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Futurecast: What Today's Trends Mean for Tomorrow's World
The world and culture are changing at a pace beyond anything ever seen in history. But where will all these changes lead? We need accurate information that will give us a real sense of what’s happening now—and what’s about to happen—in key areas of our lives, including family life, technology, media and entertainment, attitudes and values, and religious beliefs and behavior. In Futurecast, bestselling author and renowned researcher George Barna presents a timely look at the world we’re creating every day. He offers solid data to show the path society is on, a guide to what’s coming next, and unparalleled insights into how we can prepare for the changes that lie ahead.
- GenresChurch
213 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 15, 2011
9 people are currently reading
63 people want to read
About the author
George Barna
151 books68 followersGeorge Barna was raised and educated on the East Coast before moving to California in the early 1980s. He held executive positions in advertising, public policy, political campaigns, and media/marketing research before beginning his own company, the Barna Research Group (now The Barna Group), in 1984. The firm analyzes American culture and creates resources and experiences designed to facilitate moral and spiritual transformation. Located in Ventura, California, The Barna Group provides primary research as well as developmental resources and analytic diagnostics. The company has served several hundred parachurch ministries and thousands of Christian churches throughout the country. It has also supplied research to for-profit corporations such as Ford Motor Company, The Walt Disney Company, Visa USA, and Prudential, and has assisted the U.S. Navy and U.S. Army as well.
To date, George Barna has written more than 40 books, predominantly in the areas of leadership, trends, spiritual development, and church health. Included among them are bestsellers such as Revolution, Transforming Children into Spiritual Champions, The Frog in the Kettle, The Power of Vision, and Pagan Christianity? Several of his books have received national awards. He has also written for numerous periodicals and has published various syndicated reports on topics related to faith and lifestyle. He also writes a bimonthly research report, The Barna Update, which is accessed by hundreds of thousands of people through his firm's Web site (www.barna.org). His work is frequently cited as an authoritative source by the media. He has been hailed as "the most quoted person in the Christian church today" and is counted among its most influential leaders. In 2009, George initiated Metaformation, a new organization designed to help people maximize their potential. More information about his current projects is available from www.georgebarna.com.
Barna is a popular speaker at ministry conferences around the world and has taught at several universities and seminaries. He has served as a pastor of a large multiethnic church, has been involved in several church plants, and currently leads an organic church. He has served on the board of directors of various organizations. After graduating summa cum laude from Boston College, Barna earned two master's degrees from Rutgers University. At Rutgers, he was awarded the Eagleton Fellowship. He also received a doctorate from Dallas Baptist University. He lives with his wife and their three daughters in Southern California. He enjoys spending time with his family, writing, reading novels, playing and listening to guitar, relaxing on the beach, visiting bookstores, and eating pizza.
To date, George Barna has written more than 40 books, predominantly in the areas of leadership, trends, spiritual development, and church health. Included among them are bestsellers such as Revolution, Transforming Children into Spiritual Champions, The Frog in the Kettle, The Power of Vision, and Pagan Christianity? Several of his books have received national awards. He has also written for numerous periodicals and has published various syndicated reports on topics related to faith and lifestyle. He also writes a bimonthly research report, The Barna Update, which is accessed by hundreds of thousands of people through his firm's Web site (www.barna.org). His work is frequently cited as an authoritative source by the media. He has been hailed as "the most quoted person in the Christian church today" and is counted among its most influential leaders. In 2009, George initiated Metaformation, a new organization designed to help people maximize their potential. More information about his current projects is available from www.georgebarna.com.
Barna is a popular speaker at ministry conferences around the world and has taught at several universities and seminaries. He has served as a pastor of a large multiethnic church, has been involved in several church plants, and currently leads an organic church. He has served on the board of directors of various organizations. After graduating summa cum laude from Boston College, Barna earned two master's degrees from Rutgers University. At Rutgers, he was awarded the Eagleton Fellowship. He also received a doctorate from Dallas Baptist University. He lives with his wife and their three daughters in Southern California. He enjoys spending time with his family, writing, reading novels, playing and listening to guitar, relaxing on the beach, visiting bookstores, and eating pizza.
