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Revealing Statistics:

America in Decline

An ongoing extensive online collections of statistics, which collection began around 1999, enabled by the grace of God. This is the full page and latest (3-1-10) version. for older (1-20-10) printable black and white PDF file, click HERE. To contact web master email here ( referenced new stats will be reviewed for inclusion).

Subtitle:

Present Costs of the War against God

As this page helps to show, an undeclared war is being waged against God which has and is costing America mightily in souls, lives and money. While these statistics mainly help to quantify the earthly expenses of such, those who war against the Almighty will also realize a cost that is far, far worse and eternal, as souls that reject the Lord Jesus Christ demonstrate they love darkness over light, sin over Him, and cannot be allowed into Heaven. Rather "The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God" (Ps. 9:17) While 81% of Americans in a recent poll said this nation is on the wrong track (New York Times/CBS News poll April 2008), few realize that what is most critical is our relationship and obedience to almighty GOD.

Statistics which help reveal the spiritual, moral, physical, and economic condition of America

The LORD does not need statistics, for “the eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good” (Prv. 15:3), and all of our works are recorded by Him, from the first to the last. But we should love righteousnesses and hate evil, and those who do should warn the wicked (Ezek. 33:8; Jn. 7:7; Eph. 5:11), and seek to turn many to righteousness (Dan. 12:3). And as every soul and nation shall answer for their faith and deeds (2Chr. 26:11; Mt, 25:31-46; 2Cor. 5:10; Rev. 20:11-15) — and because Hell is real — it is my prayer that this study may help awaken us to “seek the LORD while He may be found,” that we may be holy ourselves and may intercede for this nation as well as for others, that as many as possible may turn from sin to the risen LORD Jesus, and find salvation through faith in Him who died for us and rose again. To God be the glory!

“If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land (2Chr. 7:14).

Please read first:

Notes on this compilation

This compilation of statistics (stats), began around 1999 as an informal collection of statistics for my household, by an inexperienced researcher – me! So this is not a professional or wholly authoritative compilation, and my source attribution methodology was/is unorthodox, but provides more immediate access to the source. The statistics primarily cover from 1992 to 2008, though a few stats go back further. As I do endeavor to provide a source for every statistic, I have listed such (and or the link) from which i found the statistics directly after them. For many consecutive statistical listings from the same source I place an up arrow (^) to the aforementioned source, along with the source number which corresponds to the bibliography (^¹ ) at the end of each section. For such there is also a master list after section 16.

All statistics, unless otherwise noted, are for the United States and should allow for at least a small degree of error (i think pollsters usually allow for up to 5% error margin). You might want to do your own research, such as through an online search engine like Google for more information. While the URLs of sources are usually provided, mostly are not live, or deep linked, due to their own my concerns. Links were valid when listed, though some may be "dead" at a later time. See special note here on Barna.org links.

All statistics here, outside those from the Government, are copyrighted, and (without permission) can only be used in "Fair Use" applications. That is, the best i understand it (feel free to correct me), for educational or commentary works, or critical reviews, and wherein only a small percentage of the entire work is quoted (and proper accreditation is provided). I believe statistics themselves are not necessarily copyrighted, but their compilation is, and permission may need to be granted when using many quotes from one source (such as Barna Research, which i originally did). This work itself is not to be used for commercial enterprise, and any republishing of these statistics should be credited to their listed or their most original source, if found.

Commentary

This collection is commented on from a Christian perspective, helping to reveal the spiritual condition of America, and the cost of spurning the right ways of the Lord to follow our own lusts. Overall, it indicates how the “mighty are fallen,” and warns of where America is surely heading, with the intent that we “search and try our ways and turn again to the Lord” (Lam. 3:40). And again, it is my prayer than all souls will give their sins and their life to the LORD Jesus, the Son of the living God, who gave Himself for our sins and rose again. For more on that most important decision, click HERE

Disclaimer: I DO APPRECIATE BEING ABLE TO FIND AS WELL AS PROVIDE THESE STATISTICS, BUT LINKS TO OTHER SITES DOES NOT IMPLY THAT I RECOMMEND ALL OF THE CONTENT THEY OFFER, OR THE CONCLUSIONS OF THAT SOURCE. All advice or moral positions are to be examined in the light of the Word of God, the Bible (1 Thessalonians 5:21), by faith in which we find true liberty, with it's necessary and beneficial limits. Praise the Lord!

Press F11 to view in full screen in most browsers. To adjust font size for viewing in Firefox or in Internet Explorer, hold down the Ctrl key and tap the + or – key. For printing, this study runs about 33 or more legal size pages in it's original format.

General Church and spiritual Statistics

Most statistics in this next section are copyright from THE BARNA GROUP, LTD.1957 EASTMAN AVE. SUITE B VENTURA, CALIFORNIA 93003 UNITED STATES VOICE: (805) 639-0000 FAX: (805) 658-7298. As of this update (7-15-09) Bara.org seems to have changed their site so that the older links (which most are) listed here no longer go to their pages. That was unexpected, but an employee last year stated they were working on rectifying it. You can try the WayBackMachine of the Internet Archive for them if you want.

For clarification within Barna surveys, the term “Christian” is applied to those whom Barna (in italics) says

“..consider themselves to be Christian but either do not have a 'personal commitment to Jesus Christ' or do not believe that they will experience eternal favor with God based solely on His grace and mercy.”

““Born again' Christians are those who say they 'have made a personal commitment to Christ that is important in their life today and also say that when they die they know they will go to Heaven solely because they have confessed their sins and accepted Jesus Christ as their savior.'

'Evangelicals' are a subset of born again Christians in Barna surveys. In addition to meeting the born again criteria, Evangelicals also meet seven other conditions. Those include saying the Bible is totally accurate in all that it teaches; their faith is very important in their life today; believing they have a personal responsibility to share their religious beliefs about Christ with non-Christians; believing that Satan exists; believing that eternal salvation is possible only through grace, not works; believing that Jesus Christ lived a sinless life on earth; and describing God as the all-knowing, all-powerful, perfect deity who created the universe and still rules it today. Being classified as an Evangelical has no relationship to church attendance or the denominational affiliation of the church they attend. Respondents were not asked to describe themselves as “Evangelical.”' http://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/13-culture/49-born-again-voters-no-longer-favor-republican-candidates

• 34%of U.S. teens are defined as “born again” (1999).¹http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=Topic&TopicID=37 See also http://www.josh.org/notes/file/Internet13-Religion.pdf

• Only 4% of U.S. teens are defined as real “Evangelicals” (1999). ^¹

• 82% say they are Christian (1999). ^¹

• 26% said they are “absolutely committed to the Christian faith. ^{^1}

• 83% of teens believe that moral truth depends on the circumstances. ^{^1}

• Only 4% of teens in general and 9% of born again teens actually believe in moral absolutes (2001). ^{^1}

• 65% say that the devil, or Satan, is not a living being but is a symbol of evil. (2000). ^{^1} [See Rev. 20:10.]

