A national survey shows most Christians believe in sin’s reality but far fewer identify as sinners, a gap experts link to churches’ failure to address the topic.
A new survey has found that while most Americans affirm the reality of sin, far fewer are willing to identify themselves as sinners—a gap one researcher says highlights a failure of U.S. churches.
The Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University released the findings of its 2025 American Worldview Inventory on Thursday, based on 2,000 adults surveyed in May. It showed that 84% of respondents believe sin exists, including 99% of born-again Christians, 97% of Protestants, and 94% of Catholics. Even 61% of self-identified non-Christians agreed.
However, when asked “I am a sinner,” the numbers dropped sharply. Only 74% of born-again Christians, 66% of Protestants, 60% of Christians overall, and 50% of Catholics admitted personal sinfulness. Just 36% of non-Christians agreed.
George Barna, research director at the Cultural Research Center, called the results a “devastating bodyblow” linked to churches’ reluctance to preach about sin. “Just 3% of sermons even mentioned sin,” he said. “Suppressing its reality and consequences is a travesty.”
Barna warned that dismissing sin as outdated or attributing it only to others enables “a life-threatening spiritual disease with eternal consequences.” He urged churches to restore teaching on sin, describing it as “an invaluable investment into who we are as a nation and as the Church.”