Americans are changing their understanding and definition of “sin,” according to the latest Barna research.
A press release on Oct. 21 by the Cultural Research Center reported that most Americans now say that they only consider half of 12 specific behaviors presented to them and traditionally considered sinful, as actually sinful.
The new data from the second part of the American Worldview Inventory national survey of 2,000 adults arranged by the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University signals a dramatic shift in the nation’s moral compass and builds on earlier reports documenting widespread confusion about the existence and nature of sin, according to the press release.
Some behaviors, such as drinking, gambling, and working on the Sabbath, are “rarely viewed as sinful,” according to the research. Others such as abortion, sexual fantasies, and cheating on taxes split public opinion.
Only six of the 12 behaviors were still widely regarded as sinful, mainly those related to speech, sexuality, faith, and drug use.
Dr. George Barna, Director of Research at Arizona Christian University's Cultural Research Center, commented that there was a difference in attitudes to sin depending on the age group.
“Unfortunately, parallel long-term tracking data related to the behaviors that people consider to be sinful does not exist,” the ACU professor and bestselling author lamented. “However, there appears to be a clear and moderately strong link between generational differences of opinion related to sin and the ongoing redefinition of morality in American society.”
Previous reports from the American Worldview Inventory 2025 reported a widespread “confusion and controversy” about the definition and attributes of sin. Less than one out of five adults from that study maintain a consistently biblical perspective on sin.
Barna believed the current data patterns reflect social turbulence during the past decade in the U.S. in the areas of significant changes in family structure, personal relationships, integrity and ethics, faith practices, and lifestyle choices. These can be traced directly to shifts away from traditional biblical views on sin, according to the press release citing Barna’s thoughts.
“If you follow the response patterns of the groups that are increasingly influential in American society, you can see the moral redefinition unfolding,” said Barna.
“The adult portion of Gen Z is currently less than 10% of the adult population, but when all of the members of that generation are 18 or older, that group will be nearly four times their current proportion of the total adult population.
“Add to that the fact that the atheist and agnostic percentage of the nation’s population today is about one-quarter of all adults, and remains one of the fastest growing religious segments in the United States, and one that will likely continue to grow in the next decade or two.
“A third piece of the cultural puzzle is the Asian-American population, which has also been a rapidly growing segment, and will continue to grow steadily in the coming years.”
Some major growth drivers of the American population are people groups that reject biblical morality, explained Barna.
“As we seek to understand why America is being transformed from a Bible-honoring, traditional morality population to one that is more laissez-faire or even aggressively secular in its views of right and wrong or sin and virtue, the demographic curves provide important insights,” he added.
“Three influential subgroups are moving the culture toward their preferred worldview, which is at odds with biblical morality. And those subgroups have cultural momentum on their side.”
The most widely regarded sin, of the dozen behaviours, is intentionally lying, deceiving, or manipulating others for personal benefit. Almost three-quarters of adults (73%) labeled such action as sinful.
For Christians, that figure is higher with 99% of adults presenting a biblical worldview on deception as sinful and 96% of theologically-identified born-again Christians, compared to 81% of Catholics.
Only 44% of atheists and agnostics agreed on that point with nearly half denying the existence of sin in the first place. Younger adults and Asians were also “significantly less likely than older or other racial groups to label deception as sinful.”
With blasphemy, six out of 10 adults believed it a sin with most Christian traditions affirdming that perspective, compared to a quarter of atheists and agnostics.
“Similarly, 59% of adults said worshiping a spirit or person other than the God of the Bible is sinful,” stated the press release. “Again, Gen Z and Asians were least likely to accept that view, while Catholics were less convinced than other Christian groups.”
A split opinion showed with sexual behaviours. More than half (55% ) of adults deemed sex outside of marriage as sin. Yet support for this view was lower with young adults, Asians and those without a religious faith.
However, 72% of Protestants agreed with this view, compared to 60% of Catholics.
“Intentional exposure to pornography was also considered sinful by a slight majority (55%), with the strongest rejection found among Protestants and women,” added the press release.
Most (54%) people, especially Christians saw illegal drugs for recreation as sinful although the study said Asians and the non-religious were less inclined to share this perspective.
Three behaviors divided the public evenly on the question of their sinful attributes: abortion (half of all adults) with 93% of adults holding that view (79% of born again Christians and 19% of atheists and agnostics). Sexual fantasies with someone outside of marriage (half of all adults) and cheating on taxes (47%).
In comparison, three behaviors were rejected by a majority as not sinful: drunkenness (42%), gambling (40%), and working on the Sabbath (23%).
Barna, who has been studying the intersection of culture and faith since the 1980s, connected these findings to larger cultural shifts.
“Together, a majority of those groups approve of lying for personal benefit, sex on demand, abortion, idolatry, and various lifestyle vices. Their will is not monolithic—there are other population segments larger in size, or which possess considerable counter-balancing influence. However, the trajectory of the three segments indicates they have considerable favor and impact within today’s society. Those who ignore the cultural influence they wield do so at their own peril.”
The national moral code of the U.S. is increasingly being shaped by cultural rather than spiritual forces, according to the veteran researcher.
“If Christians in America want a nation based on biblical morality, they must be clearer and more assertive in teaching, evaluating, and modeling of the biblical worldview and its resultant lifestyle choices. As matters stand now, the biblical worldview is poised to lose what little ground it currently occupies in America, including an increased loss of influence related to our national morality.”
