News

Go Figure

Recent stats on ministry, other religions, and life ethics.

Ministry

78% Americans who believe the presence of a church is “very” (53%) or “somewhat” (25%) positive for their community. Only 5% think the presence is negative.

21% Americans who can’t name a way in which churches contribute positively to their communities.

Source: Barna Research

Other Religions

Americans who believe more people practicing religions other than Christianity is a:

Good thing for society: 24%

Don’t know: 3%

Doesn’t make much difference: 51%

Bad thing for society: 22%

Source: Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Life Ethics

80 Restrictions on abortion enacted in the first half of 2011.

23 Restrictions enacted in 2010.

34 Restrictions enacted in 2005, the previous record holder.

Source: Guttmacher Institute

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Related Elsewhere:

See our earlier “Go Figure” postings from August 2011, July 2011, June 2011, May 2011, April 2011, February 2011, January 2011, December 2010, November 2010, October 2010,September 2010, August 2010, July 2010, June 2010, May 2010, April 2010, March 2010, February 2010, January 2010, December 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.

Public Theology Project

The Gospel at Ground Zero

Wilson's Bookmarks

My Top 5 Books on TV and Movies

Review

The Antidote to Alcohol and Drug Addiction

The Science of Shacking Up

News

Growing in the Word

News

Parental Frights: Can Parents Practice Rites that Scare Children?

Books to Note

A Wordless Presence

Excerpt

The King Jesus Gospel

A Cross at the Bookends

Loving Muslims One at a Time

Saving the Superheroes: Ministering to the Emergency Dispatch

Believers on the MOVE

Muslim Missions: Then & Now

How Christian Leaders Have Changed Since 9/11

Have Muslim-Christian Relations Improved Since 9/11?

Editorial

Battle for the Bible Translation

Readers Write

News

Apologetics Makes a Comeback Among Youth

News

Should Churches Try to Minimize Disruptions?

News

Passages

DeVon Franklin Keeps the Faith in Hollywood

News

Court Rejects Prostitution Restrictions on AIDS Funding

The Lasting Effects of Your School

Criminalizing Circumcision

News

Hundreds Jailed for Sectarian Violence, Turkish Leaders Smooth Way for Christians, & More News

News

Missional Church Mergers

News

Quotation Marks

View issue

Our Latest

News

Gaza War Strains Bible Scholarsโ€™ Model of Christian Conversation

How Hamasโ€™ October 7 terror attack and Israelโ€™s response exhausted a group of evangelical Bible professors pursuing unity on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Being Human

The Four Spaces of Anxiety with Lisa Cuss

Learning to identify reactivity in ourselves and others.

News

Gordon Students Count Cells, Hoping to Unlock Cancer Mysteries

Cutting-edge microscopy research could explain why some get sick while others donโ€™t.

News

Chinese Christians Push to Adopt Children with Disabilities

After China banned international adoptions, some believers want the Chinese church to step up.

News

Global Methodist Bishops to Dance

The new denomination tussles over its authority structureโ€”but also finds surprising points of unity.ย 

Excerpt

The Chinese Christian Who Helped Overcome Illiteracy in Asia

Yan Yangchu taught thousands of peasants to read and write in the early 20th century.

The Bulletin

A Brief Word from Our Sponsor

The Bulletin recaps the 2024 vice presidential debate, discusses global religious persecution, and explores the dynamics of celebrity Christianity.

News

Evangelicals Struggle to Preach Life in the Top Country for Assisted Death

Canadian pastors are lagging behind a national push to expand MAID to those with disabilities and mental health conditions.

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