\nNumber of places in the United States named after something in the Bible:\n61,742<\/p>\n\n
Trivial Pursuit Family Edition<\/p>\n
\nBooks about the O. J. Simpson case already in print, forthcoming, or under\ncontract: 50<\/p>\n\n
\nNumber of new suspects: 0<\/p>\n\n
Parade (12\/31\/95)<\/p>\n
\nThe average cost of a funeral in the U.S.: $4,500<\/p>\n\n
National Funeral Directors Association, \ncited in USA Today (10\/31\/95)<\/p>\n
\nPollster Louis Harris has written, “The idea that half of American marriages\nare doomed is one of the most specious pieces of statistical nonsense ever\nperpetuated in modern times.”<\/p>\n\n
\nIt all began when the Census Bureau noted that during one year, there were\n2.4 million marriages and 1.2 million divorces. Someone did the math without\ncalculating the 54 million marriages already in existence, and presto, a\nridiculous but quotable statistic was born.<\/p>\n\n
\nHarris concludes, “Only one out of eight marriages will end in divorce. In\nany single year, only about 2 percent of existing marriages will break up.”<\/p>\n\n
J. Allan Petersen in Better Families<\/p>\n
\nStates offering no-fault divorce in 1957: 1<\/p>\n\n
\nStates offering no-fault divorce in 1995: 50<\/p>\n\n
USA Today (1\/25\/96)<\/p>\n
\nPercentage of unchurched teens who think it is too easy to get a divorce:\n75<\/p>\n\n
\nPercentage of unchurched teens who consider it likely they will divorce one\nday: 44<\/p>\n\n
Emerging Trends (10\/95)<\/p>\n
\nPercentage of pastors who said Christians in their church were effectively\nprepared for evangelism: 12<\/p>\n\n
\nPercentage of Christians who actively share their faith and wish they had\nbetter training in evangelism: 85<\/p>\n\n
Barna Research Group, cited in NetFax (11\/13\/95)<\/p>\n
\nNumber of Americans who visit U.S. casinos each year: 90,000,000<\/p>\n\n
Bottom Line Personal (11\/1\/95)<\/p>\n
\nEstimated amount wagered per visit: $25-$100<\/p>\n\n
\nTotal amount wagered in all legal forms of gambling in the U.S. in 1994:\n$482 billion<\/p>\n\n
U. S. News & World Report (1\/15\/96)<\/p>\n
\nBy contrast, the approximate cost to Americans for the Gulf War: $100 billion<\/p>\n
cited by Elaine Sciolino in The Outlaw State<\/p>\n
\nSixty percent of kids ages 9-13 say they have a hero. The top five categories\nfor their heroes:<\/p>\n\n
\n1. Relatives\/Friends 52.9<\/p>\n\n
\n2. Athletes 31.5<\/p>\n\n
\n3. Religious Figures 11.3<\/p>\n\n
\n4. Fictional Characters 11.3<\/p>\n\n
\n5. Political\/Historical 8.7<\/p>\n\n
Sports Illustrated For Kids, \ncited in USA Today (3\/4\/95)<\/p>\n\n
\nAnnual cost of running red lights (in medical bills, car repairs, etc.):\n$7 billion<\/p>\n\n
\nAverage amount of time saved by running a red light: 50 seconds<\/p>\n\n
U. S. Department of Transportation, \ncited in Hope Health Letter (2\/96)<\/p>\n
1996 by Christianity Today\/LEADERSHIP journal<\/p>\n