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Christianity Today, January, 2009 |

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Get the numbers on suicide, world affairs, and the Amish.

Compiled by Ted Olsen | posted 12/30/2008 08:42AM

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5% Increase in the U.S. suicide rate since 1999.

16% Increase in the U.S. suicide rate among those ages 40-64.

(Source: Los Angeles Times)

68% Americans who attend religious services at least once a week who say that the U.S. has a moral obligation to be involved in world affairs.

54% Americans who attend religious services less than weekly who agree.

(Source: Religion & Ethics Newsweekly)

231,000 Amish population in the U.S.

84% Growth in the Amish population between 1992 and 2008.

(Source: Religion News Service)

Related Elsewhere:

See our earlier Go Figure postings from December 2008, November 2008, October 2008, September 2008, August 2008, July 2008, June 2008, May 2008, April 2008, March 2008, February 2008, January 2008, December 2007, November 2007, October 2007, September 2007, and earlier issues.

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January 2009, Vol. 53, No. 1

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Displaying 1 - 3 of 6 comments.

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Randal Kay

Posted: January 02, 2009 11:27 AM


It's kind of like church-planting. It's easier to double when you are dealing with smaller numbers. If you have 10 people one week, and add ten then you've doubled your attendance in one week. But try to do that with a church of 1,000. The Amish had smaller numbers to start with so their growth percentage can look greater. At least, I think it might work that way. ;o)

H. D. Schmidt

Posted: December 31, 2008 6:32 AM

The USA was actually given birth under God's guidance for really the purpose to be fully involvend in world affairs! However, absoutely not the way America is doing it, period! Actually, the way America is involving itself in world affairs, America is now the creator of problems in the world, just like all previous Empires. If America is not now the most far-reaching and abusive Empire,' let that a one stand up and rebut my comment, please? America has now fully equiped itself, with the ingredients that of an Empire: 1) Borders open for all to come in, with immigration unchecked. 2) The most powerful war machinery of/in their time. In closing, the Founding Fathers are presently weeping in their graves, in a figure of speech, as they see their America once again an Empire, but only more powerful and far-reaching that British Empire ever was; the one Empire, a few ragtag American young kicked them out of America. Sadly, the cause of Christ is being sacrificed daily, by America!!

Mary R.

Posted: December 31, 2008 5:38 AM


They are more open to medical care than they use to be. At one time many women and babies died at the time of child birth. They are also receiving medical care for other conditions that at one time they would have not received.

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