New research reveals U.S. teens’ and adults’ comfort levels with big questions and keys to discipling doubters

Rachael, a 40-something singer / songwriter and mom to two school-age kids, has her doubts about Christianity. “There used to be an old bumper sticker that said ‘Jesus, protect me from your followers.’ That kind of sums it up,” she says. “I am so down with Jesus, but it’s the organized religion aspect of it and the dissonance between Christianity and Christian nationalism that has turned me off.”

In her view, the message of Jesus has been corrupted and, specifically in our culture today, religion has been exploited by people who want to attain or maintain political power. “Christian nationalism is not Christianity, but too many people don’t know the difference today.”

Though Rachael’s perspective on faith and politics has affected and informed her spiritual journey, she remains curious and open to learning and growing spiritually—traits that align with many of the trends and themes emerging from a new Barna Group study about spiritually open people in the U.S.