As part of Barna’s Spiritually Open research, we gave U.S. teens and adults a lengthy list and asked if any of the options causes them to doubt Christianity. Here’s the trend:

No matter a person’s religious background, hypocrisy and human suffering are among the top reasons selected for doubting Christian beliefs.

For non-Christians and those with no faith, hypocrisy of religious people is the top response selected from Barna’s list (26% and 42%, respectively).

For Christians, human suffering is the top response (23%), followed by hypocrisy of religious people (22%) and conflict in the world (19%).

This highlights a crucial need for churches to create safe spaces where people of all ages and faith stages can openly explore their questions and doubts.

By addressing barriers to faith and fostering honest, authentic engagement, leaders (and Christians in general) can also better serve both those who are spiritually open and those grappling with uncertainties about their beliefs.

This could help bridge the gap between spiritual curiosity and skepticism, making Christian beliefs more accessible to those on the fringes of faith.