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Christianity Today, March, 2009

Go Figure

Get the numbers on homeschoolers, church conflict, and religion's influence.

Compiled by Ted Olsen | posted 2/24/2009 12:57PM

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850,000 Students ages 5–17 homeschooled in 1999.

1.5 million Students ages 5–17 who are homeschooled today.

83% Homeschooling parents who do so for religious or moral instruction.

(Source: National Center for Education Statistics)

26% Churches that said they have experienced a conflict within the last two years that led some people to leave.

27% Churches that said this in 1998.

5 Decrease in median congregation size (75 people) since 1998.

(Source: National Congregations Study)

67% Americans who say religion is losing its influence on American life.

50% Americans who said this in April 2005.

24% Americans who said this in December 2001.

(Source: Gallup Poll)

Related Elsewhere:

See our earlier Go Figure postings from February 2009, January 2009, 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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March 2009, Vol. 53, No. 3

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ronda

February 25, 2009 10:50am

About the poll -- To what degree is "religion" influential in American life? What does that question mean? Who agrees what "religion" means? I know some who believe religion equals Christianity. I know others who understand religion can mean any organized system of faith. I know others who eschew "religion" for the genuine relationship and faith in Jesus Christ -- regardless of the rituals. So, assuming "religion" is any organized system of faith (and surprisingly, even atheism is beginning to look like an organized religion) then religion continues to have the same influence on American life. What seems to change is which religion has the greater influence.

Ben

February 24, 2009 3:33pm

When we take a position that is simply outside the "location" that a person can imagine a position could be, the result is that we no longer have credibility with that person. Humorously, it works both ways.

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