News

Go Figure

Can an atheist lead a protest from the grave?

249 Letters the fcc received in October 2001 about a bogus rumor that atheist Madalyn Murray O’Hair was trying to ban any mention of God from public airwaves.
6 Number of years O’Hair had been dead by then.
16% All-time high percentage of college freshmen who indicate no religious preference.
66% Percentage of freshmen who pray or meditate at least once a week (67.7 in 2000).
75 Millions of dollars lost by Pat Robertson in a failed bid to open an oil refinery near Los Angeles.
33% Americans who consider themselves born again but not evangelical.

Copyright © 2002 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Related Elsewhere

Articles referenced above include:

Fighting a Myth Of Biblical ProportionsThe Washington Post (Dec. 26, 2001)

Grand Plan Haunts Pat RobertsonThe New York Times (Feb. 3, 2002)

Snopes’ Urban Legend Reference Pages has more information on the continued false rumor about Madalyn Murray O’Hair.

Christianity Today’s past Go Figure columns include:

Changes after September 11 (Nov. 12, 2001)

How many U.S. senior pastors have a gift of evangelism? (Dec. 14, 2001)

More Americans who read the Bible are “at peace” than those who don’t. (Jan. 25, 2002)

Do Christian readers want more fiction or more Bible studies? (Feb. 6, 2002)

Also in this issue

New' China: Same Old Tricks: Top communists, despite their denials, endorse arrest and torture of Chinese Christians by the thousands.

Cover Story

'New' China: Same Old Tricks

Hungry for Something More

Afghanistan: Moonscape with Tents

Pakistan: Christians Hail Electoral Reform

Central Asia: Christians Fear Decade of Freedom Is Over

Philippines: Agency Disputes Rumors about Burnhams

Criswell's 15 Minutes

Bloodsuckers

Quotation marks

The Organ's Revenge

Holy Smoke

Hostage Vigil: Families of Hostage Couple Wait

Hannah's Sisters

Super Bibles

The Interfaith Public Square

Shortchanging Charities

Crucifixion

Hiding from Religion Police

Thou Shalt Be Cool

God's Peculiar People

Post-Truth Society

The Unlikely Activist

News

CCM's Growing Pains

Wire Story

Church vs. State: Churches Seek Help in Abuse Suits

Wire Story

Just War: Christian Ethicists: Afghan War Is Just

Wire Story

Government Rethinks Nazareth Mosque

What China's Secret Documents Reveal

China Persecution Dossier: Zhang Wu-Ji

China Persecution Dossier: Shi Yun-Chao

China Persecution Dossier: Gu Xiangmei

The Battle of Lexington and Wilmore

No Easy Victory

The 'Baptist Pope'

Nuptial Agreements

Adam and Eve in the 21st Century

The Forgotten Founder

Out of Uniform: Flier Shuns Abaya

Faith-Based Setback: Court Strips Faith Works of State Funds

Workplace Bias: Religious Bias Case Back on Track

View issue

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The Russell Moore Show

 Listener Question: Should Communion Be Open to All Believers?

Russell takes a listener’s question about church membership and the Communion table.

Anti-Fragile Faith in Chaotic Times

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The Bulletin

Young Republican Texts, Anglican Split, and George Santos Released

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Review

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A Lutheran pastor identifies five false teachings that threaten to corrupt the church’s public witness.

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