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Revealing Statistics: America in Decline

An ongoing extensive online collection (20+ sections below) of statistics. Press F11 to view in full screen in most browsers. This is the latest version (9-8-12) and a recent PDF file is available HERE (best for printing, though it currently runs about 85 or more 8.5x14'' legal size pages in it's PDF format). Thanks be to God. To contact web master email here (referenced new stats will be reviewed for inclusion). Home page: www.peacebyjesus.net

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 (and the world) 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 followers of Christ are to love righteousness and hate evil, as He does (Heb. 1:9), (and which I come short in) and repent of our failures do to so, and love of God includes warning the wicked (Ezek. 33:8; Jn. 7:7; Eph. 5:11), and seeking 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 as Hell is real — it is my prayer that this study may help awaken this nation to “seek the LORD while He may be found,” that as Christians we may be holy ourselves and may intercede for this nation as well as for others, that as many as possible may turn in their hearts 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-type compilation, and my source attribution methodology was/is unorthodox, yet I think it provides more immediate access to the source. The statistics primarily cover from 1992 to 2012, though a few stats go back further, and I have listed the source (and or the link) from which i found the statistics (or their source) directly after the the first listing from such. For many consecutive statistical listings from the same source I place an up arrow (^) to the aforementioned source, usually 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. However, newer consecutive listings from the same source will just place an up arrow to the source.

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 or my concerns. Links were valid when listed, though some may be "dead" at a later time. See special note here on Barna.org links.

As regards copying and use, it is my understanding that statistics themselves may not necessarily be copyrighted, but compilations can be, and (outside those from the Government) permission may need to be granted when using many quotes from one source (such as Barna Research, which i originally did). Otherwise the "Fair Use" clause would apply, in which, the best i understand it (feel free to correct me), some copyrighted material may be used 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). 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.

Disclaimer: I do appreciate being able to find as well as provide these statistics, but links to other sites DO NOT IMPLY that I recommend or agree with all of the content that a site may offer, or the conclusions of that source, and with some here I am sure I would not, especially as regards their advice on sexual morality, but I simply reference them as sources. 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!

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

General 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. NOTE: As of at least 7-15-09, Bara.org changed their site so that the older links (which most are) listed here no longer link to their pages. That was unexpected, and while an employee I contacted stated they were working on rectifying it, the situation remains unchanged. I tracked down some of the pages referenced here and differentiated these links as well as for newer stats from them by making them live. You can search Barna or maybe try the WayBackMachine of the Internet Archive for the missing pages 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.”' See Barn's criteria here

• 34% of U.S. teens are defined as “born again” (1999).¹ http://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

• Sunday school participation has declined from 35% of all teenagers in 1997 to 30% of teens in the current [2010] study; small group attendance was down from 30% to 21%; the proportion of teens who reported donating any of their own money to church has decreased from 35% to 26% over the last dozen years; and even the typically ubiquitous practice of prayer has dropped from 81% to 71% among teens since 1997. Only 45% of born again Christian teenagers said they had explained their beliefs to someone else with different faith views in the last year [2009], down from 63% in 1997. “How Teenagers’ Faith Practices are Changing”, http://www.barna.org/teens-next-gen-articles/403-how-teenagers-faith-practices-are-changing

• 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). ^^{2 http://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/5-barna-update/164}

• 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]. ^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.

• 70% of people 23 to 30 years old, are nowhere to be found in church on a regular basis for at least a year between the ages of 18 and 22. They become church dropouts, though 1/3 return by the time they are 30 (which means 53% of churched teens will still be in church by age 30), and another 30% begin attending church again once a month or less. 2007 study from LifeWay Research; http://liveabove.com/documents/research/Part%201%20Church%20Dropouts_How%20Many%20Leave%20Church%20and%20Why.pdf

  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=75927Conclusion: 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

Sec. 2 TOC	General national spiritual and moral stats (demographics; general beliefs)

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

• According to a Barna research report issued October 11, 2010, The 10 most unchurched cities – where around four out of ten adults have not been to a religious worship service in the last six months – are San Francisco (44%); Portland Maine (43%); Portland Ore. (42%); Albany NY (42%); Boston (40%); Sacramento (40%); and Seattle (40%); Spokane (39%);, New York (38%); Phoenix (38%); Tucson (37%).