• 30% of teens believe that all religions are really praying to the same God. ^¹[There are “god's many”, but only One True God and Lord. (Acts 14:15; (1 Cor. 8:5; Titus 2:13).]

• 61% agree Heaven is gained by personal merit. (2000). ^{^1} [A false gospel. Only on Christ's merit and expense, can we be saved, not on ours or a churches: Eph. 1:8-10]

• 53% ( blasphemously) say that Jesus committed sins while He was on earth.^{^1}

• Just 22% of those ages 25 to 29 attended church in the last week.^{^1}

• Only 9% of “born again” teens believe there moral absolutes." ^{^1}

• Only 57% of teens live in the same home with both of their natural parents. (1999).^{^1}

• 65% of teenagers believe music piracy is not a moral issue. (2004) ^¹

• 80% of teenagers have engaged in some type of music piracy in the past six months. ^¹

• 39% do not believe that the Bible is the Word of God. ^{^1}

• 63% do not believe that Jesus is the Son of God. ^{^1}

• 51% deny Jesus resurrection. ^{^1}

• Over 60% do not believe Christianity can be proven to be true ^¹

• 68% believe that all religions teach EQUALLY valid truths. ^{^1}

• Only 4% believe that the Bible is true in every circumstance.^{^1}

• Less than 50% of teen "Christians" assent that salvation is by grace alone though faith in Christ alone. . ©The Gallup Organization www.gallup.com/poll/tb/religValue/20030819.asp?Version=p)

• There is a 58% decline in church attendance between the ages 18 to age 29. www.barna.org/cgi-bin/PagePressRelease.asp?PressReleaseID=149&Reference=B)

• Less than 5% of the nation's churches have youth groups that attract 100 or more teenagers. http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdate&BarnaUpdateID=103

• Teens who are not raised in a family which holds to absolute Biblical truths are 600% more likely to attempt suicide. Barna Research https://give.ccci.org/give?Action=ViewDetail&Desig=2737811&SeqNo=33&pp=Browse+Fund+Appeals

• 300% of the above are more likely to experiment with drugs. ^
  http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=Topic&TopicID=37

• 75% of America’s youth (73%) have engaged in at least one type of psychic or witchcraft-related activity, beyond mere horoscope usage or media exposure (such as Harry Potter movies i assume). ^²http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdateNarrow&BarnaUpdateID=216

• More than 75% of teens have played a game featuring sorcery or witchcraft elements, 30% of teens have had their palm read, 27% had their fortune told, 14% were physically present when someone else used psychic powers, 10% participated in a séance, 9% visited a medium or spiritual guide, with the same figuring going for consulting a psychic, and 1 out of 12 had tried to cast a spell or mix a magic potion.^²

• Only 26% of Evangelical teens had experimented had engaged in witchcraft or psychic activities, nearly three times less than the norm. 69% of non-Evangelical born again teens and 66% of youth group attenders reported having experimented with or engaged in witchcraft or psychic activities. Denominationally, the figures were Baptists 60%, non-mainline Protestants 62%, Catholics 77%, and mainline Protestants 81%.^{^2} [see Rev. 18:2].

• The most common types of witchcraft behaviors were using a Ouija board and reading a book about witchcraft or Wicca, each of which had been done by more than 33% of teenagers. More than 25% of teens have played a game featuring sorcery or witchcraft elements. 10% of teens had participated in a séance and 1 out of 12 had tried to cast a spell or mix a magic potion.^{^2}

• More than two million (10%) teens say they have communicated with a dead person. Nearly two million youth claim they have psychic powers.^{^2}

• Only 28% of churched teenagers recall receiving any teaching at their church in the last year that helped to shape their views on the supernatural world!^{^2}

• More than 66% of Protestant young adults exit the church between the ages of 18 and 22. LifeWay Research, a branch of the Southern Baptist Convention.

• An Assemblies of God study showed a loss of 66% of their students within one year of high school graduation.” http://www.onenewsnow.com/Journal/stories.aspx?id=75927

Conclusion: this young generation largely has been, and is being, brought up in a way they should not go. A much smaller percentage of teens in born again churches are saved and going to Heaven than is often presumed.

¹http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=Topic&TopicID=37. See also http://www.josh.org/notes/file/Internet13-Religion.pdf

²http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdateNarrow&BarnaUpdateID=216

According to the Pew Forum survey, (http://pewforum.org/newassets/images/reports/multiplefaiths/multiplefaiths.pdf), which was conducted Aug. 11-27-09 among 4,013 adults:

• 72% of Americans stated they attend religious services at least a few times a year, 38% at least once a week and 34% who attend once or twice a month or a few times a year. 27% said they seldom or never attend religious services.

• 35% of Americans answered that they regularly (9%) or occasionally (26%) attend religious services at more than one place, with 24% of the public overall expressing that they sometimes attend religious services of a faith different from their own.

• Of those who attend religious services yearly or more, 37% said they always attend services at the same place, while 35% said they regularly or occasionally attend religious services at different places, aside from when they are traveling and going to special events.

• Among those who attend religious services at least once a week, 39% said they attend at multiple places and 28% go to services outside their own faith.

• 49% of the public reported that they have had a religious or mystical experience, defined as a "moment of sudden religious insight or awakening."

• 55% of conservatives and 50% of liberal stated they had such experiences, versus 43% of moderates.

• Of the 78% who identified themselves as Christian, 34% described themselves as born again, while 40% did not.

• 83% percent of Americans identified themselves as Christians (Catholics or Protestants), but only 49% of these individuals described themselves as absolutely committed to Christianity. http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdateNarrowPreview&BarnaUpdateID=271

• States with highest ratio of religious adherents

• 1 Utah 74.7%

• 2 North Dakota 73.2%

• 3 District Of Columbia 73.2%

• 4 South Dakota 67.8%

• ----------------------------

• 4 States with lowest ratio adherents

• 48 Alaska 34.3%

• 49 Nevada 34.3%

• 50 Washington 33.0%

• 51 Oregon 31.3% http://ext.nazarene.org/rcms/stateswithhighestratioadherents.html Association of Religion Data Archives www.TheARDA.com

• State ranking according to survey response as to religion being an important part of peoples daily lives. (highest to lowest): * Mississippi: 85% * Alabama: 82% * South Carolina: 80% * Tennessee: 79% * Louisiana: 78% * Arkansas: 78% * Georgia: 76% * North Carolina: 76% * Oklahoma: 75% * Kentucky: 74% * Texas: 74% * West Virginia: 71% * Kansas: 70% * Utah: 69% * Missouri: 68% * Virginia: 68% * South Dakota: 68% * North Dakota: 68% * Indiana: 68% * Nebraska: 67% * New Mexico: 66% * Pennsylvania: 65% * Florida: 65% * Maryland: 65% * Ohio: 65% * Iowa: 64% * Minnesota: 64% * Illinois: 64% * Michigan: 64% * Delaware: 61% * Wisconsin: 61% * District of Columbia: 61% * Idaho: 61% * Arizona: 61% * New Jersey: 60% * Wyoming: 58% * Colorado: 57% * Hawaii: 57% * California: 57% * Montana: 56% * New York: 56% * Connecticut: 55% * Nevada: 54% * Rhode Island: 53% * Oregon: 53% * Washington: 52% * Alaska: 51% * Massachusetts: 48% * Maine: 48% * New Hampshire: 46% * Vermont: 42%. Overall nationwide mean of 65% http://www.gallup.com/poll/114022/State-States-Importance-Religion.aspx

