Barna recently interviewed church leaders about the factors influencing spiritual formation and development. We found that although they agree that spiritual formation begins in the home and continues in the church, the perceived influence of schools is often either disproportionate or unaccounted for.
Many American adults will enjoy Friendsgiving this week, an expression of the rich community that many adults tell Barna they find in their own neighborhoods. This infographic sheds more light on how Americans report sharing their lives with folks who occupy the same zip code.
Sexual norms have changed dramatically over the years, and young people are often left to their own devices (sometimes literally) when it comes to navigating sexuality. A new Barna study uncovers how Americans see their responsibility to educate and equip teens to make choices about sex.
The tug-of-war between a parent’s protective instincts and their desire to raise fearless kids is felt in youth ministries. In partnership with Youth Specialties and YouthWorks, Barna conducted a major study on the state of youth ministry in the United States, looking at the expectations of pastors, youth leaders and parents.
Modern day romance is a fluid beast, and the expectations and demands of a rapidly changing culture have transformed the landscape of love. To examine those shifts, this article takes a peek at the changing dynamics of marriage and singleness, the trends toward premarital cohabitation, the impact of online dating and the possibilities of finding love at work.
Are teens just "slacktivists" or are they actually taking action beyond 140 characters? In partnership with Youth Specialties and YouthWorks, Barna conducted a major study on the state of youth ministry in the United States, which included a look at service and volunteering trends among teens.
In Barna's most recent poll, the majority of American adults say they believe abortion should be legal.
Cohabitation is the new norm. Shifting gender roles and expectations, the delay of marriage, and a secularizing culture are leading more American adults to believe that moving in together before tying the knot is a good idea. A recent Barna study asked Americans their views on cohabitation: the pros, cons, motivations, and effects of living together prior to marriage.
U.S. Adults Disagree on the Definition of Marriage
For Barna Group's FRAMES project, we surveyed American women to find out exactly how they feel about their commitments to family, church, career and community, and about the tensions that seem to pull them in opposite directions. Three-quarters of women told us they are satisfied with their lives but when we dug deeper, we found a lot going on beneath the surface.
So where does this stereotype of the prodigal pastor kid come from? Are those who grow up as the children of faith workers really more inclined to "grow out" of church later in life? And is it as big of a trend as it is often perceived? The latest Barna study put these questions to the test, with surprising results.