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July 12, 2016We live in changing times. What does it all mean? How far have we come? All of these questions ultimately lead to a rather big question: where is it all headed?
Even in seemingly less transitional periods in history, mankind has always sought to know what will happen in the future. While it is foolish to attempt to make grand declarations about the nature of the future, it is possible to get a glimpse of what might be based upon current trends-- and this is what George Barna attempts to do in Futurecast: What Today's Trends Mean for Tomorrow's World. He uses the data obtained by Barna studies over the past few years to chart the ideas, attitudes, and behavioral patterns of Americans of all ages, and based upon the trends that exist today, seeks to present a plausible picture of the types of attitudes that will be prevalent over the next few decades.
The book begins with more "secular" themes, describing current trends regarding lifestyle, family, attitudes, values, media, technology, and the like. Most of what is described in this section would be intuitive for a lot of people: expectation of greater use of online and electronic media; growing diversity in lifestyles and choices and the acceptance thereof; weakening commitments to the concept of absolute truth, let alone morality. One sobering statistic: 15% of polled teenagers believe that there is such a thing as absolute truth. That means that 85% have bought in to the relativist/postmodernist view of truth to some extent-- and that will impact the future!
One trend that made sense when I heard it yet with which I was not as familiar was the growing acceptance of mediocrity in work on account of the emphasis on process. In Barna's designation I am on the tail end of the "Busters," and my children are all "Digitals." The "Mosaic" generation in between has been greatly impacted by the emphasis on self-esteem, effort, and process irrespective of accomplished result (as well described in "How To Land Your Kid in Therapy", by Lori Gottlieb, The Atlantic July/August 2011). For this generation overall, value is placed more on process and collaboration than excellence in the final product. It was interesting to me since I am not that old but still feel the disconnect between the drive for excellence with which I was raised and in which I was cultured versus this new trend-- a microcosm of the daunting challenge of different generations attempting to come to an understanding with each other.
The second half of the book focuses more on the "spiritual" side: religious beliefs, religious practice, and institutional faith. Everything described in this section is consistent with what one would hear in other books by Barna and other books of this genre: a majority profess Christianity while a small minority gets anywhere near to a Biblical worldview (reckoned at less than 5%, and less than .5% of teenagers) and having a faith that really impacts their life; people have stronger belief in God, Jesus, and the Bible than in churches and ecclesiastical institutions; mainline Protestantism is in decline at the expense of evangelicals, especially charismatics, and the drive toward less institutional forms of religiosity and toward more "organic" and "spiritually meaningful" associations and groups. Barna's prejudice toward house churches is present although would likely be missed by people who have not read previous books by him.
The book concludes with chapters describing the projected demographic profile of America in the first half of this century along with a conclusion intended to spur the reader to action: these trends exist today but they are not dictators. The trends can be redirected.
It is a nice, hopeful conclusion, and I share in Barna's view that the best way to see transformation is when people submit to Jesus our Lord and prove willing to accomplish spiritual transformation through their obedience to Christ and the strength which He supplies toward believers.
Barna is Evangelical, and a fan of the house churches, and so the appropriate warnings about faith only and whatnot apply; likewise, he peculiarly emphasizes the idea that all spiritual gifts must be supernatural in nature, an emphasis that does not seem to be all that necessary. Yes, God gives people abilities, but that need not be supernatural-- we all find ourselves to be talented in various ways, and since God has made us, those more "natural" abilities are as much gifts from God as anything "supernatural" which He could bestow. There are also hints at many points in the book exemplifying connections between faithfulness and a certain conservative political affiliation and view of America, which is also not at all necessary.
