TRINITY: Christian Beliefs Research
And Psychological Hypotheses
A 2025 survey revealed a low level of belief in the traditional Christian doctrine of the trinity among American Christians. The belief itself is not directly stated as such in the Bible but was developed by theologians considering God as Heavenly Father, Jesus as God’s Son, and God’s Holy Spirit.
Here’s an excerpt from the survey results post.
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Glendale, AZ —A striking new study from the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University reveals a sharp divide between Americans’ self-reported Christian identity and their belief in a core doctrine: the trinity, where the God of the Bible exists as one inseparable deity in three persons—God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.
Though two out of three Americans call themselves Christian, only 11% of all adults—and 16% of self-proclaimed Christians—affirm this foundational tenet.
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The finding is one of many by the researchers who examine worldview components or beliefs. George Barna offers his interpretation on the importance of this and other beliefs. Of particular interest to psychologists and others interested in human behavior is to consider how such a belief might affect human behavior.
Each Spring, Christian’s celebrate Easter—the significant event at the core of the faith that Jesus’ death and subsequent resurrection counts as evidence that he is the Son of God. Christians thus look forward to a personal resurrection following their own death. One might reasonably wonder if there is less death anxiety among Christians who at least believe that Jesus is a part of the trinitarian God. Perhaps this thought could become a hypothesis worthy of study by clinicians treating anxiety in Christians.
Any thoughtful Christian and non-Christian is reasonably puzzled by the belief and what it means for theology let alone daily life. For instance, there are the curious ideas that the one who preached a gospel of love and lived a life of compassion was one and the same person who killed the mass of humanity in the Genesis flood or ordered the killing of ancient Israel’s neighbors. The point here is, such beliefs in a God who severely punishes disobedience might provoke rather than soothe anxiety. Thus, there is another hypothesis that may be worth a look.
As with any research, more is needed. It might simply be the case that the musing of theologians is lost on people who celebrate a Happy Easter and maintain some pleasant and reassuring folk theology about what happens after life where relatives live on and attend special events as unseen yet proud guests while their descendants navigate the shoals of life on earth. Thus, any present anxiety may be unrelated to their spiritual beliefs about the trinity. But then again, there are a plethora of beliefs to consider. And it may well be true that the presence or absence of some Christian worldview beliefs is relevant to a peaceful life.
Research Link
https://www.arizonachristian.edu/2025/03/26/new_research_reveals_most_christians_reject_trinity/
Read more about the differences between Christian and scientific worldviews in.
WORLDVIEWS APART
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Geoffrey W. Sutton, PhD is Emeritus Professor of Psychology. He retired from a clinical practice and was credentialed in clinical neuropsychology and psychopharmacology. His website is www.suttong.com
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