News

Go Figure

Recent statistics on abortions and births in the U.S., what voters mean by “moral values,” embezzlement, and more.

1.2 million   Abortions performed in the United States in 2005, the most recent year for which data are available. (They are down 25% since 1990).

4.3 million   U.S. births in 2006, the highest number since 1961.

(Sources: Guttmacher Institute, Associated Press)

46%   Voters who say “moral values” are “very important” when deciding whom to vote for (85% say “important”).

30%   Of those who say “moral values” are very important, those who mean candidates’ position on issues like abortion (14%) or gay rights (3%).

78%   Of those who say “moral values” are very important, those who mean personal characteristics of the candidates, like honesty (28%) and integrity (11%).

(Source: Harris Interactive)

83%   Americans who believe the display of a nativity scene on city property, such as city hall, should be legal.

60%   Americans who believe the display of a scene honoring Islam on city property should be legal during Ramadan. Evangelicals and weekly churchgoers are not significantly more or less likely to show this disparity.

(Source: Ellison Research)

$24 billion   Projected embezzlement from churches and Christian institutions in 2008.

$23 billion   Income of global foreign missions in 2008.

(Source: International Bulletin of Missionary Research)

Related Elsewhere:

See our earlier Go Figure postings from February 2008, January 2008, December 2007, November 2007, October 2007, September 2007, August 2007, July 2007, June 2007, May 2007, April 2007, March 2007, 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.

Cover Story

Help for the Sexually Desperate

Carbonated Holiness

News

Sacred Harp Resurgence

News

Not Your Father's L'Abri

The Grace Escape

IRS Rules to Remember

California Dreams

Bookmarks

Why Evangelize the Jews?

Fiction from the Headlines

News

Bearing the Silence of God

Starter Books on Ancient-Future Faith

Death and Resurrection

Count Your Surprises

New Atheists Are Not Great

News

Why Culture War May Never End

Our Geopolitical Moment

Review

Haunting Salvation

News

Church in State

Porn's Stranglehold

'These Guys Are Really Screwed Up'

Review

Pushing Daises

What Makes a Church Missional?

News

News Briefs: March 01, 2008

Editorial

Hating Hillary

The 8 Marks of a Robust Gospel

News

What <em>Reveal</em> Reveals

News

Passages

News

Quotation Marks

Q&A: John Dilulio

A Kinder, Gentler Shari'ah?

News

Capital Doubts

$300K Settlement

News

Premeditated Mobs

News

Taliban Targets

News

Foreign Correspondence

News

Post-Mayhem Woes

View issue

Our Latest

The National Guard Debate Needs a Dose of Honesty

Criticizing federal overreach while remaining silent about local failures does not serve the cause of justice.

News

Saudi Arabian Prison Frees Kenyan After ‘Blood Money’ Payout

A Christian mother relied on the Muslim practice of “diyat” to bring her son home alive.

Why Fans Trust Forrest Frank

The enormously popular Christian artist says he experienced miraculous healing. His parasocial friends say “amen.”

How a Missionary Family in Lebanon Produced an American Hero

Bill Eddy’s Arabic acumen served US interests and forged Middle East ties.

Eight Divine Names in One Glorious Passage

Hebrew terms for God appear across the Old Testament. The prophet Isaiah brings them all together.

The Bulletin

Venezuelan Boat Attack, Payday Loans, and USAID Fire Sale

The Bulletin discusses the attack on an alleged Venezuelan drug boat, predatory lending, and the destruction of items from cancelled USAID projects.

Why an Early American Missionary Family Was Beloved in Lebanon

Over five decades of multigenerational ministry, the Eddys pioneered health and educational outreach.

Are Christians Hotter?

The social media “Jesus glow” trend is just another kind of prosperity gospel.

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