• 49% of adults identify themselves as attenders of Protestant churches, while 23% say they attend the Catholic segment. © The Barna Group, Ltd. 2007, http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdateNarrowPreview&BarnaUpdateID=271

• The Eastern United States is the only region of the country where Protestants account for less than half (44.1%) of the population. Catholics are the best represented religious tradition in this region; claiming 35.1% of the population. ^5.5Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion - American Piety in the 21 Century – September 2006 . http://www.baylor.edu/isreligion/index.php?id=40634

• The West has the highest percentages of religiously unaffiliated people (17.6%) and people in other religious traditions (10.3%) of any U.S. Region. Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion^

• The World Christian Database as of 2007 estimated the growth rate of Christianity worldwide at 1.32% (2.1 billion). High birth rates and conversions were cited as the main reason.

• Major Religion percentages worldwide - Christians: 33.32% (Catholics 16.99%; Protestants 5.78%; Orthodox 3.53%; Anglicans, etc. 5.77%) Muslims: 21.01%, Hindus: 13.26%, Buddhists: 5.84%. CIA World Factbook.

• In 2006, there was an estimated 2.2 billion Christians and 1.3 billion Muslims, both figures including many nominal adherents. http://www.lausanneworldpulse.com/trendsandstatistics/654/03-2007?pg=all

• From 1978 to 2004, there was a rapid increase in the number of Catholics in worldwide by more than 45 percent from almost 757 million to 1.098 billion. Annuarium Statisticum Ecclesiae of 2004

• In the US, 2002, Protestants ranked highest in percentage of total surveyed population at 52% (Baptist being the largest single denomination), followed by Catholics at 24%, then Mormons at 2%, Orthodox Catholic bodies at 1%. (20001). http://www.adherents.com/rel_USA.html.

• Catholics showed a 16% gain in membership (2000) while Mormons boasted 19%. The only other major Christian body that increased was the Southern Baptists at nearly 5 percent. ^3.5http://www.glenmary.org/grc/RCMS_2000/Catholic_findings.htm

• 71% of U.S. Catholic population growth since 1960 is due to Hispanics (2001) U.S. Census Bureau.

• 39% U.S. Catholics are Hispanic. USCCB Committee on Hispanic Affairs. Hispanic Ministry at the Turn of the New Millennium, 1999

• 72.6% of all U.S. Hispanics are Catholic (2002) Stewart Lawrence of Puentes, Inc. http://www.usccb.org/hispanicaffairs/demo.shtml

• Christians made of 34.5 percent (558 million, up from 204,980,0 in 1800) of the world's population in 1900, and will be 33.3 percent (approx. 2.1 billion) in 2008. Statistical Table on Global Mission” International Bulletin of Missionary Research. http://www.gordonconwell.edu/ockenga/globalchristianity/resources.php

• More than 60% of adult Americans claim to belong to a church or synagogue. The same number believe religion "can answer all or most of today' questions, although well under half of Americans attend church regularly." Copyright © 2004 -- The Gallup Organization http://www.gallup.com/content/login.aspx?ci=1804

• Only 20.4 percent of the population attended church each weekend. May 6, 1998 article by C. Kirk Hadaway and P.L. Marler Did You Really Go To Church This Week: Behind the Poll Data, in The Christian Century, http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=237.

• 44% of Americans say they go to church at least once a week. http://www.religioustolerance.org/rel_rate.htm

• Almost half (49.2%) of Americans say they attend church at least once a month. 2006 Baylor Religion Survey. http://www.baylor.edu/isreligion/index.php?id=40634

• The number of Americans who do not attend church has increased 92% since 1991 http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdate&BarnaUpdateID=163

• 33 percent of adults are classified as unchurched – people who have not attended a religious service of any type (not necessarily a church) during the past six months. ³http://www.barna.org; http://www.christianpost.com/article/20070320/26418_Study%3A_U.S._Unchurched_Population_Nears_100_Million.htm

• Only 19 percent of political conservatives were likely to be unchurched versus 47 percent political liberals.

• Those least likely to be unchurched are residents in the South (26 percent) compared with residents in the West (42 percent) and Northeast (39 percent). ^³

• Ethnically, only 24 percent of African Americans were likely to be unchurched, versus 32% of white and 63% of Asians. ^³

• Religiously, 1 percent of Evangelical Christians, 16 percent of “non-Evangelical born-again Christians” [as if there is such a thing) and 24 percent of the “Christian” population as a whole (25% of Catholics, 20% of Protestants) were unchurched, while. 61 percent of adults who are associated with a faith outside Christianity had not attended any kind of religious service over the past 6 months. ^³

• Approx. 6 in 10 Christians say that it's "often" or "always" true that "the busyness of life gets in the way of developing my relationship with God." Christians most likely to agree were from North America, Africa and Europe. By country, Christians in South Africa, Nigeria, Canada, Singapore, Ireland, Philippines, the United States, and the United Kingdom, are more distracted from God, respectively, than those in other countries. Obstacles to Growth Survey. http://www.christianpost.com/article/20070730/survey-christians-worldwide-too-busy-for-god.htm

• Nearly 60% of Americans say they hold their current religious beliefs because of their parents. U.S. News & World Report, April 4, 1994, pp. 48-59

• Canadian church attendance has plunged to just above 20 percent (from a reported 60% in 1946). Fall 2002 Issue American Outlook Magazine, Hudson Institute, by John G. Stackhouse, Jr. http://www.americanoutlook.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=article_detail&id=2020

• Of the 17 religious bodies in America with 1 million or more adherents in 2000, only six showed an increase in numbers while 10 showed a decline in numbers. Muslims were not counted in 1990. Glenmary Research Centers. ^3.5http://www.glenmary.org/grc/RCMS_2000/Catholic_findings.htm

• Among the gainers, four religious bodies showed double-digit increases-- between 16 percent for Catholics and 19 percent for Latter-Day Saints (Mormons). The only other Christian body showing a gain was the Southern Baptist Convention at nearly 5 percent.^^3.5

• It can be noted that, except for Catholics (which grew by immigration), all those bodies gaining members between 1990 and 2000 generally are considered “Conservative Protestants,” while most of those showing a decrease in number of adherents generally are considered “Moderate” or “Liberal” Protestants.^^3.5

• In every state, the percent Catholic growth from 1990 to 2000 was very substantially greater than the general population growth [including a 45 percent increase in Arkansas and 111 percent increase in Nevada.] ^^3.5