This book is highly recommended for all who want to have an impact on the future toward the advancement of the glory of our Lord Jesus inasmuch as Barna, in my view, accurately describes much of the current condition of things and where it is likely to be headed. And, faithful to my generation, I will say that the trends "are what they are." They can be lamented and they can be decried; there would be sufficient reason for either or both. But what good will lamenting and decrying them do? Better to understand the situation on the ground so as to develop ways of communicating with people with radically different worldviews to persuade them that their worldview is insufficient and does not make the best sense of all the evidence at our disposal. Working to challenge ideas and to persuade men regarding Jesus the Christ and obedience to Him, consistent with 2 Corinthians 5:11 and 10:5, will be more effective to advance the Kingdom and God's purposes than yelling, screaming, and attempting to dogmatically assert the ideologies of a bygone era. Yet all of this must begin by being informed of the situation-- and for this, Barna's book is quite helpful.
*--book received as part of early review program
Even in seemingly less transitional periods in history, mankind has always sought to know what will happen in the future. While it is foolish to attempt to make grand declarations about the nature of the future, it is possible to get a glimpse of what might be based upon current trends-- and this is what George Barna attempts to do in Futurecast: What Today's Trends Mean for Tomorrow's World. He uses the data obtained by Barna studies over the past few years to chart the ideas, attitudes, and behavioral patterns of Americans of all ages, and based upon the trends that exist today, seeks to present a plausible picture of the types of attitudes that will be prevalent over the next few decades.
The book begins with more "secular" themes, describing current trends regarding lifestyle, family, attitudes, values, media, technology, and the like. Most of what is described in this section would be intuitive for a lot of people: expectation of greater use of online and electronic media; growing diversity in lifestyles and choices and the acceptance thereof; weakening commitments to the concept of absolute truth, let alone morality. One sobering statistic: 15% of polled teenagers believe that there is such a thing as absolute truth. That means that 85% have bought in to the relativist/postmodernist view of truth to some extent-- and that will impact the future!
One trend that made sense when I heard it yet with which I was not as familiar was the growing acceptance of mediocrity in work on account of the emphasis on process. In Barna's designation I am on the tail end of the "Busters," and my children are all "Digitals." The "Mosaic" generation in between has been greatly impacted by the emphasis on self-esteem, effort, and process irrespective of accomplished result (as well described in "How To Land Your Kid in Therapy", by Lori Gottlieb, The Atlantic July/August 2011). For this generation overall, value is placed more on process and collaboration than excellence in the final product. It was interesting to me since I am not that old but still feel the disconnect between the drive for excellence with which I was raised and in which I was cultured versus this new trend-- a microcosm of the daunting challenge of different generations attempting to come to an understanding with each other.
The second half of the book focuses more on the "spiritual" side: religious beliefs, religious practice, and institutional faith. Everything described in this section is consistent with what one would hear in other books by Barna and other books of this genre: a majority profess Christianity while a small minority gets anywhere near to a Biblical worldview (reckoned at less than 5%, and less than .5% of teenagers) and having a faith that really impacts their life; people have stronger belief in God, Jesus, and the Bible than in churches and ecclesiastical institutions; mainline Protestantism is in decline at the expense of evangelicals, especially charismatics, and the drive toward less institutional forms of religiosity and toward more "organic" and "spiritually meaningful" associations and groups. Barna's prejudice toward house churches is present although would likely be missed by people who have not read previous books by him.
The book concludes with chapters describing the projected demographic profile of America in the first half of this century along with a conclusion intended to spur the reader to action: these trends exist today but they are not dictators. The trends can be redirected.
It is a nice, hopeful conclusion, and I share in Barna's view that the best way to see transformation is when people submit to Jesus our Lord and prove willing to accomplish spiritual transformation through their obedience to Christ and the strength which He supplies toward believers.
