Revealing Statistics:
America in Decline
Subtitle:
The 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 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 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 this is most critically in 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” (Proverbs 15:3), and all of our works are recorded by Him, from the first to the last. But as men should love righteousnesses and hate evil, and as every soul and nation shall answer for their faith and deeds (2nd Chronicles 26:11; Matthew 25:31-46; 2nd Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 20:11-15) — and 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 that we 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:
Statistical 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, nor is it entirely up to date. It covers statistics primarily from 1995 to 2006, though in a few studies it goes back further. As I take source attribution seriously, I have tried to list the most original statistical source I found directly after them the stats, as well as through a numbered bibliography at the end of each section for certain sources with multiple stats. For these there is a master list at the end of the entire statistical section. For consecutive multiple stats from the same source, I usually give the source directly, then place an up arrow (^) for additional same – source stats, along with the number denoting the source which corresponds to the bibliography (^1 ) at the end. In the case of Barna research (which, along with the US Government, is the largest single source for these stats), the main source information is given before the statistics in the 1st section, with the actual web pages listed afterwards according to the aforementioned manner.
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. Links are mostly not “hot linked,” because some sources do not want you to so link to them, due to bandwidth concerns.
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 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 I NEED TO SAY THAT LINKS TO OTHER SITES DO 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 (1st Thessalonians 5:21), by faith in which we find true liberty, with it's necessary and beneficial limits. Praise the Lord!
General Church and spiritual Statistics
Most statistics in this next section are copyrighted from BARNA RESEARCH ARE FROM THE BARNA GROUP, LTD.1957 EASTMAN AVE. SUITE B VENTURA, CALIFORNIA 93003 UNITED STATES VOICE: (805) 639-0000 FAX: (805) 658-7298 They are recognized by an URL beginning with http://www.barna.org .
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.” www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdate&BarnaUpdateID=119
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Sect. 1 |
U.S. Teens Spiritual Statistics |
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 one-third of teenagers. More than one-quarter of teens have played a game featuring sorcery or witchcraft elements. One-tenth 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 teens say they have communicated with a dead person (10%). Nearly two million youth claim they have psychic powers.^2
Only one-quarter of churched teenagers (28%) recall receiving any teaching at their church in the last year that helped to shape their views on the supernatural world!^2
More than two-thirds of Protestant young adults exit the church between the ages of 18 and 22, according to a recent report by 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 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
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Sec. 2 |
General national spiritual statistics |
83% percent of Americans identify 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
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. ^5.5
In 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
From 1978 to 2004, there was a rapid increase in the number of Catholics in the world by more than 45 percent from almost 757 million to 1.098 billion. Annuarium Statisticum Ecclesiae of 2004
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, or half the Gallup figure, 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. 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
Only19 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
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, 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. ^5.5
Only 7% of US adults qualify as “evangelicals” (2004) [see criteria under first section].4© The Barna Group, Ltd. 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
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
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 (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 (18.6%) 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
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 has suffered a loss of 9.7 percentage points in 11 years -- about 0.9 percentage points per year. If this trend continues, then by about the year 2042, non-Christians will outnumber the Christians in the U.S. 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
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 2010, Islam is expected to be the second-largest faith in the U.S., after Christianity. http://www.iiie.net/Opinions/IslamInUSFactSheet.html
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 increase 170% from 1990 to 2001. (Science and Spirit, September/October 2002. Discipleship Journal, March/April 2003, pg. 14).
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).
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
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% 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:
Number of books in the Bible: 66
Chapters: 1,189
Verses: 31,101
Words: 783,137
Letters: 3,566,480
Number of promises given in the Bible: 1,260
Commands: 6,468
Predictions: over 8,000
Fulfilled prophecy: 3,268 verses
Unfulfilled prophecy: 3,140
Number of questions: 3,294
The number of Number of Arabic Words in the Quran is 77,439 [77,473 in English] (reported byAl-Fadl bin Shadhan as said by ‘Ata bin Yasar).
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).
