News

Go Figure

Get the numbers on homeschoolers, church conflict, and religion’s influence.

850,000   Students ages 5–17 homeschooled in 1999.

1.5 million   Students ages 5–17 who are homeschooled today.

83%   Homeschooling parents who do so for religious or moral instruction.

(Source: National Center for Education Statistics)

26%   Churches that said they have experienced a conflict within the last two years that led some people to leave.

27%   Churches that said this in 1998.

5   Decrease in median congregation size (75 people) since 1998.

(Source: National Congregations Study)

67%   Americans who say religion is losing its influence on American life.

50%   Americans who said this in April 2005.

24%   Americans who said this in December 2001.

(Source: Gallup Poll)

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Related Elsewhere:

See our earlier Go Figure postings from February 2009, January 2009, December 2008, November 2008, October 2008, September 2008, August 2008, July 2008, June 2008, May 2008, April 2008, March 2008, February 2008, January 2008, December 2007, November 2007, October 2007, September 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

The Depression Epidemic

Dan G. Blazer

Editorial

Year of the Study Bible

A Christianity Today Editorial

Books Uncommon and Offbeat

John Wilson, editor of 'Books and Culture'

Review

Looking Evil in the Face

Matthew Nickoloff

Hiding What They Seek

Review

Hints of the Trinity

Josh Hurst

News

Making the Local Church a Hero

My Top 5 Resources for Lent

Standing with the Desolate

Ziya Meral

News

Devilish and Divine

Mark Moring

Review

Knowing Your Place

Bill McKibben

The Other Side of Church Growth

News

IrishWatch

Derek (O')Keefe

Staring into the Abyss

The Great Passing On

Editorial

Reducing Abortion for Real

A Christianity Today Editorial

News

Long Live the Law

News

The Radical Conservative

News

Praying for 'Our Daily Bread'

Compiled by Richard A. Kauffman

Connecting to Hope

Interview by Derek R. Keefe

When You're Depressed

Mark R. McMinn

My Life with Antidepressants

Joel Scandrett

Light When All Is Dark

Kathryn Greene-McCreight

News

A Dream That Won't Die

News

News Briefs: March 01, 2009

Compiled by CT Staff

Readers Write

News

You've Got Jail

Susan Wunderink

News

Passages

Compiled by CT Staff

News

Conscience Clashes

Ken Walker

News

Quieter Killings

Sarah Pulliam

News

Saving Souls for Less

Bobby Ross Jr.

News

Capital Closures in Myanmar

Compass Direct News

News

Quotation Marks

News

God in Gaza

View issue

Our Latest

News

Refugee Arrests Shatter Sense of Safety in Minnesota

A federal judge ruled that ICE can no longer arrest legally admitted refugees in the state, many of whom are persecuted Christians. But damage has been done.

Inside the Ministry

The Big Tent Initiative

Anne Kerhoulas

The Big Tent Initiative is building bridges across the American Church.

Nicki Minaj Is Right on Persecution—But Neglects Suffering Closer to Home

Chris Butler

The rapper’s political advocacy seems sincere, but she has fallen into political tribalism.

This Winter, Be Bored

This slow and quiet season is an opportunity to hear anew from God.

Christian Devotion Does Not Undermine Christian Charity

Brett Vanderzee

When Christians neglect the poor and oppressed, it’s not because we love Jesus too much but because we love him too little.

The Just Life with Benjamin Watson

Ruth Malhotra: The Woman Who Told The Truth About Ravi Zacharias

The harrowing story of whistleblowing from the inside.

Public Theology Project

What Happens When You Look Away from the Minneapolis Shootings

Ask not what will happen to your country—although that’s of grave importance. Ask what will happen to you.

How to Witness Well in Post-Christian America

Darrell Bock

We must engage the truth of the gospel with relationship and respect.

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