#United States #Washington, D.C. #Family Research Council #Churchgoers #Cultural Research Center

New Survey Reveals Changing Perspectives Among U.S. Churchgoers

On October 13, 2025, the Family Research Council (FRC), collaborating with the Cultural Research Center of Arizona Christian University, released a comprehensive survey probing the evolving beliefs of American church attendees. Conducted with 1,003 adult participants who regularly attend Christian worship, both online and in-person, the survey serves as an update to a similar study from 2023, reflecting new trends and insights.

In light of recent reports suggesting a rise in church attendance, this survey sheds light on key areas that require attention and contemplation by church leaders and congregations. The findings notably highlight a discrepancy between the beliefs held by regular churchgoers and the scriptural foundations that many churches advocate.

Key Findings: Marriage and Family Definitions

Among the surveyed participants, 68% affirmed the traditional view of marriage, recognizing it as a union between one man and one woman. However, the definition of family appeared less clear, with only 46% equating 'family' to a God-ordained unit of a husband, wife, and their children.

The support for this definition of family varied across demographics and spiritual backgrounds. The figures showed that born-again Christians represented the highest support at 59%, followed by 56% of Pentecostal attendees, and 55% of Asian respondents. In contrast, those least likely to endorse the biblical definition included self-described agnostics (18%), political liberals (29%), churchgoing LGBTQ individuals (34%), and a notable 34% among Gen Z members.

Despite the differences in opinion about family, many churchgoers maintained significant convictions regarding related topics: 79% affirmed the existence of only two genders, 70% emphasized the importance of families consisting of a father, mother, and children living together, and 68% affirmed traditional marriage.

Abortion Views and Cultural Confusions

One of the more complex issues presented in the survey was abortion. Despite being a longstanding moral concern among churchgoers, 73% expressed contradictory viewpoints across various abortion-related topics, with an additional 10% indicating uncertainty about their stance.

A disconcerting trend was also observed regarding foundational beliefs, referred to as the