• Just a third of persons in Evangelical Protestant congregations and denominations (32.6%) refer to themselves as “Evangelical.” ^5.5Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion - American Piety in the 21 Century – September 2006 . http://www.baylor.edu/isreligion/index.php?id=40634

• Only 15 percent of the population use the term “Evangelical” to describe their religious identity and barely two in 100 Americans say it is the best description. Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion ^

• Only 7% of US adults qualify as “Evangelicals” (2004) [see criteria under first section].⁴ http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=Topic&TopicID=2

• 38% of US adults classify as born again, but not Evangelical. (2004).^⁴

• 11% of the US population identify with a faith other than Christianity (2004).^⁴

• At latest count, there were 1,210 Protestant churches in the United States with a weekly attendance of 2,000 people or more. The four states with the greatest concentrations of megachurches were California (14 percent), Texas (13 percent), Florida (7 percent), and Georgia (6 percent). http://www.hirr.hartsem.edu/megachurch/megachurches.html

• 600,000 active and retired, civilian and military, clergy serve in various denominations in the United States. The Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches http://www.electronicchurch.org http://hirr.hartsem.edu/research/fastfacts/fast_facts.html

• The average mainline pastor spent 50.8 hours a week at work. God’s Potters: Pastoral Leadership and the Shaping of Congregations, by Jackson Carroll, (W.B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2006). http://hirr.hartsem.edu/research/fastfacts/fast_facts.html

• 28% of American adults have left the faith of their childhood, not including those who switched from one Protestant denomination to another. 10% of all these were Catholics [losses mostly replaced with immigrants] Jehovah's Witnesses [so-called] had the highest losses, with a turnover rate of about two-thirds. Beacon Journal wire services. http://www.ohio.com/news/nation/15973167.html

• Persons aged 18-30 are three times more likely to have no religious affiliation than are persons aged 65 or older (5.4%). ^5.5Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion - American Piety in the 21 Century – September 2006 . http://www.baylor.edu/isreligion/index.php?id=40634

• 80% of adults classified as “born again” have been married. http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdate&BarnaUpdateID=170

• 65% of Evangelicals as well as all religious persons had no children at home (Catholics: 61%). Mormons, Hindi's and Muslim had the highest percentages. ^7.5 2008 The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. http://religions.pewforum.org/comparisons#

• The number of American adults who identify themselves with Christianity has dropped from 86% in 1990 to 77% in 2001. ARIS Study American Religious Identification Survey was conducted in February to April 2001.

• Christianity in America suffered a loss of 9.7 percentage points in 11 years (about 0.9 percentage points per year). Diana Eck, A New Religious America: How a 'Christian Country' Has Become the World's Most Religiously Diverse Nation, 2001). http://www.letusreason.org/Current30.htm

• Americans who do not identify with any religion now represent 15% of the USA - 22% of all adults ages 18 to 29; 19% of U.S. men and 12% of women. While 1 out 6 identify themselves as Nones, the ration is higher based upon belief and behavior. 61% of “Nones” believe in evolution. However, less than 10% of Nones identify themselves as atheists or hold atheistic beliefs, with 51% still professing a belief in God or a higher power. Only 32% report they were Nones at at age 12, and the largest single group (35%) of Nones were former Catholics. The highest concentrations of Nones are in New England and the West. Politically, 8% of Republicans are Nones, versus 21% of the nation's independents and 16% of Democrats. Latinos have tripled their proportion among Nones. Kosmin and Ariela Keysar, Program on Public Values, Trinity College, Hartford, Conn. http://www.americanreligionsurvey-aris.org/reports/NONES_08.pdf

• Fifteen percent of respondents said they had no religion, an increase from 14.2 percent in 2001 and 8.2 percent in 1990, according to the American Religious Identification Survey. The numbers of Americans with no religion rose in every state, with northern New England surpassing the Pacific Northwest as the least religious region, with Vermont reporting the highest share of those claiming no religion, at 34 percent. Respondents who called themselves "non-denominational Christian" grew from 0.1 percent in 1990 to 3.5 percent last year [2008]. Evangelical or born-again Americans make up 34 percent of all American adults and 45 percent of all Christians and Catholics, the study found. Researchers found that 18 percent of Catholics consider themselves born-again or Evangelical, and nearly 39 percent of mainline Protestants prefer those labels. The percentage of Americans who identified themselves as Muslim grew to 0.6 percent of the population. American Religious Identification Survey. The Program on Public Values at Trinity College in Hartford, Conn. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,506849,00.html

• The fastest growing religion percentage wise is Wicca. Going from 8,000 in 1990 to 134,000 in 2001. Doubling about every 30 months. (American Religious Identification Survey, done by The Graduate Center of the City University of New York).

• Atheists and agnostics comprise 9% of adults nationwide (2007); 6% of souls over 61, 9% of those ages 42-60, 14% of those 23-41, and 19% of those 18-22. Indications from the past indicate that these beliefs stay fairly constant through life. http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdateNarrowPreview&BarnaUpdateID=272

• According to the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life's monumental "U.S. Religious Landscape Survey" that was issued in June, 21% of self-proclaimed atheists believe in either a personal God or an impersonal force. 10% percent of atheists pray at least weekly and 12% believe in heaven.

• Paranormal beliefs are most prevalent in eastern states, with the highest percentages of agreement on eight of the 10 belief questions. Southerners are the least receptive to the paranormal, with the lowest percentages on six of the 10 items. ^5.5Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion - American Piety in the 21 Century – September 2006 . http://www.baylor.edu/isreligion/index.php?id=40634

• Hartford Seminary report the number of Muslim places of worship grew by 42 percent in America between 1990 and 2000, compared with the 12 percent average increase for Evangelical churches

• The the number of Islamic mosques in America has increased 25% since 1994. Council on American-Islamic Relations

• By 2050, Muslims are expected to outnumber Protestants in the U.S (includes so-called “Nation of Islam” Muslims). Secrets of Islam: US News and World Report

• Adherents to Buddhism has increased 170% from 1990 to 2001. (Science and Spirit, September/October 2002. Discipleship Journal, March/April 2003, pg. 14).

• A 2007 survey of 74 pediatric hematologists and oncologists from 13 elite hospitals showed 31 percent were raised Protestant, 25.7 percent Catholic, 25.7 Jewish, and 10.8 percent other. 25.7 percent reported that religion was very important in their family when they were growing up, and 48.6 percent said it was or somewhat important. 47.3 percent described themselves as very or moderately spiritual; 37.8 percent described themselves as slightly spiritual; 13.5 percent described themselves as not at all spiritual.

