An individual whose worldview is Syncretism, it means they have embraced elements of multiple worldviews measured in this survey: Biblical Theism (or a biblical worldview), Secular Humanism, Postmodernism, Moralistic Therapeutic Deism, Nihilism, Marxism (along with its offshoot, Critical Theory) and Eastern Mysticism (also known as Pantheism and “New Age”).
If an individual understood the substance of these seven worldviews and were asked to identify which one best represented their personal worldview, the answer would be “none of the above.” Why? Because they have drawn elements from multiple worldviews. No single worldview reflects most of their beliefs and behaviors. Syncretism, in contrast, is the blending of two or more of these thought systems. Rather than being a single cohesive, coherent worldview, this worldview is a patchwork of conflicting, often irreconcilable beliefs and values used to navigate life.
Syncretism has posed serious challenges for Christianity throughout its history. As far back as the early church in Rome, Christian teaching often was mixed with other religious and cultural beliefs, producing the amalgam known as Syncretism.
Syncretism is the most common worldview among Americans today, with more than nine out of 10 American adults (94%) embracing this impure, unrecognizable worldview that blends ideas from these multiple perspectives.
Why do so few Americans have a coherent worldview? One important reason is that Americans are not directly taught about worldview as part of their education. Worldview tends to develop by default. People generally adopt worldview beliefs and behaviors that they encounter directly from the culture around them–through arts and entertainment, social media, news reports, political statements made by public leaders, and through conversations and experiences with other people.
When it comes to God, human nature, morals and values, the nature of truth, and other worldview concepts, an individual with a Syncretistic worldview tends to choose the most appealing elements of the competing worldviews available in contemporary culture based on what feels comfortable or seems most convenient.
As a result, rather than consciously developing an internally consistent and philosophically coherent perspective on life, the beliefs and behaviors in Syncretism are often inconsistent, or even contradictory.
Because a worldview is a combination of beliefs and related behaviors, it is possible for people to possess a substantial number of beliefs or behaviors that reflect a particular worldview, but not a sufficient number of both to qualify as an adherent of that worldview.
An example is the Biblical Worldview. Although just 4% of adults have a sufficient number of beliefs as well as behaviors to qualify as having that worldview, another 14% of all adults have either enough biblical beliefs or biblical behaviors to meet part of the requirement of a biblical worldview, but lack the combination of both.
Similarly, a substantial proportion of adults possess a moderately high number of beliefs or behaviors that meet various worldview specifications, but not quite enough to qualify as being a true adherent of that worldview. Examples of this include the fact that many people have a less than substantial number of Moralistic Therapeutic Deism beliefs and behaviors, yet 1% are genuine adherents of that perspective.
Even if an individual’s predominant worldview is Syncretism, it is still possible for some of their worldview to reflect biblical thinking. The most heavily relied upon worldviews in America are Secular Humanism (6% of U.S, adults either lean strongly or moderately toward its specific beliefs and behaviors) and the Biblical Worldview (23% lean strongly or moderately toward its beliefs and behaviors). Among the other worldviews, the percentage of adults who lean strongly or moderately toward specific beliefs and behaviors include: Moralistic Therapeutic Deism (4%); Postmodernism (2%); Nihilism (1%); Eastern Mysticism (1%); and Marxism (1%).
Syncretism is best addressed by consciously learning and applying the biblical worldview across the eight categories measured by the survey (Bible, Truth and Morals; Faith Practices; Family, Value of Life; God, Creation, History; Human Character and Nature; Lifestyle, Behavior, Relationships; Purpose, Calling; Sin, Salvation, God Relationship).