Barna is Evangelical, and a fan of the house churches, and so the appropriate warnings about faith only and whatnot apply; likewise, he peculiarly emphasizes the idea that all spiritual gifts must be supernatural in nature, an emphasis that does not seem to be all that necessary. Yes, God gives people abilities, but that need not be supernatural-- we all find ourselves to be talented in various ways, and since God has made us, those more "natural" abilities are as much gifts from God as anything "supernatural" which He could bestow. There are also hints at many points in the book exemplifying connections between faithfulness and a certain conservative political affiliation and view of America, which is also not at all necessary.
This book is highly recommended for all who want to have an impact on the future toward the advancement of the glory of our Lord Jesus inasmuch as Barna, in my view, accurately describes much of the current condition of things and where it is likely to be headed. And, faithful to my generation, I will say that the trends "are what they are." They can be lamented and they can be decried; there would be sufficient reason for either or both. But what good will lamenting and decrying them do? Better to understand the situation on the ground so as to develop ways of communicating with people with radically different worldviews to persuade them that their worldview is insufficient and does not make the best sense of all the evidence at our disposal. Working to challenge ideas and to persuade men regarding Jesus the Christ and obedience to Him, consistent with 2 Corinthians 5:11 and 10:5, will be more effective to advance the Kingdom and God's purposes than yelling, screaming, and attempting to dogmatically assert the ideologies of a bygone era. Yet all of this must begin by being informed of the situation-- and for this, Barna's book is quite helpful.
*--book received as part of early review program
October 6, 2011
Great, full of statistics that are a little scary and a little telling. I actually got a much more positive view of the state of the Christian faith in the US than I expected...
January 29, 2019
~200 pages of "old man yells at a cloud."
June 15, 2011
I’m a pretty skeptical person when it comes to statistics and research. It’s simply far too easy to make unsubstantiated claims, falsely attach causality when it might not exist, and simply ask confusing questions that don’t really lead to any solid conclusions from the results. Despite all this, I do tend to think there is value in much of the research being done to identify trends (especially spiritual trends), but the value must be reality-checked and taken simply for what it is.
That’s the perspective I brought to George Barna’s newest book, Futurecast. The Barna Group is one of the most recognized research groups in the country, and Barna’s written numerous books about the “intersection between faith and culture.” In Futurecast, Barna attempts to show “how our behaviors, attitudes, and beliefs are shaping our future – and what we can do about it now.”
Coming from a distinctly Christian perspective, Barna throws out metric after metric detailing the results of extensive research to paint a bleak picture of the world as it currently is and the direction it appears to be headed. The goal is to educate Christians as much as possible about the trends being observed in the culture so that individual Christians can make a difference in their specific spheres of influence.
There was a lot to appreciate about this book. I applaud the effort of Barna to educate Christians and try to motivate them to be agents of change in the world. I especially appreciated the first 4 chapters (on Lifestyles and Aspirations, Family Life, Attitudes and Values, and Technology). Again, taking into account my skepticism towards statistics, there was a lot that Christians can learn from these chapters about how the world thinks and how the gospel applies to their lives. We don’t need to shape the gospel to these trends, but it’s helpful to know the perspectives people are coming from when having gospel conversations. The gospel is timeless, but culture and perspectives on truth are not. It doesn’t hurt to have the best understanding of people to be able to love them best with the truth.
After these chapters, Barna dives into more research within the Christian and religious realm specifically (dealing with Religious Beliefs, Religious Behavior, and Organized Religion). These were the chapters where I really began to doubt many of the numbers being tossed around (and there are seriously a LOT of numbers thrown around). A good deal of the emphasis is on the fact that Christians are essentially no different from non-Christians. Much of the problem here is measuring essentially immeasurable data, but I’m frankly really tired of hearing this. It’s simply not possible, unless you believe questionable research of “representative populations” over the truth of Scripture. True Christians will live changed lives. It’s simply a necessary mark of true belief. That doesn’t mean Christians always behave perfectly in-line with their beliefs (we wouldn’t need to gospel if that was possible), but this picture of no distinction is misleading and simply false.
