distressing. I figured I should investigate a little. Here’s what I found.
Where are we now?
The United States has the largest Christian population in the world, followed by Brazil, Mexico, Russia, and the Philippines. Only 51% of American adults identify as Christians – and that number is falling. The international situation may be better. Not only is religion growing overall, but Christian specifically is growing. With a 1.17 percent growth rate, almost 2.56 billion people will identify as a Christian by the middle of 2022. By 2050, that number will exceed 3.33 billion. Of course, if the international situation is anything like the American church, far fewer will have a biblical worldview, even if they identify as Christian. Because more recently only 6% of Americans hold a biblical worldview – so the situation is not improving.
The next generation is in particular trouble. Overall, 4 percent of Millennials, the bulk of parents today, have a biblical worldview. In fact, according to George Barna and the team at Arizona Christian University’s Cultural Research Center, while two thirds of parents of pre-teens identify as Christian, only 2 percent of them meet the center’s minimal criteria for a biblical worldview. I suppose it’s not a surprise since the Center also found that 28 percent of senior pastors, and 12 percent of youth pastors have a biblical worldview.
What about You?
So what about you? Do you have a biblical worldview? If we identify as Christians, then it only makes sense that we would want to have the worldview of the Bible. Based on the data, very few of those who identify as Christians actually have a biblical worldview. And if so few parents, pastors, and Christians overall have a biblical worldview, then I think we need to know if we are among them. If I don’t, then I need to grow a more mature biblical worldview. I think that can start with an honest assessment of my own worldview.
And if you haven’t yet used the 3-D Worldview Survey for yourself, your family, or your class, check out the pdf below for some sample questions to get you started.
