Practising Christians in the US are using artificial intelligence more frequently than the general population and considerably more than pastors, according to new research from Barna.
The study found 44 per cent of practising Christians use AI "very often" or "often" in their personal lives, compared with 31 per cent of US adults overall and 29 per cent of non-practising Christians.
A similar gap emerged in the workplace, where 39 per cent of practising Christians reported using AI often or very often, compared with 26 per cent of adults nationally.
Pastors appear to be adopting the technology more slowly. In a separate Barna survey, 16 per cent said they use AI "often" in their personal lives, while a third use it "sometimes" and 45 per cent said they use it "not very much" or "not at all".
For work, 24 per cent of pastors reported using AI often or very often, compared with 39 per cent of practising Christians.
“Ask people yes-or-no whether they use AI, and the average pastor and the average American look about the same,” said Daniel Copeland, Barna’s vice president of research. “It’s frequency of use where the difference actually shows up.”
He warned that church leaders risk underestimating how embedded the technology has already become in the lives of their congregations.
“Pastors understand that AI is out there, but they’re not immersed in it the way their engaged congregants may be,” Copeland said. “The danger for pastors is underestimating just how normal AI is for the people around them. For most practicing Christians, AI isn’t for occasional use. It’s already woven into how they work, learn and make decisions.”
The research suggests Christians are primarily turning to AI for everyday purposes, including finding information, learning how to complete tasks, seeking advice, following the news and improving their writing.
Religious uses were less common, with around a third of practising Christians saying they had used AI for spiritual guidance or Bible-related questions during the previous month.
However, Barna found nearly half of practising Christians would trust AI with something relating to their spiritual growth.
The findings also highlight a potential challenge for churches. One in three practising Christians said they would like guidance from their pastor on navigating AI, but just 12 per cent of pastors said they felt prepared to provide it.
Copeland said ministers did not necessarily need to become experts in artificial intelligence to respond.
“The better move is for pastors to double down on what they already do well: teaching people how to engage scripture, building real relationships, making space for analog discipleship. That’s what people can lean on when AI gives them an answer that’s incomplete, misleading or just wrong.”
The research forms part of Barna's Faith & AI project, produced in partnership with Gloo as part of its multi-year State of the Church initiative.