• Presently, 24.3 percent of the physicians said they were Jewish, 20.3 percent said they had no current religious affiliation, 17 percent were Protestant, 17 percent were Catholic, and almost 15 percent identified with another religion. Over 50% said their religious or spiritual beliefs had some degree of influence on their interactions with families, patients, and colleagues, versus almost 40 percent who believed they did not. Brandeis University (2007, November 15); SUNY in Pediatric Hematology and Oncology

• 85-90% of Americans routinely respond “yes” when asked “Do you, personally, believe in God?” ^³

• Nearly three fourths of Americans (71.5%) say they pray pray at least once a week. ^³

• 91% of all households own at least one Bible. 1998 Barna Research: 1998 http://webminister.com/growth01/plan0031.htm

• 38% said they read the Bible during a typical week, not including when they are at church. Barna Research: 1998 http://webminister.com/growth01/plan0031.htm

• The King James Version is more likely to be the Bible read during the week than is the NIV by a 5:1 ratio. Barna Research: 1998 http://webminister.com/growth01/plan0031.htm

• 48% of all shoppers who set out to buy a Bible leave the bookstore without buying one. Often because they are overwhelmed by hundreds of study, devotional and specialty Bibles. Zondervan Publishing study, USA Today, February 21, 2000 http://youthtools.ibelieve.com/content.asp?SID=12&CID=247

• 59% of Americans "say they read the Bible at least on occasion [down from 73% in the 1980's]. The most likely readers are women, nonwhites, older people, Republicans, and political conservatives." 16% say they read the Bible every day, 41% of Americans say they rarely or never read the Bible. Gallup Poll 2000 Copyright © 2004 -- The Gallup Organization http://www.gallup.com/content/login.aspx?ci=2416

• 80% of Americans polled said the Bible was the most influential book in history. Barna Research 1998. Printed in USA Today, May 27, 1998

• And est. 168,000 new Bibles are sold, given away, or otherwise distributed in the United States per day through Wycliffe International, the Society of Gideons, and the International Bible Society.

• BIBLE STATISTICS (some figures may have minor variation according to manuscript sources and or translation):

• Number of books in the Bible: 66

• Chapters: 1,189

• Verses: 31,101

• Words: 788,258 (KJV-English)

• Old Testament: 602,585; New Testament: 180,552 = 783,037

• Letters: 3,566,480

• Number of promises given in the Bible: 1,260

• Commands: 6,468

• Predictions: over 8,000

• Est. Fulfilled prophecy: 3,268 verses

• Unfulfilled prophecy: 3,140

• Number of questions: 3,294

• Number of existing manuscripts: 5,300 Greek manuscripts of the New Testament, 10,000 Latin Vulgates, and 9,300 other early versions = more than 24,000 manuscript copies of portions of the New Testament.

• The number of Number of Arabic Words in the Quran is 77,439 (reported by Al-Fadl bin Shadhan as said by ‘Ata bin Yasar). [77,473 in English] Other sources provided somewhat different numbers.

• 48% think that the United States has had special protection from God for most of its history. http://people-press.org/reports/print.php3?PageID=386

• 67% of adult Americans "used at least one of three forms of religious media - radio, television or books." "Overall more than half of the nation's adults said they had tuned in to a Christian radio program of some type during the past month." In addition, 43% of adults polled "said they had watched some Christian programming on television during the past month." Barna Research Group of Ventura, California. http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdate&BarnaUpdateID=116).

• $8.8 billion worth of goods and services that churches are giving overseas to developing (“Third World”) countries. This figures out to be nearly 40 percent of the foreign aid provided by the United States to the same region. U.S. foreign aid to those same countries is $23.5 billion. Carol Adelman of the Hudson Institute, from Notre Dame University study. http://www.onenewsnow.com/Church/Default.aspx?id=118566

• On average, weekly churchgoers donate 3.8% of their income to charity, compared to 0.8% for those who never go. Independent Sector (charitable clearing house): Atheists won't save Europe by Don Feder; http://www.frontpagemagazine.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=27937

• Giving of one's time and effort is greater among those with religious faith, and the degree of it. http://www.gallup.com/poll/111013/Worldwide-Highly-Religious-More-Likely-Help-Others.aspx

• Church members gave 2.56 percent of their income in 2004, down from 3.11 percent in 1968. Only 15% was for ministry outside the church. id=40634Empty Tomb Inc.http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20061012-105326-4799r.htm October 13, 2006

• Over 50 percent of the members of any given Christian congregation donate little or nothing toward their church’s upkeep and ministries. Terry Mattingly. Syndicated column from Scripps Howard News Service, January 24, 2001. http://www.generousgiving.org/stats# (web source provides many more stats on giving)

• Of every dollar given to a U.S. Protestant church, the average amount that goes to overseas missions is two cents. In 1920 the church gave 10 percent of the total offering to missions, compared to today’s 2 percent. In addition, individual Christians do not even tithe, giving less per capita than Christians gave during the Great Depression. Gene Edward Veith. World Magazine, October 22, 2005. ^

• Americans have given less and less of their disposable income to religious charity since the 1960s and now spend more on church buildings and staff and less on helping the needy, according to a study by Empty Tomb. Larry Witham. The Washington Times, November 19, 2002 ^

• Giving as a percentage of income was higher at the depth of the Great Depression in the 1930s (3.3 percent of per capita income in 1933) than after a half-century of unprecedented prosperity (2.5 percent in 2004) John Ronsvalle and Sylvia Ronsvalle, The State of Church Giving through 2004: Will We Will? 16th ed. (Champaign, Ill.: Empty Tomb, 2006).. ^

• The proportion of adults who tithe dropped by 62 percent in the past year. (2) Just 6 percent of born-again households tithed to their churches in 2002. (3) Tithing, when it occurs, is generally among Protestants: 5 percent of adults who attend Protestant churches tithed last year, compared to less than one-tenth of 1 percent among Catholics. (4) Among the groups most likely to tithe are people over 55, college graduates, Evangelicals, Republicans, conservatives, and residents of the South—but there was no segment among which at least 10 percent tithed. George Barna. News release by Barna Research Group, May 19, 2003. ^

• Individual giving to churches fell another 6 percent in 2000, as it has done for the past several years. 32 percent of Christians claim to tithe, while only 12 percent actually did in 2000. George Barna. News release by Barna Research Group, June 5, 2001. ^

• 67 percent of religious Canadians who "believe that Jesus Christ was crucified, died and was buried, but was resurrected to eternal life," well over half ignore the Lord's command that His followers should give joyfully to the needy and to the building of the Kingdom. Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches John H. Redekop. Mennonite Brethren Herald 36, no. 3 (February 7, 1997). ^

• Including religious, American households overall gave 3.5% of their income. Only approx. 33% to religious institutions. Utah was the state with the highest average per-capita charitable contributions, followed by Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee and Arkansas. Professor Arthur Brooks, 2005. http://www.america.gov/st/washfile-english/2005/February/200502181639511CJsamohT5.593508e-02.html

• 3© The Barna Group, Ltd. 2007,. http://www.barna.org; http://www.christianpost.com/article/20070320/26418_Study%3A_U.S._Unchurched_Population_Nears_100_Million.htm

• 3.5Glenmary Research Center s http://www.glenmary.org/grc/RCMS_2000/Catholic_findings.htm

• 4http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=Topic&TopicID=2

• 5.5Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion - American Piety in the 21 Century – September 2006 . http://www.baylor.edu/isreligion/index.php?

