Most American Christians don't believe in the Trinity: Survey

Michie · Mar 30, 2025

An overwhelming majority of Christians reject the basic Christian teaching of the Trinity, prompting new concerns that Americans are living without the influence of “the truths and life principles of God.”

The Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University released the latest installment of its American Worldview Inventory series which documents Americans’ views on the Trinity. The research is based on responses collected from 2,100 adults in January.

Overall, just 40% of respondents believe that God exists and affects people’s lives. That figure rises to 53% among self-identified Christians, 60% among theologically-identified born-again Christians, and 100% among Integrated Disciples. The latter term refers to those who have a biblical worldview. While a majority of those surveyed (59%) believe in the existence of Jesus Christ, a significantly smaller share of adults (29%) believe in the Holy Spirit.

Continued below.

Most American Christians don't believe in the Trinity: Survey

An overwhelming majority of Christians reject the basic Christian teaching of the Trinity, prompting new concerns that Americans are living without the influence of the truths and life principles of

www.christianpost.com

ForeignNational · Mar 30, 2025

Well, wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.

.

Tom8907 · Mar 30, 2025

Well then, they are not Christian if they reject the Trinity.

RDKirk · Mar 30, 2025

So....I guess Integrated Disciples is the new term for "Christian" now.

I'm certainly not surprised. I've long known that all those people with cross necklaces and ear ornaments didn't really believe in the Apostle's Creed basics.

St_Worm2 · Mar 30, 2025

"60% among theologically-identified born-again Christians .. believe that God exists".

That means that the remaining 40% of Americans, who identify as "born-again Christians", are actually atheists, then

Some of the terminology is new to me, like "theologically-identified born-again Christian" and "integrated disciple", but assuming for now that I'm getting the basic gist of what's being said, what are the 40% doing, hedging their bets :scratch:

Thanks!

--David

RileyG · Mar 31, 2025

Tom8907 said:
Well then, they are not Christian if they reject the Trinity.

Or they are just very poorly catechized, which is unfortunate.

RileyG · Mar 31, 2025

RDKirk said:
So....I guess Integrated Disciples is the new term for "Christian" now.

I'm certainly not surprised. I've long known that all those people with cross necklaces and ear ornaments didn't really believe in the Apostle's Creed basics.

Yup. Reminds me of my former boss.

hedrick · Mar 31, 2025

I read the report. There are lots of issues.
1) They didn't ask about the Trinity. They asked separately about "the God of the Bible," Jesus Christ, and the Holy SPirit
2) The didn't just ask whether they exist, but whether they exist and affect our lives
3) They didnn't tell us the wording of the questions.

Concerns:

If that few Christians said they believe in God, you've got to wonder about the wording of the question. Was "the God fo the Bible" defined in a way that only Evangelicals would say yes? How did they word the business about affecting us? I'd guess that almost all Christians actually believe in God, so something funny is going on.

Second, in orthodox theology, the "God of the Bible" is the entire Trinity. Asking about the God of the Bible, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit seems like there's a Trinitarian heresy in there somewhere.

Tom8907 · Mar 31, 2025

RileyG said:
Or they are just very poorly catechized, which is unfortunate.

If they are new, fine. But if they have claimed thr faith for a while they are not genuine

FireDragon76 · Apr 1, 2025

RileyG said:
Or they are just very poorly catechized, which is unfortunate.

I agree. I don't think it's essential to have a full understanding of the nuances of theology to be a Christian, though it is desirable.

Americans in general are increasingly poorly informed about the world, it doesn't surprise me they'ld stumble to understand an abstract concept like the Trinity.

RDKirk · Apr 1, 2025

FireDragon76 said:
I agree. I don't think it's essential to have a full understanding of the nuances of theology to be a Christian, though it is desirable.

Americans in general are increasingly poorly informed about the world, it doesn't surprise me they'ld stumble to understand an abstract concept like the Trinity.

The Philippian jailer had heard Paul and Silas singing Psalms, asked "What must I do to be saved?" and was baptized within the hour. How much theology could he know when he was baptized? How thoroughly could he have comprehended the Trinity? When Athenagoras touched upon it a hundred years later, Athenagoras admitted to not fully comprehending it.

The saving gospel is a lot slimmer than people think...much slimmer than theologians make it sound. To a significant degree, the debate in these forums is inimical to the faith of new Christians.

RileyG · Apr 1, 2025

FireDragon76 said:
I agree. I don't think it's essential to have a full understanding of the nuances of theology to be a Christian, though it is desirable.

Americans in general are increasingly poorly informed about the world, it doesn't surprise me they'ld stumble to understand an abstract concept like the Trinity.

That’s very true.

RileyG · Apr 16, 2025

beedoux said:
Are you suggesting that the Trinity doctrine saves you?

Well, correct doctrine is definitely important in theology, and it can be related to salvation.

RileyG · Apr 16, 2025

beedoux said:
Doctrine saves nobody - Jesus saves...

I know it's disputable, but scripture does say that God cannot be tempted, and He cannot sin.

Jesus was tempted and...

For this reason he had to be made like them,[k] fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Well, yes. But in order to having saving faith, faith in the Trinity and in Jesus Christ is most important. I'm not disputing that at all.

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