• The cities (measured in the Barna research as media markets) with the highest proportion of residents who describe themselves as Christian are typically in the South, including: Shreveport (98%), Birmingham (96%), Charlotte (96%), Nashville (95%), Greenville, SC / Asheville, NC (94%), New Orleans (94%), Indianapolis (93%), Lexington (93%), Roanoke-Lynchburg (93%), Little Rock (92%), and Memphis (92%).

• 73% of the populations of Charlotte and Shreveport held scripture in high regard, versus only 27% of the residents of Providence, Rhode Island (the most Catholic state) and San Francisco (the most homosexual large city).

• 64% of Birmingham and 54% of Charlotte said they strongly agreed that a person has a responsibility to share their beliefs with others, versus only 14% of residents of Providence R.I. and 17% of Bostonians agreed. http://www.barna.org/faith-spirituality/435-diversity-of-faith-in-various-us-cities

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 . Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion - American Piety in the 21 Century – September 2006 . http://www.baylor.edu/content/services/document.php/33304.pdf

• 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 highest percentages of residents who describe themselves as Christian are typically in the South, including: Shreveport LA (98%), Birmingham (96%), Charlotte (96%), Nashville (95%), Greenville, SC / Asheville, NC (94%), New Orleans (94%), Indianapolis (93%), Lexington (93%), Roanoke-Lynchburg (93%), Little Rock (92%), and Memphis (92%). http://www.barna.org/faith-spirituality/435-diversity-of-faith-in-various-us-cities

• 73% of the populations of Charlotte and Shreveport held scripture in high regard, versus only 27% of the residents of Providence, Rhode Island [the most Catholic state] and San Francisco [the most homosexual large city]. ^

• The lowest percentages of self-identified Christians inhabited the following markets: San Francisco (68%), Portland, Oregon (71%), Portland, Maine (72%), Seattle (73%), Sacramento (73%), New York (73%), San Diego (75%), Los Angeles (75%), Boston (76%), Phoenix (78%), Miami (78%), Las Vegas (78%), and Denver (78%). Even in these cities, however, roughly three out of every four residents align with Christianity. ^

• The highest percentage of souls who tended toward being atheist or agnostic were in Portland, Maine (19%), Seattle (19%), Portland, Oregon (16%), Sacramento (16%), and Spokane (16%)

• Commitment to evangelism (agree strongly that a person has a responsibility to share their beliefs with others) saw the greatest percentage of endorsement by residents of Birmingham (64%) and Charlotte (54%), in contrast to residents of Providence (14%) and Boston (17%).

• 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.

• 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

• In 2006, there was an estimated 2.2 billion Christians and 1.3 billion Muslims worldwide, 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

  According to a 2006 Baylor University Religion Survey:

• 33.6 percent of Americans, roughly 100 million people, are Evangelical Protestants by affiliation.

• 62.9 percent) of Americans not affiliated with a religious tradition believe in God or some higher power.

• 31.4 percent believe in an Authoritarian God ( primarily Southerners), who is very judgmental and engaged (though they may also see Him as very loving).

• 25 percent believe in a Benevolent God, (primarily Midwesterners) who is not judgmental but engaged.

• 23 percent believe in a Distant God (primarily West Coasters), who is completely removed.

• 16 percent believe in a Critical God (primarily Easterners), who is judgmental but not engaged. http://www.baylor.edu/pr/news.php?action=story&story=41678

• 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. Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion - American Piety in the 21 Century – September 2006 . http://www.baylor.edu/content/services/document.php/33304.pdf

• 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. ^³

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• People who said "None" when asked their religious identity now represent 15% of Americans (19% men, 12% women) — up from 8% in 1990. While in terms of Belonging (self-identification) 1in 6 Americans is presently of No Religion, in terms of Belief and Behavior the ratio is higher around 1 in 4. 2008 American Religious Identification Survey (ARIS); http://commons.trincoll.edu/aris/files/2011/08/ARIS_Report_2008.pdf http://commons.trincoll.edu/aris/files/2011/08/NONES_08.pdf