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. Empty Tomb Inc.http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20061012-105326-4799r.htm October 13, 2006
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?id=40634
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Sec. 3 |
Faith Beliefs |
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, Copyright © 2004 -- The Gallup Organization http://www.gallup.com/poll/content/login.aspx?ci=5998
69% [2003?] of those who attend church ‘nearly weekly’ 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
33% of so-called "born again" adults support the legalization of same-gender sexual relations. Barna Research 2001.^
80% of adults classified as “born again” have been married. http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdate&BarnaUpdateID=170
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
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.^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
More than 55% of Americans say Heaven can be earned by good works [which eliminates them as being born again Christians.] Barna Research 1998. Printed in USA Today, May 27, 1998, http://webminister.com/growth01/plan0031.htm
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 Jesus did not have a physical resurrection [likewise disallowing saving faith]. Barna Research. http://webminister.com/growth01/plan0031.htm
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. 5.5Baylor 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, 27% believe He cannot. (USA Today, October 24, 2003, pg. A1)
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
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
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Sec. 4 |
Differences among Denominations |
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 bearing 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 the definition (see first section) of evangelical. ^7
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 8 http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdate&BarnaUpdateID=93 See also http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=Topic&TopicID=15
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 N0. Pulpit Helps, December 1987
Weekly Church attendance (12 denominations polled, Christian and nominal Christian): Outside of Mormon Temple worshipers at 62%, Church of Christ churches were the highest with 37% reporting they attended every Sonday. Christian Pentecostal/Foursquare and Assemblies of God churches were close behind at 37% and 35% respectively. The lowest figure for weekly Sunday attendance was that of 6% for Catholics, and 11% for the Episcopal church.^8
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 Catholic 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
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
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
The highest percentage of those who strongly agree they have a personal responsibility to share their faith was found among believers in Pentecostal/Foursquare churches (73%) [Independent Fundamental Baptists, who usually are the most committed in this, were grouped with other baptists]. http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdate&BarnaUpdateID=147
Only 8% of Senior Pastors say they have the gift of evangelism, just 12% the spiritual gift of leadership; but 66% say they have the gift of teaching or preaching. Barna Research 2001.http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdate&BarnaUpdateID=103
81% of Pentecostal/Foursquare believers strongly agree that the Bible is totally accurate in all that it teaches , followed by 77% of Assemblies of God believers, and ending with 26% of Catholics and 22% of Episcopalians. http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdate&BarnaUpdateID=92
73% (highest) of Pentecostal/Foursquare believers strongly affirm that Christ was sinless on earth, with Catholics, Lutherans and Methodists being tied at 33%, and the lowest being among Episcopalians with just 28% 7http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdate&BarnaUpdateID=92
64% of those in Assemblies of God churches (versus only 9% of Catholics) strongly DISAGREE that if a person is generally good, or does enough good things for others they will earn a place in Heaven [salvation on the basis of merit]. Only ^ (See Romans 3-5, Eph. 2:8, 9; Titus 3:5, etc.). ^7
56% of Assemblies of God (versus 17% Catholics) Christians strongly DISAGREE that Satan is just a symbol of evil [rather than a real being]. ^7
Catholics and Mainline Protestants tend towards more belief in a more Distant God. 5.5Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion - American Piety in the 21 Century – September 2006 . http://www.baylor.edu/isreligion/index.php?id=40634
Evangelical Protestants and Black Protestants tend towards belief in a more Authoritarian God. ^
Jews tend towards belief in a Distant God and over 8% of Jews in the sample report being atheists. ^
88% of Catholics believe that they can practice artificial means of birth control and still be considered good Catholics. New York Times/CBS News poll, Apr. 21-23, 1994, subsample of 446 Catholics, MOE ± 5%.