According to the Pew Forum survey, (http://pewforum.org/newassets/images/reports/multiplefaiths/multiplefaiths.pdf), which was conducted Aug. 11-27-09 among 4,013 adults:

• 24% of the public overall and 22% of Christians say they believe in reincarnation -- that people will be reborn in this world again and again. 25% of the public overall, and 23% of Christians [so-called] indicated they believe in astrology.

• Nearly 30% of Americans reported that they have felt in touch with someone who had died, (33% of women verus 26% of men). Almost 20% say they have seen or been in the presence of ghosts, while 15% have consulted a fortuneteller or a psychic.

• 65% of American adults expressed belief in or reported of having experience with at least one of 8 different manifestations of occultic supernatural phenomena: 1. reincarnation; 2. spiritual energy located in physical things; 3. yoga as spiritual practice; 4. the "evil eye;" 5. astrology; 6; having been in touch with the dead; 7. having consulting a psychic; 8. having experiencing a ghostly encounter. This includes 23% of the general population who reported having only one of these beliefs or experiences, while 43% of the people surveyed answered two or more of these items affirmatively.

• 36 percent of Democrats said they have been in touch with someone who is dead, versus 21 percent of Republicans. 11 percent of Republicans reported they have seen a ghost, versus 21 percent of Democrats. 9 percent of Republicans said they have consulted a fortuneteller, versus 22 percent of Democrats. 17 percent of Republicans say they believe in reincarnation, versus 30 percent of Democrats. 14 percent of Republicans reported they believe in astrology, versus 31 percent of Democrats. 15 percent of Republicans said they saw yoga as a spiritual practice, versus 31 percent of Democrats. 17 percent of Republicans reported they believe in spiritual energy, versus 30 percent of Democrats.

• 59% of Americans polled said religion is very important in their lives (75% in 1952). By categories: 52% of men, 66% of women, Whites 66%, Blacks 82%, Hispanics 66%. 68% percent of self-identified conservatives, 56% of moderates, and 49 percent of liberals said religion was very important to them. Gallup survey 1999.Copyright ©2004 The Gallup Organization http://www.mfc.org/contents/article.asp?id=139 See also Steve Crabtree, “Black Churches: Has Their Role Changed?” Gallup Tuesday Briefing; Religion & Values, May 14, 2002,

• 60% of all adults consider living with someone of the opposite gender without being married [sometimes called co-habitation, but which morally is "living in sin"], a morally acceptable behavior.”⁴ http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=Topic&TopicID=2

• 30% of all adults consider having a sexual relationship with someone of the same gender a morally acceptable behavior.” (2004). ^ ⁴

• 38% of adults consider it morally acceptable to look at pictures of nudity or explicit sexual behavior ^ ⁴

• 45% of adults consider having a abortion morally acceptable ^⁴

• 36% think it is OK to use profanity. ^ ⁴

• 34% think people are born gay [though there is no real proof of that, even if there a genetic factor, we all are born with a sinful nature, and we cannot validate practicing what God states is sin, as He also provides grace to overcome our proclivity to sin: Gn. 4:7]. ^ ⁴

• 69% of those who attend church ‘nearly weekly’ [2003] say premarital sex is morally acceptable (Gallup Poll) Copyright © 2004 -- The Gallup Organization. www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/2003-07-23-zelizer_x.htm

• 45% of [so-called] “born again” Americans says gambling is a “morally acceptable behavior.” http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdate&BarnaUpdateID=152

• More than 30% of so-called "born again" adults say that "co-habitation, gay sex, sexual fantasies, breaking the speed limit or watching sexually-explicit movies are morally acceptable behaviors.” Barna Research 2001. http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdate&BarnaUpdateID=103

• In 2001, 33% of [so-called] "born again" adults support the legalization of same-gender sexual relations. Barna Research 2001.^

• 48 percent of Americans agreed homosexual behavior is a sin, 45 percent said disagreed LifeWay Research study, released Wednesday. 2008 LifeWay Research study. http://www.christianpost.com/article/20080606/survey-americans-divided-on-homosexuality-as-sin.htm

• 57% of Americans oppose Gay Marriage, versus 40% in favor of doing so. (75% self-identified liberals versus 19% of conservatives; and 59% of 18-29 year olds, versus 32% of those 65 years and older) May 7-10 2009 USA Today/Gallup poll. http://www.gallup.com/poll/118378/Majority-Americans-Continue-Oppose-Gay-Marriage.aspx

• 13 percent of Americans do not believe at all in the concept of sin. But, a majority of Americans (87%), however, do believe in this concept and they include adultery (81%), racism (74%), use of hard drugs (65%), failing to say anything if they're given too much change by a cashier (63%), having an abortion (56%), cheating on their taxes (52%) and homosexual activity (52%) as sin. "Sin" was defined in the research as "something that is almost always considered wrong, particularly from a religious or moral perspective." Ellison Research, March 11, 2008 http://ellisonresearch.com/releases/20080311.htm http://www.christianpost.com/article/20080312/study-behaviors-americans-consider-sinful.htm

• Other behaviors with significant moral objections included reading or watching pornography (50 percent); swearing (46 percent); sex before marriage (45 percent); harming the environment as a consumer (41 percent); smoking marijuana (41 percent); getting drunk (41 percent); and not taking proper care of your body (35 percent) . ^Ellison Research, March 11, 2008

• 94 percent of political conservatives, and 94 percent of Americans who regularly attend religious worship services believe there is such a thing as sin, versus only 77 percent of political liberals and 80 percent among those who do not attend services. ^Ellison Research, March 11, 2008

• 90 percent of Evangelicals believe getting drunk is sinful behavior, compared to 35 percent of all other Americans. 92 percent of Evangelicals believe sex before marriage is sinful, versus 39 percent of all other Americans. ^Ellison Research, March 11, 2008

• Some 71 percent of [those classified as] conservatives say you have an obligation to care for a seriously injured spouse or parent versus less than half (46 percent) of liberals. Peter Schweizer, "Makers and Takers," Doubleday, June 3, 2008. http://www.ncpa.org/sub/dpd/index.php?Article_ID=16895

• Liberals are two times more likely to say it is okay to cheat the government out of welfare money you don't deserve. Peter Schweizer, "Makers and Takers," Doubleday, June 3, 2008. http://www.ncpa.org/sub/dpd/index.php?Article_ID=16895

• 27% of people identified as Christians and 23% of non-Christians have been divorced. Statistics Concerning the State of America. http://freedomministries.com/outlinestats.htm

• 34% of “born again” adults have been divorced after their conversion. http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdate&BarnaUpdateID=170

• 87% of Americans polled said that "their religious faith is very important in their life today." ^4.5http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdate&BarnaUpdateID=160

• Only 50% of Christians say they are absolutely “absolutely committed” to the Christian faith.^^4.5