Barna’s “Reflections” sections at the end of each chapter typically made me cringe as well. He makes many statements that reveal a clear bias (such as when discussing house churches vs. traditional churches). Also, many of his conclusions simply don’t follow, even from the questionable numbers.
As I mentioned earlier, despite my issues with it, there really are some good things about this book, and I think especially the first few chapters would be good for most pastors to read. In the end, though, as Christians, we have the everlasting Word of God to guide our actions and beliefs. We have the eternal, timeless truth of the gospel to share with people, regardless of the latest trends. There are things we can learn about people today, but their thoughts and actions are just the latest manifestations of the truths about people in Scripture. Trends come and go, but the Word of God remains forever. This is a comfort amidst the pessimistic views of the future painted in this book.
That’s the perspective I brought to George Barna’s newest book, Futurecast. The Barna Group is one of the most recognized research groups in the country, and Barna’s written numerous books about the “intersection between faith and culture.” In Futurecast, Barna attempts to show “how our behaviors, attitudes, and beliefs are shaping our future – and what we can do about it now.”
Coming from a distinctly Christian perspective, Barna throws out metric after metric detailing the results of extensive research to paint a bleak picture of the world as it currently is and the direction it appears to be headed. The goal is to educate Christians as much as possible about the trends being observed in the culture so that individual Christians can make a difference in their specific spheres of influence.
There was a lot to appreciate about this book. I applaud the effort of Barna to educate Christians and try to motivate them to be agents of change in the world. I especially appreciated the first 4 chapters (on Lifestyles and Aspirations, Family Life, Attitudes and Values, and Technology). Again, taking into account my skepticism towards statistics, there was a lot that Christians can learn from these chapters about how the world thinks and how the gospel applies to their lives. We don’t need to shape the gospel to these trends, but it’s helpful to know the perspectives people are coming from when having gospel conversations. The gospel is timeless, but culture and perspectives on truth are not. It doesn’t hurt to have the best understanding of people to be able to love them best with the truth.
After these chapters, Barna dives into more research within the Christian and religious realm specifically (dealing with Religious Beliefs, Religious Behavior, and Organized Religion). These were the chapters where I really began to doubt many of the numbers being tossed around (and there are seriously a LOT of numbers thrown around). A good deal of the emphasis is on the fact that Christians are essentially no different from non-Christians. Much of the problem here is measuring essentially immeasurable data, but I’m frankly really tired of hearing this. It’s simply not possible, unless you believe questionable research of “representative populations” over the truth of Scripture. True Christians will live changed lives. It’s simply a necessary mark of true belief. That doesn’t mean Christians always behave perfectly in-line with their beliefs (we wouldn’t need to gospel if that was possible), but this picture of no distinction is misleading and simply false.
Barna’s “Reflections” sections at the end of each chapter typically made me cringe as well. He makes many statements that reveal a clear bias (such as when discussing house churches vs. traditional churches). Also, many of his conclusions simply don’t follow, even from the questionable numbers.
As I mentioned earlier, despite my issues with it, there really are some good things about this book, and I think especially the first few chapters would be good for most pastors to read. In the end, though, as Christians, we have the everlasting Word of God to guide our actions and beliefs. We have the eternal, timeless truth of the gospel to share with people, regardless of the latest trends. There are things we can learn about people today, but their thoughts and actions are just the latest manifestations of the truths about people in Scripture. Trends come and go, but the Word of God remains forever. This is a comfort amidst the pessimistic views of the future painted in this book.
September 9, 2012
This is the latest of George Barna's books that report and analyze major trends in America. I think he comes out with a new one about every five years or so. Barna has some strange views on the nature of the church, which he continues to promote here, namely that the institutional church is in decline and that house churches are the up-and-coming thing. The point is much more muted in this book however. In fact, most of the book would be relevant for anyone interested in America's trends, not just Christians (who are clearly the intended audience).
