Barna’s recent analysis of it’s own survey data from the past 25 years reveals notable shifts in Christian commitment among American adults. Across four key indicators, each measure declined over this period. The most pronounced decline, however, was in the percentage of adults who report that religious faith is very important in their lives.
Importance of Faith
From 2000 to 2025 the percentage of Christians who reported that faith was central to their lives dropped by 20 percentage points, dipping from 74% to just 54%.
So What?
A closer examination of the 25-year period reveals relative stability during the first decade, followed by more than a decade of decline, and concluding with a modest increase. Today, just over half of American Christian adults (54%) strongly agree that “my religious faith is very important in my life.”
This substantial decline in the perceived importance of faith has significant implications for the American church. When fewer individuals view faith as central to their lives, fewer are likely to practice it in meaningful ways.
For more on changes over time in American Christianity — especially in Mainline Protestantism – check out My Religion is Dying: A Deep Dive Into Mainline Decline, which I wrote on June 10, 2024. This post includes links to 50 additional blog posts on shifts in religious belief, belonging, and behavior here on So What Faith.