A 92% Syncretic Worldview

In my reading this morning I notice a comment that seemed shocking.

George Barna points out in American Worldview Inventory 2024 that the current prevailing worldview is Syncretism (92%), and the second most popular is a Biblical Worldview (4%). According to Wikipedia, religious syncretism is the blending of religious belief systems into a new system or the incorporation of other beliefs into an existing religious tradition. Effectively, we’re now killing the baby while worshipping the bathwater.

It’s worth looking at the embedded link to read it yourself.

If you want to read the article is found this in click this link.

As I thought about it, it does seem to make sense.

I looked at the Arizona studies a while back, I guess there was a recent up date.

I would observe that this nails it.

“George Barna points out in American Worldview Inventory 2024 that the current prevailing worldview is Syncretism (92%), and the second most popular is a Biblical Worldview (4%). According to Wikipedia, religious syncretism is the blending of religious belief systems into a new system or the incorporation of other beliefs into an existing religious tradition. Effectively, we’re now killing the baby while worshipping the bathwater.”

92% Syncretism. That’s beyond Ecumenism.

One example is the initiatives of Papal Rome, to host conferences across various faith groups: Roman Catholic, Charismatic, Protestant, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, even a variety of Pagan religions, and the smaller ones, etc.

Another current example is the series The Chosen, which very strongly tries to bridge Roman Catholicism, with various Protestant faiths, and is largely supported by Mormons. Their vision of bringing their image of the “authentic” Jesus to 1 billion people around the world is a big effort towards Syncretism. I could say more on this but that’s another discussion.

I have observed that a surprising number of people groups already have a knowledge of some Jesus, mostly of their own making. Since the Reformation there have been great differences among those who profess the name of Jesus, in the Catholic and visible Protestant church.

WLC, Q. 62. What is the visible church?

A. The visible church is a society made up of all such as in all ages and places of the world do profess the true religion, and of their children.

But other groups also have an image of the historical Jesus, these religions, include Islam (prophet), Mormonism (one of the gods), Hinduism, Buddhism and New Age (more of a “Christ Consciousness”).

I certainly have no special understanding of what God is doing, but he is certainly is Sovereignly Sovereign.

WCF Chapter 1

2. God hath all life, glory, goodness, blessedness, in and of himself; and is alone in and unto himself all-sufficient, not standing in need of any creatures which he hath made, nor deriving any glory from them, but only manifesting his own glory in, by, unto, and upon them. He is the alone fountain of all being, of whom, through whom, and to whom are all things; and hath most sovereign dominion over them, to do by them, for them, or upon them whatsoever himself pleaseth. In his sight all things are open and manifest, his knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent upon the creature, so as nothing is to him contingent, or uncertain. He is most holy in all his counsels, in all his works, and in all his commands. To him is due from angels and men, and every other creature, whatsoever worship, service, or obedience he is pleased to require of them.

Anyway now, two thousand years after Christ’s resurrection if only 4% have a biblical worldview, and 92% just see or want to see all views acceptable we are a long way from acceptance of the historical God of the Bible.

We do know in the Bible we have teaching like:

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

And Jesus earlier said:

John 6:37-40 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39 And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 6:44-48 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. 46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. 47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. 48 I am that bread of life.

Matthew 7:12-14 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. 13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

The Westminster Confession of Faith makes this statement when defining the Church.

CHAPTER 25
Of the Church

1. The catholic or universal church, which is invisible, consists of the whole number of the elect, that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one, under Christ the Head thereof; and is the spouse, the body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all.

There is a visible church though.

2. The visible church, which is also catholic or universal under the gospel (not confined to one nation, as before under the law), consists of all those throughout the world that profess the true religion; and of their children: and is the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ, the house and family of God, out of which there is no ordinary possibility of salvation.

3. Unto this catholic visible church Christ hath given the ministry, oracles, and ordinances of God, for the gathering and perfecting of the saints, in this life, to the end of the world: and doth, by his own presence and Spirit, according to his promise, make them effectual thereunto.

4. This catholic church hath been sometimes more, sometimes less visible. And particular churches, which are members thereof, are more or less pure, according as the doctrine of the gospel is taught and embraced, ordinances administered, and public worship performed more or less purely in them.

5. The purest churches under heaven are subject both to mixture and error; and some have so degenerated, as to become no churches of Christ, but synagogues of Satan. Nevertheless, there shall be always a church on earth, to worship God according to his will.

6. There is no other head of the church but the Lord Jesus Christ. Nor can the pope of Rome, in any sense, be head thereof.

The Confession has a lot to say about the elect such as:

CHAPTER 3
Of God’s Eternal Decree

6. As God hath appointed the elect unto glory, so hath he, by the eternal and most free purpose of his will, foreordained all the means thereunto. Wherefore, they who are elected, being fallen in Adam, are redeemed by Christ, are effectually called unto faith in Christ by his Spirit working in due season, are justified, adopted, sanctified, and kept by his power, through faith, unto salvation. Neither are any other redeemed by Christ, effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved, but the elect only.

Personally I’m pretty sure that these surveys of Worldviews would find that even fewer of the 4% with Biblical Worldview would understand and agree with those statements. Although they are in our confessions.