The first several chapters, comprising about half the book, look at American society as a whole: our values, our lifestyles, our family life, and our media consumption. The second half of the book looks specifically at the religious beliefs, patterns, and institutions in America. Reading Barna is a little bit like trying to eat everything at the Chinese buffet - there's just so much there that it's hard to grasp it all. The book is probably best read with a purpose rather than, as I did, just reading it because it is interesting. For the pastor or anyone who is actively involved in ministry or changing the world, there is a lot of really useful stuff, and plenty of data that goes against what you would think intuitively.
The takeaway from the book for me has been little bits of information that come back to me at random times. I find myself drifting back to various things he talked about, like the habit patterns that men have for reconnecting with old friends, which is slightly different from how women reconnect; or the fact that 80% of divorces have at least one partner who does not want the divorce. The big picture is that America still believes deeply in God (80%), but only about half of those who believe are born-again, and only a fraction of those have a biblical worldview.
The first several chapters, comprising about half the book, look at American society as a whole: our values, our lifestyles, our family life, and our media consumption. The second half of the book looks specifically at the religious beliefs, patterns, and institutions in America. Reading Barna is a little bit like trying to eat everything at the Chinese buffet - there's just so much there that it's hard to grasp it all. The book is probably best read with a purpose rather than, as I did, just reading it because it is interesting. For the pastor or anyone who is actively involved in ministry or changing the world, there is a lot of really useful stuff, and plenty of data that goes against what you would think intuitively.
The takeaway from the book for me has been little bits of information that come back to me at random times. I find myself drifting back to various things he talked about, like the habit patterns that men have for reconnecting with old friends, which is slightly different from how women reconnect; or the fact that 80% of divorces have at least one partner who does not want the divorce. The big picture is that America still believes deeply in God (80%), but only about half of those who believe are born-again, and only a fraction of those have a biblical worldview.
August 25, 2013
George Barna lives in Ventura ,California, and this book does what the cover says, " Extensive new research on how our behaviours, attitudes and beliefs are shaping our future-and what we can do about it". It contains survey data and commentary from the States on core beliefs and attitudes, but it isn't immediately obvious that this is from an evangelical Christian view, and that this is more geared towards the leadership of mega churches than companies. It is less good at the prescription for the future than describing the present, and oftimes seems to project present trends than offer alternatives. If you love figures this is a good snap shot of post Chrisitian America.
April 11, 2017
It's Barna, so I have to expect statistics, but it was rather heavy on them without dissecting them more.
These kinds of books also become dated quickly, so a lot of the information is no longer accurate, especially as quickly as times are changing now. Not a critique of the author, but the reality of the genre.
That said, it had a few useful insights, although nothing really new for me except confirming what I already knew or suspected.
And the last chapter was sadly disappointing—all focused on works, no grace. Spend more time at the cross!
These kinds of books also become dated quickly, so a lot of the information is no longer accurate, especially as quickly as times are changing now. Not a critique of the author, but the reality of the genre.
That said, it had a few useful insights, although nothing really new for me except confirming what I already knew or suspected.
And the last chapter was sadly disappointing—all focused on works, no grace. Spend more time at the cross!
February 17, 2016
Not a particularly compelling read, but well presented information on trends from a reliable gleaner. Barna has some good insights into the present and future of America. As a Canadian, not all information provided translates seamlessly to my cultural experience, but enough does to make it certainly worth the read. A wake-up call to the Christian community.
July 28, 2012
An adequate forcast of what is happening in our society concerning morality,or lack there of and where it is leading us to with all the new technologies and less desire to obtain REAL knowledge.A great read!
August 14, 2014
Barna comes through again giving many relevant statistics to help us understand our culture and the church. Throughout the book he also challenges us to take the information and make a difference in our culture, especially through making decisions that will change our own lives.
March 6, 2014
This book really opened my eyes to the shift taking place in our nation.
March 6, 2012
See my review at http://www.BillDahl.net or http://www.ThePorpoiseDivingLife.com
April 28, 2017
A bit heavy on stats... not much on what it all means or how to address post Christian America.
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