- Did you know that only 14% of Americans can name the Ten Commandments?- And 40% of Americans can even name a few of the Ten Commandments.
- Exodus 20:3-6: Forbids other gods and idols; new paganism worships self and world.
- Exodus 20:4-6: Condemns making/adoring idols; today’s idols are fame, power, identity.
- Exodus 20:7: Misuse of God’s name; many invoke God while denying His authority.
- Exodus 20:8-11: Sabbath command points to God-given rhythm; modern paganism rejects divine rest and authority.
- Exodus 20:12-17: Upholds honor, life, marriage, property, truth; pagan culture often rejects these in favor of autonomy.
- Isaiah 42:8 — God will not share glory with idols.
- Deuteronomy 4:15-19 — Warns against making carved images or being drawn to nature spirits.
- Deuteronomy 5:7-9 — Restates “no other gods” and forbids idols.
- Psalm 96:5 — All gods of the nations are idols; only Yahweh is God.
- Psalm 115:4-8 — Idols are lifeless and powerless.
- Jeremiah 10:2-5 — Idolatry likened to worthless, man-made objects.
- Romans 1:18-25 — Humanity exchanging the worship of the true God for created things.
- 1 Corinthians 10:14 — “Flee from idolatry.”
- Galatians 5:19-21 — Sorcery/witchcraft listed among works of the flesh.
- Colossians 3:5 — “Put to death … covetousness, which is idolatry.”
- 1 John 5:21 — “Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.”
- Matthew 4:10 — Jesus: “Worship the Lord your God, and serve only Him.”
- John 4:24 — True worshipers must worship in spirit and truth, not in human constructs.
- Acts 17:22-29 — Paul confronts pagan Athens and points to the living God who made all things.
- 1 Thessalonians 1:9 — Turning from idols to serve the living God.
The Bible says, "And God spake all these words, saying,I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.Thou shalt have no other gods before me.Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.Thou shalt not kill.Thou shalt not commit adultery.Thou shalt not steal.Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's." Exod 20: 1 (Also see Deut. 5:1–22)
There is a “new paganism” in the USA today. There is a rise in spiritual beliefs and practices that put creation, self-worship, or worldly ideologies above the God of the Bible, embracing things like personal autonomy as ultimate truth, New Age syncretism, occult practices, nature worship, and celebrity/identity idolatry—contrary to the God revealed in Scripture, who forbids worship of anything other than Him (Exodus 20:3-5). This movement goes “wrong” against Jesus and the Ten Commandments because it replaces the Creator with created things, exalts the self, and redefines morality apart from God’s unchanging standards.
How it manifests today
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Self-worship & autonomy: People are taught to trust their own will/desires as the highest authority rather than God’s Word (Romans 1:25; Jeremiah 17:5).
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Nature/creation worship: Environmentalism and nature veneration become quasi-religious idols, elevating the creature above the Creator (Romans 1:25).
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Occult/New Age practices: Astrology, tarot, channeling, spiritism, and “universal energy” are embraced, which Scripture condemns (Deuteronomy 18:10-12; Isaiah 8:19).
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Identity & celebrity idols: Culture often elevates fame, identity politics, or human achievement to ultimate status, replacing devotion to Christ (Colossians 3:5; 1 John 2:15-17).
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Moral relativism: Truth becomes subjective, eroding God’s commandments and promoting “my truth” over divine law (John 14:6; Psalm 119:142).
Why this contradicts Jesus and the Ten Commandments
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Exodus 20:3-6: Forbids other gods and idols; new paganism worships self and world.
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Exodus 20:4-6: Condemns making/adoring idols; today’s idols are fame, power, identity.
-
Exodus 20:7: Misuse of God’s name; many invoke God while denying His authority.
-
Exodus 20:8-11: Sabbath command points to God-given rhythm; modern paganism rejects divine rest and authority.
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Exodus 20:12-17: Upholds honor, life, marriage, property, truth; pagan culture often rejects these in favor of autonomy.
Bible verses that refute both old and new paganism
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Isaiah 42:8 — God will not share glory with idols.
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Deuteronomy 4:15-19 — Warns against making carved images or being drawn to nature spirits.
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Deuteronomy 5:7-9 — Restates “no other gods” and forbids idols.
-
Psalm 96:5 — All gods of the nations are idols; only Yahweh is God.
-
Psalm 115:4-8 — Idols are lifeless and powerless.
