News

Go Figure

Stats on Obama, how the generations pray, and more.

Politics

Impressions of President Obama

Response from all Americans:

21%: He’s more liberal than I expected

10%: He’s more conservative than I expected

Response from evangelicals

25%: More liberal than expected

4%: More conservative than expected

Response from atheists and agnostics

15%: More liberal than expected

23%: More conservative than expected

Source: Barna Research

Getting Older

41%

Millennials (born 1981 or later) who pray daily.

42%

Xers who prayed daily in the late 1990s.

54%

Gen Xers (born 1965-80) who pray daily now.

47%

Boomers (born 1946-64) who prayed daily in the early 1980s.

62%

Boomers who pray daily now.

Source: Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life

Theology

39%

Presbyterian Church (USA) members who believe that only followers of Jesus Christ can be saved. (36% disagree.)

35%

PCUSA pastors who believe that only followers of Jesus Christ can be saved (45% disagree.)

Source: The Presbyterian Panel

Preaching

21%

Protestant pastors who named Billy Graham among “the top three living Christian preachers that most influence” them. Others in the top 10: Charles Swindoll, Charles Stanley ,Rick Warren, John Mac Arthur, Barbara Brown Taylor, David Jeremiah, Max Lucado, John Piper, and Andy Stanley.

Source: Lifeway Research

Advertising

What was the message of Focus on the Family’s Tim Tebow Super Bowl Ad?

38%: Abortion is wrong

19%: Family is important

9%: Miracles happen

5%: Parent-child relationships are important

2%: Visit Focus’s website

1%: Think about healthcare issues

7%: Other

20%: I can’t even guess.

Notes: Responses are from Super Bowl Sunday and the following three days.

Source: Barna Research

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Related Elsewhere:

See our earlier Go Figure postings from March 2010, February 2010, January 2010, December 2009, November 2009, October 2009, September 2009, August 2009, July 2009, June 2009, May 2009, April 2009, March 2009, February 2009, and earlier issues.

Also in this issue

The CT archives are a rich treasure of biblical wisdom and insight from our past. Some things we would say differently today, and some stances we've changed. But overall, we're amazed at how relevant so much of this content is. We trust that you'll find it a helpful resource.

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Excerpt

There’s No Such Thing as a ‘Proper’ Christmas Carol

As we learn from the surprising journeys of several holiday classics, the term defies easy definition.

Advent Calls Us Out of Our Despair

Sitting in the dark helps us truly appreciate the light.

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