admin
Americans are losing faith in core Christian teachings, and the latest national survey should make pastors, parents and politicians sit up. The American Bible Society’s new State of the Bible: USA 2026 — Chapter 7, “The Supernatural” — reports that belief in the virgin birth has dropped below 50% for the first time in a major poll. That fact alone should prompt a serious conversation about who is teaching the next generation what to believe.
What the survey actually found
The American Bible Society (ABS) reports that just 49% of U.S. adults say the virgin birth is at least “probably” true. The data come from a nationally representative survey run by NORC at the University of Chicago using the AmeriSpeak panel — 2,649 interviews across all 50 states and DC in January 2026. ABS also shows that 53% at least somewhat believe in Jesus’ resurrection, so Americans are picking and choosing which miracles to accept. As Dr. John Farquhar Plake, Chief Innovation Officer of the American Bible Society, put it, these results suggest people still sense “more than a material existence” and should spur renewed engagement with Scripture.
Why this should worry Christians (and conservatives)
The virgin birth isn’t a side note in Christian doctrine. It’s a building block for how Christianity understands Jesus’ identity and mission. When fewer than half of adults accept that teaching as probably true, we are not watching a harmless intellectual exercise — we are watching doctrine shrink in public life. Yes, polls differ. Pew’s past surveys showed higher shares (73% in 2014; 66% in 2017), but question wording and timing matter. Even allowing for methodological differences, the ABS figure points to a clear and concerning change in belief and Bible engagement.
What’s driving the decline — and don’t blame just the culture
There are real reasons for this drop: rising numbers of religious “nones,” generational shifts, and the correlation between higher education and skepticism about supernatural claims in the ABS analysis. But the decline also reflects failures inside the church. Too many congregations focus on soft self-help messages and cultural relevance while skimping on biblical teaching. Colleges that teach pride in skepticism and churches that shrink from clear doctrine both get a seat at the table for this outcome. If you want results, stop treating doctrine like optional garnish.
A simple call to action
If you care about the future of faith and the stability of a Christian-formed culture, don’t scroll past another poll. Read the Bible. Teach your children the core doctrines plainly. Churches must preach the full gospel, train leaders who will defend doctrine, and do real outreach instead of chasing trends. The ABS data are a warning light, not a verdict. Conservatives and church leaders who want to keep a Christian influence in public life should treat this as the emergency it is — before myths about history and doctrine become the default.
