In a recent study for State of the Church 2020, a year-long project exploring the current challenges and opportunities facing the Church, Barna examined how digital developments and devices are affecting the Church and the faith formation of practicing Christians.

It’s no secret that technology touches almost every aspect of our lives, playing a role in everything from digitizing our calendars to allowing us to browse and apply for a home loan. The years’ worth of Barna resources listed below offer more insight into how U.S. practicing Christians perceive the presence and impact of technology in their lives.

1. OneHope President Rob Hoskins on Technology as a Tremendous Tool Rob Hoskins, president of OneHope, comments on some of the findings from a recent study conducted jointly with Barna Group about the role of technology in children’s faith formation. Hoskins says, “This study revealed that even though tech is pervasive, most parents and churches aren’t leveraging it for Bible engagement. This is clearly seen in our findings that show a substantial dip in Bible engagement for 10–12-year-olds. Right as they enter an age where they are ready for more, we’re giving them less.”

2. U.S. Adults Believe Hate Speech Has Increased—Mainly Online A large majority of American adults says the amount of hate crime and hate speech (meaning, speech or crimes that are motivated by racial, sexual or other prejudice) has changed in the past five years; seven in 10 (70%) say this behavior has increased. Most attribute the change to the fact that politicians are encouraging or feeding this trend (65%). Similar majorities say social media and the internet have amplified it (62%) or that it is driven by America becoming increasingly more divided as a country (61%). More than half say the internet has provided a forum for hate groups to multiply (57%), that hate crime has increased because the news has drawn attention to it (54%) or even that it has become more socially acceptable to publicly treat others with prejudice (51%). Four in 10 believe increased diversity in America has caused fear or prejudice (37%). Only a few respondents say religious organizations amplify hatred (16%).