American Culture

“The decline of Dispensationalism’s influence does not signal an evangelical retreat from the public square, but rather a fundamental reorientation of it….

“Gallup found U.S. alcohol consumption has fallen to a record-low 54% of adults, the lowest level since Gallup began tracking in 1939. Meanwhile, public health warnings have gotten harder to ignore.” - Relevant

“The public perception of the honesty and ethical standards of clergy reached a record low over the last 50 years, according to Gallup’s annual honesty and ethics survey. Just 27% of the American public ranked clergy as high or very high on the scale. Six other professions reached record lows in their honesty and ethical standards rankings over the period” - CPost

“A national survey released by HarrisX and the Faith & Media Initiative found that 77% of viewers agree that faith in TV and movies has broad appeal—with consistent support from Gen Z (79%), millennials (83%), Gen X (78%) and baby boomers (72%).” - Relevant

“In a recent column for The New York Times, Ezra Klein proclaims that Donald Trump and the MAGA movement have killed the ‘vibe shift.’ The cultural momentum that conservatives gained post-pandemic, particularly in the last year of the Biden presidency, is gone, Klein writes.

“77% of U.S. adults now say they have a great deal (28%) or fair amount of confidence (49%) in scientists to act in the public’s best interests…. Americans’ confidence in scientists remains lower than it was prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.” - Pew

“According to the State of the Bible, more than 1 in 3 (36%) Americans agree the Bible is totally accurate in all the principles it presents, while 39% disagree.” - Lifeway

“Democrats’ and independents’ views of which entity poses the greatest threat have changed substantially over the past decade, with both groups showing double-digit increases in the percentages naming big business….

“In 2024, Lifeway Research estimates 3,800 new Protestant churches were started in the U.S., while 4,000 churches were closed. This is based on analysis of congregational information provided by 35 denominations or faith groups, representing 58% of all Protestant churches.” - Lifeway

“But familiarity is not fidelity, and comfort is not conviction. Culture is not church. Visibility is not vitality. Christianity that flatters the age rather than forming souls is not revival. It is closer to sedation with a soundtrack.” - World