Go Figure

Compiled by Ted Olsen

Stats on clergy jobs, faith and politics, and the abortion debate’s “new normal.”

Unemployment

1.2%: Unemployment rate among U.S. clergy.

9.9%: National unemployment rate (in April 2010).

5,000: Clergy looking for jobs in 2009.

2,000: Clergy looking for jobs in 2005.

Source:

The Wall Street Journal

Faith-Based

6+: Staff on the Democratic National Committee’s faith outreach team in 2008.

1: Staff (part-time) today.

Source:

The Washington Post

Church-State

46%: Americans who say the Supreme Court has been too hostile toward religion.

13%: Americans who say the Supreme Court has been too friendly toward it.

Source: Rasmussen Reports

Abortion

3: Consecutive Gallup polls that found more Americans calling themselves pro-life than pro-choice, leading the polling group to call it the “new normal.”

50%: Americans who say that abortion is morally wrong, down from 56% in 2009.

Source: Gallup

Related Elsewhere:

See our earlier Go Figure postings from June 2010, May 2010, April 2010, 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, and earlier issues.

- More from Ted Olsen

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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.

Christianity Today July, 2010

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