Over 60% of churchgoers worried about AI’s influence on Christianity, survey shows

April 27, 2026

A new survey from Lifeway Research shows that three in five Protestant churchgoers in the United States say they are worried about artificial intelligence’s influence on Christianity.

The Christian Post reports that the new Lifeway Research study found deep divisions within congregations over whether pastors should use the technology to prepare their sermons.

According to researchers, 61% of the churchgoers surveyed expressed concern about AI’s effect on the faith, including 67% of Evangelicals compared with 55% of those without Evangelical beliefs.

Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research, said in a statement, “Caution is an instinctive reaction to new things, and pastors and churchgoers share some concerns around AI.”

McConnell added, “The majority of younger churchgoers would welcome hearing biblical principles applied to AI in a sermon to help them shape their perspective on it.”

Researchers say about 44% of churchgoers see nothing wrong with pastors using AI to prepare sermons, while 43% are opposed, including 24% who disagreed strongly. A further 13% were undecided.

Opinions were divided on whether AI should be the subject of a sermon with 42% saying they would find value in a sermon applying biblical principles to artificial intelligence, compared to 43% who were opposed.

Younger churchgoers were found to be more receptive to the idea with respondents ages 18 to 29 and 30 to 49 more likely than those 50 and older to say such a sermon would be worthwhile.

A majority of pastors surveyed said they were worried that those using AI in their work were not disclosing it as a collaborator.

According to the Christian Post, the study is based on two polls: a phone survey of 1,003 Protestant pastors conducted in September 2025, and an online survey of 1,200 American Protestant churchgoers conducted last September.  

Photo: top, Credit: Unsplash/Solen Feyissa