• 22% of 18-29 year old are Nones; only 32% of "current" Nones report they were None at age 12. ^

• Regarding belief in the divine, most Nones are neither atheists nor theists but rather agnostics and deists (59%) and perhaps best described as skeptics. 24% believe in a non-personal God; 27% believe in a personal God; 36% are agnostic (19% hard agnostics; 17% soft agnostics); 7% are atheist. Only 15% of Nones with a college degree are theists while 11% are atheists [being "wise in their own eyes," they become fools]. ^

• Those who claim to have no religious affiliation (called “Nones”) have grown in every state since 1990. ^

• The west and northeast coasts dominate the no religion category. VT comes in 1st with 34%. CA ranks 14th with 18%. Mississippi has the least who who identify themselves as having no religion with 5%. Ethnically, Asians are the highest at 29%. ^

• 24% of current Nones (and 35% of 1st generation or "new" Nones) identified themselves being Catholic at age 12, 11% identified themselves as "Christian," 7% as Baptist, and 3% as Protestant. ^

• 41% of those raised as Nones joined a religion after age 12, while 88% of those raised religious retained their faith. In relation percentages of the total population, this means that since they were 12 years of age, 4% of Americans switched from None to religious while 11% of Americans switched from religious to None, a 7% imbalance toward the Nones. 66% of current Nones are first-generation Nones. ^

• Non-Christian religions have grown in all but 6 states since 1990. ^

• 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 . Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion - American Piety in the 21 Century – September 2006 . http://www.baylor.edu/content/services/document.php/33304.pdf

• 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#

• Between 80-85% of churches in the US are in numeric decline. Between 1990 and 2000 there was a net gain of 4600 churches in the US; however, to simply maintain the pace with population growth a gain of 38,800 was needed. http://www.missionaloutreachnetwork.com/profiles/blogs/some-startling-statisfics-on

• 70 percent of 23-30 year olds stopped attending church regularly for at least a year between ages 18-22. 35% of these dropouts eventually returned and say they are attending church twice a month, and another 30% begin attending church again once a month or less 2007 study from LifeWay Research; http://liveabove.com/documents/research/Part%201%20Church%20Dropouts_How%20Many%20Leave%20Church%20and%20Why.pdf

• When LifeWay asked church dropouts why they stopped attending church, 97% cited some change in life situation (work schedule, not being close to a church, etc.) or having no time for church. 20% had intended to stop attending once they graduated, and 27% wanted a break from church (respondents could choose more than one reason). 50% off returnees do so due to influence of family or friends. ^

• 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. http://www.gc.cuny.edu/faculty/research_studies/aris.pdf

• A 2001 study reported Christianity in America suffered a loss of 9.7 percentage points in 11 years — about 0.9 percentage points per year. If this trend continues, then non-Christians will outnumber the Christians in the U.S. by about the year 2042. Diana Eck, A New Religious America: How a 'Christian Country' Has Become the World's Most Religiously Diverse Nation, 2001,. based on American Religious Identification Survey 2001; http://www.letusreason.org/Current30.htm

• A 2008 study reported Americans who identify themselves as Christian dropped from 86.2% to 76.0% — about 10 percentage points in 18 years (about 0.6 percentage points per year). The percentage of American adults who identify themselves with a specific religion dropped from 89.5% to 79.9%, and identification as Protestant dropped from 60.0 to 50.9%, with Catholics declining from 26.2% to 25.1%. ARIS Study; http://www.americanreligionsurvey-aris.org/

• 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. 2008 American Religious Identification Survey. The Program on Public Values at Trinity College in Hartford, Conn. http://www.christianpost.com/article/20090309/survey-non-religious-americans-on-the-rise-in-every-state/

• 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. ^

• 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

• The fastest growing religion percentage wise between 1990 and 2001 was 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).

