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

Copyright © 2010 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

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.

Our Latest

The Bulletin

Sunday Afternoon Reads: The Case for Kids

Leslie Leyland Fields reads her piece about being the mom of six kids amidst our country’s declining birth rate.

Come, Thou Long-Expected Spirit

W. David O. Taylor

The Holy Spirit is present throughout the Nativity story. So why is the third person of the Trinity often missing from our Christmas carols?

The Bulletin

Brown University Shooting and The Last Republican

Mike Cosper, Clarissa Moll

Violence at Brown, and former Rep. Adam Kinzinger talks about Jan 6, courage, and global affairs.

News

Amid Fear of Attacks, Many Nigerians Mute Christmas

Emmanuel Nwachukwu

One pastor has canceled celebrations and will only reveal the location of the Christmas service last-minute.

A Time of Moral Indignation

CT reports on civil rights, the “death of God” theology, and an escalating conflict in Vietnam.

A Heartwarming Book on Sin

Three books on theology to read this month.

Analysis

Bondi Beach Shooting Compels Christians to Stand with Jews

The Bulletin with Josh Stanton and Robert Stearns

Jewish-Christian friendships offer solace and solidarity after antisemitic violence.

Who Writes History When There Is No Winner?

Lebanon’s civil war is a taboo subject. A group of Christians and Muslims is broaching it.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube