The collapse of moral truth in America: a complete analysis of the Barna 2025 study
The American Worldview Inventory 2025, led by Dr. George Barna of the Cultural Research Center of Arizona Christian University, reveals a radical transformation of the moral foundations of American society. This research, published on May 15, 2025, exhibits deep contradictions in the moral beliefs of the Americans and sounds the alarm on the generalized abandonment of moral absolute.
Alarming findings
Massive rejection of absolute moral truth
The data reveal a fundamental upheaval of American values. Two thirds of American adults reject or doubt the existence of an absolute moral truth. This trend transcends traditional religious boundaries, even affecting the most conservative Christian communities.
Research shows that 69% of Catholics and 61% of Protestants from the main churches reject absolute morality. Even more disturbing, 50% of evangelical Christians “Born-Again” theologically identified-historically considered as the cornerstone of conservative Christianity-admit to reject absolute moral truth.
What are moral absolute?
THE moral absolute are ethical principles considered as Universal and immutablethat is to say that they always apply and everywhere, whatever the circumstances, cultures or eras.
In other words:
- These are moral rules who never change.
- They are often seen as objective (independent of human opinions).
- They are found in certain religions, philosophies or ethical systems.
Current examples:
- Do not kill an innocent
- Do not lie (according to certain interpretations)
- Always respect human dignity
These absolute are opposed to a vision relativistic Morality, which says that what is “good” or “badly” depends on the cultural context or the situations.
Emotional basis of moral decisions
The study identifies a paradigmatic change in the process of moral decision -making. Feelings have become the main arbitrator of moral truth for 74% of American adults. In striking contrast, only 44%occasionally consult the Bible for moral insights, a percentage similar to those who rely on public laws (41%) or scientific affirmations (40%).
This primacy of emotions on established principles marks a historical break with the Judeo-Christian traditions that have shaped the American nation for centuries.
Revealing figures
Generalized logical contradictions
Research exposes inherent contradictions in the anti-absolues of Americans:
- 67% adults consider that accepting contradictory philosophies is a sign of maturity
- 58% affirm that contradictory visions of moral truth can all be completely accurate
- 45% see cultural changes as “proof” that moral absolute do not exist
- 90% kiss syncretism, mixing competing world visions
Demography of moral relativity
Certain demographic groups show a particularly high propensity to reject absolute moral truth:
- People under the age of 50in particular the Z generation and the millennials
- Ethnic minorities (Asians, black, Hispanic more than whites)
- Parents of children under the age of 13
- LGBTQ community
- People with mental health problems
The study also reveals a continuous erosion of Christian identification. In five years, the percentage of adults describing themselves as Christians increased from 72% in 2020 to 66% in 2025, representing a loss of around 15 million adults.
At the same time, non-Christian faith experiences significant growth: Buddhism has increased by 56%, Judaism by 21%, and Islam by 12%. The “faithless” segment now represents 23% of adults, even going beyond traditionally majority Catholics.
Impact on society and the evangelical community
Societal consequences
Dr. Barna identifies direct repercussions of this abandonment of moral absolute on the American social fabric. The new data show that Americans trust each other less, are disappointed with the lack of respect manifested towards others, put more emphasis on being served rather than serving others, and reveal a generational gap concerning commitment to personal responsibility.
These phenomena are directly linked to increasing belief that there are no absolute moral truths that should unite and guide our life choices for personal and community benefit.
Crisis in the evangelical community
The impact on the evangelical community is particularly worrying. Research reveals that evangelicals represent only 10% of the American adult population, between 25 and 30 million people – much less than the usual estimates from 25% to 40%.
Even more alarming, 44% of evangelicals now claim that there is no absolute moral truth. This erosion of theological foundations calls into question the effectiveness of traditional Christian institutions in the transmission of their fundamental values.
Only 55% of the theologically identified “born-again” Christians say they worship the god of the Bible, and 25% admit not to worship Jesus, revealing deep doctrinal inconsistencies within the evangelical nucleus.
Institutional failure
The study underlines the failure of local churches to conduct the debate and action concerning the restoration of biblical truth. This institutional failure contributes to the continuous erosion of traditional moral standards, even among the regular faithful.
Warning on the dangers of relativism
Dr. Barna delivers a solemn warning on the long -term consequences of this moral drift: “Accepting all truths as also valid can only dig a deep foundation of chaos, confusion and helplessness. »»
He warns against the risk that this absence of absolute moral standards lead to the acceptance of an “authoritarian political savior” or a “powerful elitist group” as a arbiter of the truth for the masses. Historically, such leaders have claimed to reject moral absolute in favor of people beneficial to the people, but actually impose their own absolute moral code under the guise of the interests of the masses.
Strategic recommendations
Faced with these challenges, Barna calls for a multifacette approach:
Coherent opposition : He underlines the need for an opposition “strong, coherent, logical and compassionate” to philosophies which reject moral absolute.
National spiritual renewal : Research suggests that “nothing less than a generalized national repentance and a spiritual renewal can save America from itself. Barna insists that political, economic, legal or institutional improvements are only attacking the symptoms, not the disease.
Educational reform : The study stresses that continuing to preach more sermons, teaching more Sunday school lessons and registering more people in biblical study groups will not solve the problem, because most of these people do not accept the basis of the principles taught.
Generational priority : With only a tenth of Christian adolescents “Born-Again” believing in absolute moral truth, Christian families, educators and churches must make this question an absolute priority.
Catering vision
Barna notes that the Americans have historically embraced moral absolute, as evidenced by the values that supported the strength and the longevity of the nation: honesty, respect, service, responsibility and reliability. He expresses the hope that “the ideological pendulum generally oscillates towards the masses sucking on a return to moral absolute based on a standard of individual freedom within defined, compassionate and proven moral limits. »»
Conclusion
The American Worldview Inventory 2025 is exhibiting an unprecedented moral crisis in American society. The generalized abandonment of moral absolute, even within traditional Christian communities, signals a fundamental transformation of national collective consciousness.
The implications largely exceed the religious domain, relating to the very foundations of social cohesion and democratic governance. Dr. Barna’s search is both an alarming diagnosis and an urgent appeal for action for all those who are concerned about the moral and spiritual future of America.
Sources
Primary sources:
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Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University. (2025). American WorldView Inventory 2025 – Report #6: Americans Possess contradictory and unbiblical views about moral truth. Dr. George Barna, Director of Research. Release Date: May 15, 2025.
Sources of verification:
- Arizona Christian University. (2025). “Barna/CRC: Americans’ views of moral truth ‘contradictory, unbiblical'”. May 15, 2025.
- George Barna. (2025). “Survey Reveals meaningful Shifts in Faith Allegiance and Growing Confusion About Moral Truth”. May 16, 2025.
- Vision Christian Media. (2025). “Americans rejects an absolute moral truth ‘”. June 1, 2025.
- Christian Daily. (2024). “Evangelicals make up smaller share of us population Than thought”. August 1, 2024.
- Christian Index. (2024). “Research Shows Evangelicals to Be Fewer, Less Biblically Grounded and Less Politically Engaged Than Previously Believed”. August 8, 2024.
- Arizona Christian University. (2025). American WorldView Inventory 2025 – Report 1. February 18, 2025.
- Arizona Christian University. (2025). American WorldView Inventory 2025 – Report 2: Americans Minimize The Role of God in Their Life. March 12, 2025.