• From the year 2000 to the year 2010, he fastest growing religion in the US was Islam at 66.7%, with the number of Muslims living inside the United States increasing from 1 million to 2.6 million. Census data compiled by the Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies http://www.rcms2010.org/press_release/ACP%2020120501.pdf

• 39 percent of all adult Muslims living in America (2007) were immigrants that had arrived in the United States since 1990. Pew Research Center, 2007 http://endoftheamericandream.com/archives/the-fastest-growing-religion-in-america-is-islam

• Between 2000 and 2010, the number of Orthodox Christian congregations has increased by 13 percent for Eastern Orthodox churches and 35 percent for Oriental Orthodox churches. Nearly half of Orthodox Adherents are in CA, NY, IL, MA, and PA.

• 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

• 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 where Catholics grew by the year 2000, the percent Catholic growth from 1990 to 2000 was substantially greater than the general population growth [including a 45 percent increase in Arkansas and 111 percent increase in Nevada.] ^^3.5

• [2002] Statistics compiled by the U.S. bishops' Secretariat for Hispanic Affairs reported that 71 percent of the U.S. Catholic population growth since 1960 was due to Hispanics. The statistics are taken from U.S. Census reports and recent surveys of Hispanics. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1141/is_15_36/ai_59607715/pg_3/

• The Catholic population of the United States had fallen by nearly 400,000 in 2007, and suffered a slight membership loss in 2009 but increased 1.49 percent in 2010. http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=5753 http://www.ncccusa.org/news/100204yearbook2010.html

• The Church of God (Cleveland, Tenn.) - ranked 24th largest - increased 1.76 percent, and the Assemblies of God (9th) grew 1.27 percent. The “Latter-day Saints” [cult] (ranked 4th largest) grew 1.71 percent, the Jehovah's Witnesses [cult] (23rd ) said they were up 2 percent http://www.ncccusa.org/news/100204yearbook2010.html

• 54% of “millennial generation” Catholics (born in 1982 or later) are Hispanics, while 39% are non-Hispanic whites. On the other hand, 76% of “pre-Vatican II generation” Catholics (born 1943 or earlier) are non-Hispanic whites, while 15% are Hispanics. Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) at Georgetown University, September, 2010 http://www.osv.com/tabid/7621/itemid/6850/Openers-More-evidence-of-the-browning-of-US-Cat.aspx

• Catholicism has experienced “the greatest net loss” in numbers of any major religious group. Those who have left Catholicism outnumber those who have joined the church by an almost four-to-one margin. Ex-Catholics, if one considered them a denomination, would be the second-largest in the country behind Catholics, who list 68.1 million members. “The 'had it' Catholics,” National Catholic Reporter ,Oct. 11, 2001, based on reports from the 2008 Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life survey and the National Council of Churches’ 2010 Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches.

• Latinos comprised 32 percent of all U.S. Catholics in 2008, versus to 20 percent in 1990. However, Catholic identification has slipped from 66 percent in 1990 to 60 percent in 2008. There has also been a significant rise in the number of Latinos who do not adhere to a religion. The longer a Latino has lived in the United States, the less likely he or she is to be Catholic. Study of Secularism in Society and Culture at Trinity College, http://theamericano.com/2010/03/18/new-report-on-u-s-latino-religious-identification/

• Almost 20% for all Latino American Catholics have left the Roman Catholic church, with 23 percent of second-generation Latino Americans doing so. Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion ^

• Just a third of persons in Evangelical Protestant congregations and denominations (32.6%) actually refer to themselves as “Evangelical.” Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion ^

• Only 15 percent of the population use the actual term “Evangelical” to describe their religious identity and barely two in 100 Americans say it is the best description. ^5.5Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion - American Piety in the 21 Century – September 2006 . Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion - American Piety in the 21 Century – September 2006 . http://www.baylor.edu/content/services/document.php/33304.pdf

• Only 8% of US adults doctrinally qualify as “Evangelicals” (2004) [see criteria under first section].^{4 http://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/13-culture/111-survey-explores-who-qualifies-as-an-evangelical?q=evangelical}

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

• 49% of evangelical adults fit the charismatic definition, with 7% of Southern Baptist churches and 6% of mainline churches being charismatic, according to their Senior Pastors, 9% of whom are female (same as non-charismatic). 36% of all U.S. Catholics, and 22% of all charismatics in the U.S. identify as Catholic. Barna research, 2008 http://www.barna.org/congregations-articles/52-is-american-christianity-turning-charismatic