-
Jeremiah 10:2-5 — Idolatry likened to worthless, man-made objects.
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Romans 1:18-25 — Humanity exchanging the worship of the true God for created things.
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1 Corinthians 10:14 — “Flee from idolatry.”
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Galatians 5:19-21 — Sorcery/witchcraft listed among works of the flesh.
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Colossians 3:5 — “Put to death … covetousness, which is idolatry.”
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1 John 5:21 — “Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.”
Verses applying Jesus’ teaching against pagan influence
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Matthew 4:10 — Jesus: “Worship the Lord your God, and serve only Him.”
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John 4:24 — True worshipers must worship in spirit and truth, not in human constructs.
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Acts 17:22-29 — Paul confronts pagan Athens and points to the living God who made all things.
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1 Thessalonians 1:9 — Turning from idols to serve the living God.
George Barna’s research paints a clear picture that what many Christians might describe as “new paganism,” syncretism, and spiritual drift are indeed rising in the United States — though he often frames it as decline in biblical worldview and rise in mixed or self-styled spirituality rather than strictly labeling it “paganism.”
1) Barna on Syncretism and Customized Worldviews
Barna’s latest American Worldview Inventory (AWVI 2024) found that
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92% of American adults now embrace a worldview called Syncretism — a blend of beliefs, practices, and principles drawn from multiple religious and philosophical sources rather than rooted in the Bible alone.
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Barna notes that this fusion of beliefs (mixing ideas from various systems) replaces a coherent biblical framework.
This maps with what many Christians call “new paganism”: drawing spiritual truth from sources other than Scripture, elevating personal experience, reason, emotions, or nature itself as authorities.
At a 2022 conference, Barna said that many Americans construct a “customized worldview” — combining elements from various traditions and personal beliefs — and he described this as a spiritual crisis in the nation.
2) Barna on Declining Biblical View of God
Barna’s 2025 trends forecast emphasizes that millions of Americans are reshaping who God is in their minds:
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Only about half of U.S. adults today believe the God of the Bible is real, and fewer actively follow Him.
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Many reshape God in ways that make Him more comfortable and less demanding, prioritizing what feels good or personally meaningful over biblical authority.
This again reflects a shift away from biblical theism toward spiritual perspectives that echo ancient pagan ideas — where the deity or deities are defined by human preference.
3) Barna on Secularism & Functional Atheism
Barna and his colleagues also describe functional atheism — where people may acknowledge God’s existence in name only, but live as if God doesn’t influence their daily decisions.
This mirrors pagan spirituality’s focus on self, experience, or autonomy as the center of life rather than obedience to God.
George Barna Said Some Good Stuff
These are themes drawn from his research, not direct verbatim quotes:
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“America’s citizens do not hold a biblical worldview and instead add world-centered ideas.” — Barna on customized syncretic thinking.
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“Placing the burden of uniting this divided country on politics alone is unrealistic — only a spiritual awakening rooted in truth can restore purpose.” — Barna on the need for spiritual renewal.
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“Millions believe that God exists… yet fewer truly follow Him or let Him shape their lives.” — Barna on the shift from belief to functional theism.
Barna Research Findings that Look Like “New Paganism”
| - Trend Identified | - How It Resembles “New Paganism” |
|---|---|
| Syncretism — 92% embrace blended belief systems | Replaces biblical exclusivity with mixed spirituality |
| Redefining God to be less demanding | Aligns with self-constructed deities and comfort-based spirituality |
| Reliance on personal experience over Scripture | Mirrors New Age and pagan focus on self revelation |
| Functional atheism | Living as if God doesn’t govern moral truth |
Bible Verses that Speak Against New Pagan Patterns
Here are key Scriptures countering the worldview shifts Barna describes:
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Syncretism / False Worship
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“You shall have no other gods before Me.” — Exodus 20:3
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“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” — Romans 12:2
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Redefining God & Personal Ideology
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“…no one knows the Father except the Son…” — Matthew 11:27
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“Jesus said, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life.’” — John 14:6
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Rejecting Biblical Authority
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“All Scripture is God-breathed and useful…” — 2 Timothy 3:16–17
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“Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.” — John 17:17
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Functional Atheism / Living Without God
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“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.” — Proverbs 9:10
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“Without Me you can do nothing.” — John 15:5
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Idolatry of Self / Autonomy
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“For whoever wants to save his life will lose it…” — Mark 8:35
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“Do not love the world or the things in the world.” — 1 John 2:15–17
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