Pandemic left many Americans ‘more open to God,’ Barna survey finds: ‘Spiritual hunger’

A recent study showed that many Americans are more open to God and desire spiritual growth in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A report released by the faith-based research organization Barna Group earlier this month found that 44% of adults in the U.S. are “more open to God” because of the pandemic.

Among the 2,000 adults the group surveyed between Oct. 21-31, 77% also said they believe in a higher power while 74% said they want to grow spiritually.

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Pollsters found that all generations, including young Americans, want to grow spiritually, with 77% of Gen X and millennials expressing what Barna Group CEO David Kinnaman described as “spiritual hunger.” Among Gen Z, 73% expressed such a desire, while 72% of baby boomers said the same.

At 80%, a sizable majority said they believe “there is a spiritual or supernatural dimension to the world,” with half expressing certainty in the existence of the supernatural and 30% saying, “I think it exists, but I’m not certain.”

Only 11% of respondents expressed uncertain doubts regarding the spiritual realm, and a mere 9% flat-out denied its existence.

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Eighty-three percent of both Gen Z and millennials said they believe in a “supernatural/spiritual dimension,” followed by 82% of Gen X and 79% of baby boomers.

Baby boomers expressed the highest rate of belief in a higher power at 79%, while millennials were least likely to ascribe to one at 76%.

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“Though the trajectory of Christian commitment in the U.S. has been on a downward scale and is in need of urgent interventions, our new data gave Christian leaders cause for hope,” Kinnaman said of the report’s findings.

A Pew Research Center report published last fall found a surge of adults leaving Christianity to become atheist, agnostic or “nothing in particular.” It predicted that if the number of Christians under 30 abandoning their faith accelerates beyond the current pace, adherents of the historically dominant religion of the U.S. could become a minority by 2045.