• 51% of all born again Christians are charismatic, with 46% of all adults who attend a Protestant church identifying with that. 16% of the country's white Protestant congregations are Pentecostal, compared to 65% of the Protestant churches dominated by African-Americans. Barna research, 2008

• Professor Alvin Reid (Professor of Evangelism and Student Ministry at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary) shows that at least 41% of Americans are hard-core unchurched (have no clear understanding of the gospel, and have had little or no contact with a Bible teaching church), which is larger than the 30% figure of nominal Christians, or the 29% figure of actively participating Christians. Alvin Reid, “Radically Unchurched: Who they are and how to reach them,” (Grand Rapids, Kregel Academic, 2002), (p 21) http://www.xenos.org/books/satan/churchdecline.htm

• According to Southern Baptist data, only one in nine adults who were baptized described themselves as previously unchurched, meaning almost 90 percent of baptized adults previously had a connection with a church. ^ p. 23, citing research from the Home Mission Board.

• Out of the 350,000 churches in the U. S., less than 1% is estimated to be growing via conversion growth.” ^ p. 23

• Membership over the past decade in Protestant churches dropped 9.5%, while the U.S. population grew 11%.” ^ p. 24

• Transfers, switchovers, or returners accounted for all but 8% of those who had been in churches fewer than 5 years. Wicker, The Fall of the Evangelical Nation: The Surprising Crisis Inside the Church, (NY: Harper One, 2008)

• In the 18-34 age group, Southern Baptist baptisms fell 40% from 100,000 in 1980 to 60,000 in 2005.” Wicker, ^ p. 63

• 78 percent of those surveyed overall, and 89 percent among adults 18-29 said they would be willing to listen to someone who wanted to talk about their Christian beliefs. Mark Kelly, LifeWay Research: Unchurched Americans Turned Off by Church, Open to Christians, NASHVILLE; http://www.xenos.org/books/satan/churchdecline.htm

• 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

• 67% of Americans currently (2010) say that religion is losing its influence on American life, up from 59 percent who said the same in July 2006. 53 percent see this it as a bad thing, versus 10 percent who disagree. Pew forum survey, July 21-Aug. 5, 2010 http://pewforum.org/Politics-and-Elections/Growing-Number-of-Americans-Say-Obama-is-a-Muslim.aspx

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

• 43% of Americans surveyed percent said houses of worship should express their views on day-to-day social and political questions, but 70 percent said churches should not come out in favor of candidates during political elections, versus 24 percent who support such endorsements. A narrow majority (52 percent) held that houses of worship should keep out of political matters. Pew forum survey, July 21-Aug. 5, 2010 http://pewforum.org/Politics-and-Elections/Growing-Number-of-Americans-Say-Obama-is-a-Muslim.aspx

• Homosexuals are far more likely to align with the Democratic Party (53% of gays are registered Democrats) than the Republican Party (18% of gays are registered Republicans). Spiritual Profile of Homosexual Adults http://www.barna.org/culture-articles/282-spiritual-profile-of-homosexual-adults-provides-surprising-insights

• 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 . Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion - American Piety in the 21 Century – September 2006 . http://www.baylor.edu/content/services/document.php/33304.pdf

• Hartford Seminary reported 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

• A 2011 statistical study of mosques in the United States shows that the number of Islamic houses of worship has increased 74 percent since 2000. The US Mosque Survey 2011 counted a total of 2,106 mosques; as compared to the year 2000 when 1,209 mosques were counted.

• Nearly 50 percent of mosques are in six states: New York (257), California (246), Texas (166), Florida (118), Illinois (109), and New Jersey (109). The states with the largest number of mosques include that group plus Pennsylvania (99), Michigan (77), Georgia (69), and Virginia (62), which means that more than 62 percent of mosques are in just 10 states. http://faithcommunitiestoday.org/sites/faithcommunitiestoday.org/files/The%20American%20Mosque%202011%20web.pdf

• Some Muslims expected to outnumber Protestants in the U.S by 2050 (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).