• 77% of Americans are associated with the Christian faith.12% claim to be atheist or agnostic, with the remaining 11% being aligned with some other faith group.^^4.5

• Though upwards to 38% of Americans are classified as "born again," a more precise analysis shows only 7% of the adult U.S. population being "Evangelical" [John 3:3:-7: see descriptions above in first section].This is down from 12% in 1992 [The two must be synonymous to be Biblical.] ^^4.5

• 99% of those in the camp of Evangelicals said they were happy, with 91% saying they were satisfied with their present life Only 8% said they were "lonely," "in serious debt" (9%) or "stressed out" (16%). ⁵http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdate&BarnaUpdateID=119

• 94% of the above described themselves as "absolutely committed to Christianity. 96% of Evangelicals say they possess "traditional or family-oriented values," and 64% say they are "mostly conservative on political and social issues."Only 8% said they were lonely, "in serious debt" (9%), or "stressed out" (16%). ^⁵

• 57% of those who are affiliate themselves with a non-Christian group say they are "deeply spiritual." 87% of such non-Christian religious [in America] claim to be happy with their life. 56% said they were concerned about the future and 68% about the moral condition of the U.S. ^⁵

• 92% of Americans says they believe in God; 85% in Heaven and 82% in miracles. ^⁵

• 42% of atheists and agnostics (who make up 9 % of the American adult population) claimed to be stressed out , 14% said they were lonely, and 68% concerned about the future. 4% describe themselves as being conservative, 2% as being politically liberal, and 71% as having traditional or family-oriented values. 60% were concerned about America's moral state. ^⁵

• Currently, only 15 percent of Americans overall consider moral values to be "excellent" or "good;" 41 percent say the moral climate is "only fair;" and 44 percent consider the moral state to be "poor." (Gallup Poll 6-12, 2008)

• 44% of Americans say that Islam is more likely to encourage violence than other religions, up from 25% in the March 2002 poll.” The Pew Research Center and The Pew Forum, July 24, 2003, www.people-press.org).

• Favorable views of Muslim-Americans rose from 45% in March 1991 to 59% in December 2001. Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

• Appprox. 1 in 3 Muslim students in the U.K believe killing in the name of religion is justified, and back the idea of a worldwide Islamic caliphate based on sharia law. 40 per cent support introduction of sharia into British law for Muslims Centre for Social Cohesion, http://www.socialcohesion.co.uk

• A survey by LifeWay Research of 1,000 Protestant pastors found 45 percent strongly agreed with the statement “I believe Islam is a dangerous religion,” while 21 percent agree somewhat. Dec. 14 2009 http://www.christianpost.com/article/20091214/-islam-is-a-dangerous-religion-most-american-pastors-say/index.html

• Religious citizens who make $49,000 gave away about 3.5 times as much money as secular citizens with the same income. They also volunteered twice as often, are 57 percent more likely to help homeless persons, and two-thirds more likely to give blood at their workplace. Arthur C. Brooks' Who Really Cares. http://www.christianitytoday.com/bc/2008/001/8.11.html

• Atheists and agnostics are more likely to be into new technology than active faith persons (64% versus 52%), and on acquiring wealth (10% versus 2%), and less likely to be "active in the community" (41% versus 68%), or to personally help or serve a homeless or poor person (41% versus 61%), and much less likely to donate to charitable causes ($200.00 versus $1500.00 in 2006). Barna Research; http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdateNarrowPreview&BarnaUpdateID=272

• 87% of Americans say the universe was originally created by God. http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=Topic&TopicID=2 (2000)

• 29% of Americans strongly endorse that they should share their faith. http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdateNarrowPreview&BarnaUpdateID=271

• Evangelism: 23% of church – going born again persons said they shared their faith in Jesus Christ with a non-Christian during the past year. http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdate&BarnaUpdateID=147

• Only 66% – down from 71 a year ago (2006) – of Americans perceive God to be "the all-powerful, all-knowing, perfect creator of the universe who still rules the world today." the lowest percentage in more than twenty years of similar Barna surveys. http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdateNarrowPreview&BarnaUpdateID=271

• (Assemblies of God attenders in 2005(?) at 96% had the highest affirmation of the above fact: http://www.vny.com/cf/News/upidetail.cfm?QID=198421).

• 47% percent of respondents replied that they believed in a special, recent creation of man by God. Gallup Poll November 28, 1991 reported in http://www.icr.org/pubs/btg-b/btg-038b.htm. Copyright © 2004 -- The Gallup Organization

• 80% say the Bible specifically says that God helps those who help themselves [it doesn't]. Barna Research 1998. Printed in USA Today, May 27, 1998 http://webminister.com/growth01/plan0031.htm

• 27% say they believe that the Bible represents the actual word of God in all instances. In 1963 the comparable figure was 65%. Copyright © 2004 Gallup Organization, who conducted for the American Bible Society in October 2000.

• 45% of Americans say they believe the Bible to be accurate in all all the principles it teaches. http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdateNarrowPreview&BarnaUpdateID=271

• 60% of adults contend that Satan does not exist but is merely a “symbol of evil.”^^4.5

• 40% of Americans [sadly] do not believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.^^4.5

• 55% of all adults say that a good person can earn a place in Heaven [which eliminates them as being born again Christians.].^^4.5

• 60% of adults believe that Satan is not a living being but is only a “symbol of evil.”^^4.5

• 66% of Americans indicate they believe Jesus Christ committed sins during His time on earth (only 33% strongly disagree). http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdateNarrowPreview&BarnaUpdateID=271.

• (83%) said they had prayed in the last week. http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdateNarrowPreview&BarnaUpdateID=271

• Only 22% of of American adults had volunteered free time to help a church or some other type of non-profit (23%) in the last week.

• 39% say all religions teach equally valid truths. Barna Research

• 79% of Americans agreed with the statement “every person has a soul that will live forever, either in God’s presence or absence.” ⁶http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdate&BarnaUpdateID=150

• 24% admitted that they have ”no idea” what will happen after they die. ^ (Those who felt their eternal future is undefined were most likely to be Hispanics, singles, men, atheists and agnostics, residents of the West, and 18- and 19-year-olds). ^⁶

• Only one-half of 1% expect to go to Hell upon their death.^⁶

• Of those who expect to go to Heaven, 43% believe they will go to Heaven because they have “confessed their sins and accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior.” 15% felt they will get to Heaven because “they have tried to obey the 10 Commandments” while 15% hope to go because “they are basically a good person”. 6% believed their entrance to Heaven would be based upon the fact that “God loves all people and will not let them perish.”^⁶

• 34% (and increasing) believe that it is possible to communicate with the dead^⁶

• The most common paranormal experience in the United States is having a dream that later came true. More than 40 percent (43%) of Americans claim to have had this experience. Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion - American Piety in the 21 Century – September 2006 . http://www.baylor.edu/isreligion/index.php?id=40634

• 48% of adult Americans believe God is a Spirit or power that can take on a human form. (USA Today, October 24, 2003, pg. A1)

