Barna’s Top Trends of 2025, Part 1

As 2025 comes to a close, Barna reviewed the stories that drew the most attention from readers in 2025. These articles highlight the questions many are asking as they navigate a shifting faith and culture landscape—and the data they’re turning to for clarity.

This first installment counts down from #10 to #6, highlighting the questions church leaders and faith observers were most eager to understand.

#10 — The Spiritual Impact of Charlie Kirk’s Death on Young Adults

A cultural moment prompted deeper questions about influence, ideology and faith.

Following the shocking death of political activist Charlie Kirk, this article explored how Americans interpreted the event—and what it revealed about trust, political identity and moral authority. 

Key data point:
When asked whether they had taken any action since Kirk’s passing, 71 percent of U.S. adults said they had not. However, among those who did act, spiritual responses dominated. Eighteen percent reported taking a spiritual action, while just 5 percent took a political action. Another 6 percent said they had taken both.

#9 — Marriage and Divorce Trends: 2025

Family stability remains a central concern for faith communities.

This snapshot of the modern family shows how marriage and divorce trends are shifting across generations—and what those changes mean for churches seeking to support families at every stage of life.

Key data point:
Today, about half of U.S. adults are married—down from two-thirds in 1950—but most unmarried adults still hope to marry someday, including 78 percent of Gen Z and 73 percent of Millennials, underscoring a persistent cultural value even amid changing timelines and norms.

#8 — When Faith Becomes Private

Many Christians are quietly practicing their faith alone—and missing opportunities to grow.

This article surfaced a striking tension in the spiritual lives of American Christians: while faith remains personally meaningful for many, a majority now experience it in isolation. The piece explored how viewing one’s spiritual life as entirely private correlates with weaker markers of spiritual formation, and why openness and shared discipleship remain critical for long-term growth.

Key data point:
More than half of U.S. Christian adults (56%) say their spiritual life is entirely private—and those who hold this view are significantly less likely to report regular time with God, a strong sense of spiritual progress or a belief that their faith is very important in daily life.

#7 — Teens Are Curious About Jesus—But on Their Own Terms

Openness to Jesus remains strong among teens, but pathways to engagement are shifting.

Drawing from Barna’s The Open Generation: United States report, this article highlighted an encouraging reality: most U.S. teens, regardless of religious background, express a desire to keep learning about Jesus over the course of their lives. At the same time, Gen Z’s curiosity about Jesus does not always translate into comfort with religion or churchgoing.

Key data point:
More than three in four U.S. teens (77%) say they are at least somewhat motivated to continue learning about Jesus throughout their lives—yet many remain cautious about organized religion, signaling both a hopeful opening and a need for thoughtful, relational engagement.

#6 — Bible Reading Trends: A Closer Look at Engagement and Conviction

More Americans are opening their Bibles more often, but they’re still wrestling with what they believe about it.

Along with measuring frequency of Bible reading, the piece examines how Americans relate to Scripture, revealing meaningful differences between curiosity about God’s Word and belief in its accuracy.

Key data point:
Millennials and Gen Z are making big moves toward the Bible. Millennials jumped an unprecedented 16 points, reaching 50 percent—half now say they read the Bible weekly. Gen Z mirrors this pattern, rising from 30 percent to 49 percent in just one year.

What These Stories Signal for the Church

Viewed together, these stories highlight a season of tension and transition for the Church: families shaped by long-term relational change and many believers practicing faith more privately than communally. At the same time, the data points to real openings—teen curiosity about Jesus, enduring hope for marriage and a growing recognition that spiritual formation deepens in relationship with others.

In Part 2, we continue the countdown of the most-read Barna stories of 2025, turning to the belief and participation trends that drew the greatest attention this year.