• 62 percent majority of voters thinks the United States is on the decline. 76 percent of Republicans and 64 percent of independents and 43% of Democrats the country is in decline, while 41 percent of the latter think the country is on the rise. 89 percent of Republicans, 78 percent of independents, and 53 percent of Democrats agree that the government is too powerful. Also, 56 percent of voters think the country is currently moving away from capitalism to socialism, while 34% disagree. Only 18 percent of voters think it would be a good thing for the country to move away from capitalism and toward socialism, with 69% seeing it negatively. However, only 59 percent of those living in lower-income households, 57 percent of young people, as well as 49 percent of Democrats see moving toward socialism as a bad thing. (Dana Blanton, “Fox News Poll: 62 Percent Think U.S. Is on the Decline,” July 30, 2010)

• 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

• 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 Bible is the best-selling book every year. “The Good Book Business; Why publishers love the Bible,” The New Yorker magazine, Nov. 8, 2010

  Bible sales for the month of Nov. 2010 were:

• 1 New International Version; 2 King James Version; 3 New King James Version; 4 English Standard Version; 5 New Living Translation; 6 Holman Christian Standard Bible; 7 New American Standard Bible update; 8 New International Version Readers Version; 9 The Message; 10 Reina Valera 1960 (Spanish) [though a Bible bought is not necessarily a Bible read] Christian booksellers association, based on Unit Sales. http://www.cbaonline.org/nm/documents/BSLs/Bible_Translations.pdf

• In 1998 the King James Version was 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.

• The annual State of the Bible 2012 survey, conducted by Barna Group found that:

• 47% of American adults believe the Bible has too little influence in society today

• 55% read the Bible to be closer to God, down 9% (from 64%) in 2011

• 79% believe they are knowledgeable about the Bible but 54% were unable to correctly identify the first five books of the Bible

• 46% believe the Bible, the Koran and the Book of Mormon are different expressions of the same spiritual truths, 46% disagree

• On average, 85% of U.S. households own a Bible; the average amount of Bibles per household is 4.3

• 36% of Americans read the Bible less than once a year or never while 33% read the Bible once a week or more

• Americans’ beliefs about the Bible are highly varied by age. Only 34% of those age 18-27 vs. 62% age 66 and older believe the Bible contains everything a person needs to know about living a meaningful life. http://uncover.americanbible.org/state-bible

  BIBLE STATISTICS (most based upon the KJV: some figures may have minor variation according to manuscript sources and or translation, or due to whether superscriptions were counted):
  Number of books in the Bible: 66 (see summations of each book and notes on the apocrypha here)	Middle books: Micah and Nahum Middle verses: Psalm 103:1+2
  Old Testament: 602,585; New Testament: 180,552 = 783,037 total.	Number of languages: 3 (Hebrew, Greek, Chadic)
  Chapters: 1,189; Verses: 31,102; Words: 788,258 (KJV-English) Letters: 3,566,480; Commands: 6,468; Number of questions: 3,294;	Number of languages the Bible has been translated into: over 1,200 languages.
  Predictions: over 8,000; Number of promises given in the Bible: 1,260 ; Number of characters: 2,930 in 1,551 places. Longest name: Mahershalalhashbaz (Isaiah 8:1)	Number of human writers: est. 40, from 10 different countries
  Shortest verse in the O.T.: 1Chron. 1:25 Longest verse in the O.T. Esther 8:9 (78 words) Shortest verse in original Greek of the N. T. 1Thes. 5:16 Shortest verse in English: John 11:35	Number of still existing New Testament manuscripts: 24,000 (5,300 Greek manuscripts of the , 10,000 Latin Vulgates, and 9,300 other early versions).
  http://www.biblebelievers.com/believers-org/kjv-stats. html http://muthbible.org/resources/bible/biblestatistics.php http://www.learnbible.net/remark.html

• 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. ^

• Including religious households, American households overall gave 3.5% of their income to charity, with approx. 33% going 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

• 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).

• Those who attend services frequently were 56% more likely to have an optimistic life outlook than those who don't and were 27% less likely to be depressed. Those who attended weekly were less likely to be characterized by cynical hostility, compared with those who did not report any religious service attendance. Journal of Religion and Health, November, 2011