53% of Evangelicals Think the Holy Spirit Is a Force (The State of Theology)
2 Min Read
Over the years, The State of Theology survey from Ligonier Ministries has uncovered the startling truth about what people in America actually believe.
One concerning finding from the 2025 survey is that 53% of evangelicals agree with the statement, “The Holy Spirit is a force but is not a personal being.”
This data reflects no minor theological error. It shows a significant misunderstanding of who God is in His triune nature and how He reveals Himself in Scripture.
Interestingly, nearly all evangelicals surveyed (98%) affirm the statement, “There is one true God in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.” These contradictory responses highlight doctrinal confusion among many in the church. Yet Scripture is clear: the Holy Spirit is not an impersonal force—He is the third person of the Trinity.
Watch as Stephen Nichols and Thomas Brewer discuss what the Bible teaches about the Holy Spirit.
Download the Free Study Guide
Gather a group from your church or community to discuss the significance of these results from the 2025 State of Theology survey with the free digital study guide. Each section includes discussion questions and biblical insights to guide your conversations.
More Resources on the Holy Spirit
R.C. Sproul founded Ligonier Ministries to help Christians know who God is and who they are. Here are several resources from Ligonier addressing the Bible’s teaching on the Holy Spirit.
- Who Is the Holy Spirit? booklet by R.C. Sproul
- Everyone’s a Theologian book by R.C. Sproul
- “What Is the Procession of the Holy Spirit?” article by Robert Letham
- “Who Is the Holy Spirit?” article by Robert Rothwell
- “Another Helper,” episode of Things Unseen