VENTURA, Calif. -- Changes in America's faith are hiding below the surface, according to a report by Barna Research Group.

Although changes across groups tend to cancel each other out, resulting in stable national norms, religious researcher George Barna has identified transitions among various age, ethnic and geographic subgroups.

Barna compared findings of the group's annual faith-tracking survey to previous studies. Data was analyzed in relation to more than 60 subgroups of the population, resulting in a detailed understanding of faith dynamics in the United States.

Among the changes Barna found:

• Blacks are redefining their faith. Fewer are likely to read the Bible or to share their faith with non-believers today than they were three years ago. Sunday School attendance also has dropped.
• Baby Busters, born between 1965 and 1983, are slowly but steadily embracing family values and taking part in religious activities.
• Older Americans, hampered by limited mobility and declining health, are dropping out of organized faith activities, such as attending church, evangelizing and volunteering.
• Southerners are more likely to attend weekly church services, although their numbers have dropped six percentage points since 1997. The number of adults in the South who can be classified as born-again Christians has dropped nine points.
• Evangelicals, distinguished by their commitment to biblical theology, are more likely to attend Sunday school, share their faith, belong to a small group, volunteer at their church and attend weekly services.
• Catholics are embracing liberal theological perspectives. Fewer believe God is the all-knowing and all-powerful creator, while more believe Satan is simply a symbol of evil. Fewer "strongly disagree" that Jesus Christ sinned.

Barna maintains the underlying changes represent great opportunity for faith groups. His research shows that four out five adults claim their religious faith is "very important" and that most Americans try to incorporate some faith-based decision making into their daily lives.