What’s your purpose in life? A lot of Christians have a worldly answer that question.
A survey from the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University reveals that while the majority of American Christians believe life has a specific purpose, less than one-fifth say life’s purpose is knowing and loving God.
These percentages reveal that the vast majority of Americans — including those who identify as Christians — appear to be seeking meaning without God at the center of their thinking.
The study shows that Americans differ significantly as to how they define their life’s purpose. The most widely-held view among 23% of survey respondents is “experiencing happiness and fulfillment” is the ultimate reason for living.
About 18% indicated that their life’s purpose was to evolve to their “full potential physically, intellectually, emotionally and spiritually.”
Another 10% of those surveyed said their purpose in life is “furthering the development of humanity” or “living a long, healthy life.”
One-quarter of Americans defined success as “living a healthy, productive, and safe life.” Approximately one-fifth of adults said that success was either “being a good person” or living a lifestyle of “consistent obedience to God.”
The survey also found that among churchgoing adults, no Christian church affiliation claimed a majority who believed that life success involves “consistent obedience to God.”