• 61% of Americans have a positive image of capitalism, and of 95% of small business, versus 36% seeing socialism positively, while 33% have a negative image of capitalism, and 58% of socialism. 53% of Democrats have a positive image of socialism, compared to 17% of Republicans. 61% of liberals say their image of socialism is positive, compared to 39% of moderates and 20% of conservatives. http://www.gallup.com/poll/125645/socialism-viewed-positively-americans.aspx February 4, 2010

• 4.5http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdate&BarnaUpdateID=160

• 5http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdate&BarnaUpdateID=119

• 6http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdate&BarnaUpdateID=150

According to the Pew Forum survey, (http://pewforum.org/newassets/images/reports/multiplefaiths/multiplefaiths.pdf), which was conducted Aug. 11-27-09 among 4,013 adults:

• 33% Protestants attend services outside their own denomination, with 40% of black Protestants, 24% of white Evangelicals and 22% of white mainline Protestants attending other Protestant denominations. 18 percent of Protestants overall indicated that they attend non-Protestant services, with 19% of black Protestants, 13% of white Evangelicals, and 14% of mainline Protestants occasionally attending Catholic Mass. ^

• 20% of Catholics answered that they attended services of at least one faith outside Catholicism, with 18% of Catholics overall and 16% of white Catholics saying they attend Protestant services. 5% report attending services at Jewish synagogues. ^

• 24% of the public overall and 22% of Christians say they believe in reincarnation -- that people will be reborn in this world again and again. And 25% of the public overall, and 23% of Christians believe in astrology. ^

• Only 10% white Evangelicals reported they believed in reincarnation, compared with 24% among mainline Protestants, 25% among both white Catholics and those unaffiliated with any religion, and 29% among black Protestants. Similarly, 13% of white Evangelicals believe in astrology, compared with roughly 25% or more among other religious faiths. ^

• Evangelical and mainline Protestants who reported they attend church weekly showed far lower levels of belief in reincarnation, yoga, the existence of spiritual energy in physical things and astrology, as compared with those who attend religious services less often. In contrast, the frequency of church attendance by Catholics showed had far less effect in deterring these kinds of beliefs, although those who attended church less faithfully did express higher percentages of faith in astrology. ^

• Beliefs reincarnation, yoga, the existence of spiritual energy in physical things and astrology are more common among Democrats and independents than Republicans, and are more widely held by liberals and moderates than conservatives, especially as concerns belief in yoga as a spiritual practice, with 39% of liberals expressing this belief (39%), in contrast to only 15% of conservatives. Conservatives and Republicans also report fewer experiences than liberals or Democrats communicating with the dead, seeing ghosts and consulting fortunetellers or psychics. ^

• The least likely to say they have felt in contact with a dead person were Evangelical Protestants at 20%, versus 37% of black Protestants, 35% of white Catholics, along with 31% of the unaffiliated and 29% of white mainline Protestants. ^

• 65% of American adults expressed belief in or reported of having experience with at least one of 8 different manifestations of supernatural phenomena: 1. reincarnation; 2. spiritual energy located in physical things; 3. yoga as spiritual practice; 4. the "evil eye;" 5. astrology; 6; having been in touch with the dead; 7. having consulted a psychic; 8. having experiencing a ghostly encounter. This includes 23% of the general population who reported having only one of these beliefs or experiences, while 43% of the people surveyed answered two or more of these items affirmatively. ^

• 50% of black Protestants , 48% of the religiously unaffiliated, 47% of Catholics answered yes to two or more of these items, as do 43% of white mainline Protestants, while 53% of white Evangelicals answered no to all eight questions. ^

• 49% of the public reported that they have had a religious or mystical experience, defined as a "moment of sudden religious insight or awakening." ^

• Differences among Protestants are revealing. 70% of white Evangelicals and 71% of black Protestants stated they have had religious or mystical experiences, versus 40% of mainline Protestants and 37% of Catholics. ^

• Of the 78% who identified themselves as Christian, 34% described themselves as born again, while 40% did not. ^

• Of all specific religious denominations world wide, the largest Evangelical Christian denomination is the Assemblies of God (#7 overall), followed by the Southern Baptists (#12). http://www.adherents.com/adh_rb.html#Evangelische

• The largest religious denomination using the name Christian is the Roman Catholic system, followed by the Eastern Orthodox Church (#3 overall), the Anglican Communion (#5), the Ethiopian Orthodox Church (#6). The Watchtower Society (so-called Jehovah's Witnesses) was #11. http://www.adherents.com/adh_rb.html#Evangelische

• Among churches polled, the highest percentages of “born again believers” were found in the Assemblies of God (81%), then other Pentecostal/Foursquare churches (80%), non-denominational Protestant churches (76%), and Baptist churches (67%). ⁷http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdate&BarnaUpdateID=92

• Catholics*, at 25%, represented the the lowest number of born again believers among the 12 largest denominational groupings in America. ^⁷

• (Only 1% of Catholics fit Barna's definition (see first section) of Evangelical. ^⁷⁾

• 27% of adults who say they are Evangelicals are not even born again, based upon their beliefs. http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdateNarrowPreview&BarnaUpdateID=263

• Among 7,441 Protestant pastors. Asked if they believed that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant Word of God: 87% of Methodists said no. 95% of Episcopalians said no. 82% of Presbyterians said NO. 67% of American Baptists said no. Pulpit Helps, December 1987

• Protestants remain the largest religious segment of America, claiming 56% of the adult population. Catholics represent about 22%, atheists and agnostics are about 7%, and Mormons are just under 2%. Barna Research 2001 ⁸http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdate&BarnaUpdateID=93 See also http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=Topic&TopicID=15

• Bible Reading: the highest was 75%, by those going to a Pentecostal/Foursquare church who reported they had read the Bible during the past week (besides at church), while the lowest was among Catholics at 23%.^⁸

• Volunteer church work (during past 7 days): Assemblies of God were highest at 30%, with the lowest going to Catholics at 12%.^⁸

• Donating Money (during the last month): Church of Christ churches were the highest at 29%, with Catholics being the lowest at 12%.^⁸

• American Evangelicals gave four times as much, per person, to churches as did all other church donors in 2001. 88 percent of Evangelicals and 73 percent of all Protestants donated to churches. John Ronsvalle and Sylvia Ronsvalle, The State of Church Giving through 2004: Will We Will? 16th ed. (Champaign, Ill.: Empty Tomb, 2006),12. http://www.generousgiving.org/stats#

• Among Evangelicals, almost 90 cents of every donated dollar goes to their churches. The proportion drops, however, as people's spiritual intensity and commitment to Christ decline. George Barna, quoted in Survey Finds Americans More Generous Last Year, press release by World Vision, July 22, 2002. http://www.generousgiving.org/stats#

• By denomination, 61% of the those associated with an Assemblies of God church said they had shared their faith at least once during the past year, followed by 61% of those who attend a Pentecostal/Foursquare church, and ending 14% among Episcopalians and just 10% among Roman Catholics.^⁸