“Nones”
N
ones—Americans who profess no reli- gious affi liation—now make up 15% of the population. Given their rapid growth, their numbers might soon surpass the nation’s largest denominations. But get this: 24% of Nones say they believe in a ‘higher power but no personal God,’ the belief system that used to be described as deism. They don’t believe in Scripture or organized religion. But in the privacy of their home, they think that the distant, aloof God occasion- ally checks in to listen to their prayers.
Source: Beliefnet founder Steven Waldman, quoted in the Wall
Street Journal, The Week, October
9, 2009
Unchurched
Research by the Barna Group indicates that 28% of the adult popu- lation has not attended any church activities, including services, in the past six months. That translates to nearly 65 million adults. When their children under the age of 18 who live with them are added to the picture, the number swells to more than 100 million people.
Source: Barna Update, April 12, 2010
Sex Ed that works
abstinence-based sex education works better than any other form of sex ed.
A
The study followed 662 middle school students from 2001 through 2004. Two years after completing the curriculum only 33% of the students who went through the abstinence program started having sex, compared to 52% who were taught only safe sex. About 42% of students who went through a comprehensive program started having sex and about 47% of those who learned other ways to be healthy did.
Source: The Washington Post, February 2, 2010
Sexually active after abstinence Sex Ed
33%
Sexually active after only “Safe Sex” Ed
52%
Media Junkies
A
Kaiser Family Foundation study found that U.S. kids ages 8
to 18 are consuming more media than ever before. Children and teens are now using their phones, computers, TVs and video game systems for a total of 7.5 hours a day, or 52.5 hours a week.
Daily media consumption for U.S. kids: • Watching TV: 270 min. • Listening to music: 151 min. • Talking on cell phones: 33 min • Playing video games: 73 min. • Text messaging: 90 min. • Nonschool computer use: 89 min.
Source: Kaiser Family Foundation and Time, February 1, 2010
Source: USA Today, February 17, 2010
53%
Percentage who are certain God exists
26%
Percentage of Millennials with no religious affl iation
ON MISSION • Summer 2010 7
new study by University of Pennsylvania professor John Jemmott III found that
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