It isn't easy being a Christian nowadays, especially with anti-religious sentiments and secularism becoming more and more dominant.
However, a new research conducted by the Barna Group showed that Christians are remaining positive about their place in society despite the many trials and challenges they face.
Barna conducted the study recently for David Kinnaman's new book called "Good Faith," according to CBN News. Barna found out that Christians do feel that they are misunderstood, persecuted, and marginalised in society. But even though they feel that way, they still strongly believe that their faith is crucial and consider it "a force for good in today's world."
Around 54 percent of the respondents feel misunderstood when it comes to living out their faith in the world today, while 52 percent say they feel persecuted.
Moreover, 44 percent feel marginalised; 38 percent feel silenced, 31 percent are afraid to speak up, while 23 percent are afraid to look stupid.
The research polled the broadest possible segment of practicing Christians (Catholics, evangelicals, and mainline churchgoers). The respondents said no matter what people think of their faith, they feel that being good Christians is "a primarily positive contribution to society."
A whopping 98 percent of evangelicals call their faith a force for good, while 93 percent "believe they are essential."
Another study conducted by University of Virginia sociologists W. Bradford Wilcox and Nicholas Wolfinger of the University of Utah for their book "Soul Mates: Religion, Sex, Love, and Marriage Among African Americans and Latinos" revealed that African-American and Latino couples who go to church together tend to have happier relationships and more pleasant family life, reported NBC9.
"One big reason so many families of colour are thriving is that they tend to be more religious than the average American," said Wilcox. "Our book shows that churches are achieving an important measure of success in fostering lower rates of non-marital childbearing, more marriage, and happier relationships among blacks and Latinos."