70 % of all Catholics in the age group 18 to 44 believe the Eucharist is a "symbolic reminder" of Jesus [it is, of His death], indicating they do not believe it is Jesus actual body and blood [as Rome erroneously teaches]. New York Times/CBS News poll, Apr. 21-23, 1994, subsample of 446 Catholics, MOE ± 5%
Only 30% of Catholics said believe they are really and truly receiving the body, blood, soul and divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ under the appearance of bread and wine. 1992 Gallup poll
Age 65 and over, 51% of Catholics said they believe in the above doctrine. New York Times and CBS poll of Catholics. http://www.catholicapologetics.com/ba3.htm
66% of Catholics supported women's ordination to the priesthood, and 73% approved of the way John Paul II leads the church. Surveying the Religious Landscape: Trends in U.S. Beliefs by George Gallup, Jr. and D. Michael Lindsay (Morehouse Publishing, 1999). Copyright © 2004 -- The Gallup Organization www.gallup.com
80% of Catholics believe it is possible to disagree with the pope on official positions on morality and still be a good Catholic. Time/CNN nationwide poll of 1,000 adults, conducted by Yankelovich Partners, Sept. 27-28, 1995; subsample of 500 Catholics, MOE ± 4.5%
77 % of Catholics polled "believe a person can be a good Catholic without going to Mass every Sunday, 65 percent believe good Catholics can divorce and remarry, and 53 percent believe Catholics can have abortions and remain in good standing. 1999 poll by the National Catholic Reporter. http://www.catholictradition.org/v2-bombs14b.htm
31% of faithful Catholics (those who attend church weekly) say abortion should be legal either in "many" or in "all" cases. Copyright © 2004 -- The Gallup Organization Gallup Survey for Catholics Speak Out: 802 Catholics, May 1992, MOE ± 4%
Catholic women have an abortion rate 29 percent higher than Protestants. Alan Guttmacher Institute http://www.catholicleague.org/research/catholic_women_and_abortion.htm
59% of all Catholic women of childbearing age practice contraception—a rate of usage statistically equivalent to that of the general population (60%). Calvin Goldscheider and William D. Mosher, "Patterns of Contraceptive Use in the United States:
Only 30 percent of Catholic (97% claim to be so) in Italy attend church. In larger cities as Milan, the ratio is only 15 percent, according to church officials. Famiglia Cristiana,Catholic weekly magazine.
In Catholic France (76% claim to be so) only 12 percent say they go to church on Sunday (Vatican officials say only 5 percent in cities such as Paris). Georgetown University's Center for the Study of Global Christianity. Charles M. Sennott, Globe Staff, May 2, 2005 ©Copyright 2005 The New York Times Company. http://www.boston.com/news/world/articles/2005/05/02/catholic_church_withers_in_europe?mode=PF
In Catholic Ireland (90%) less than 50 percent attend Mass even once a month, (down from 91% 30 years ago) estimates a recent church study. ^
10 percent of Protestants, 21 percent of Roman Catholics, and 52 percent of Jews do NOT believe in God. Harris Interactive Poll, Copyright © 2003 CompuServe Interactive Services, Inc. All rights reserved. http://www.simpletoremember.com/vitals/JewsDontBelieve.htm
Mississippi (33%), Alabama, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Kentucky have the 5 highest percentages of S. Baptist, while Rhode Island (52%), Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York have the 5 highest percentages of Catholics. http://www.adherents.com/rel_USA.html
The population of Massachusetts ranks as the most liberal, with Boston and Cambridge being the most liberal large cities (100, 000 or more), followed by California. http://www.epodunk.com/top10/liberal/index.html).
The 16 most Catholic states contain 24 of the most liberal cities. Excluding (Maryland 26th), predominately Roman Catholic states contain all but one (Seattle WA) of the 30 most liberal cities. Of states in which S. Baptists are the single largest denomination none (of the 30 cities) were found (the term “liberal: being defined according to individual contributions to PACs, election returns and the number of homosexual households: http://www.epodunk.com/top10/liberal/index.html). http://www.glenmary.org/grc/RCMS_2000/Catholic_findings.htm , http://www.adherents.com/rel_USA.html.
See HERE for Table of brief casual Religio-Political relations.
Protestants make up approx. 50% of all voters, while Catholics make up 19.9% By group: Baptists at 12.9%, Methodist 8.2%, Lutheran 3.9%, Presbyterian 2.5%, Jewish 2.3%, Episcopalian 1.7% Mormons 1.4%. http://www.adherents.com/rel_USA.html
16 percent of Jewish souls said they go to synagogue once a month or more. Harris Interactive Poll, © 2003 CompuServe Interactive Services, Inc. All rights reserved. http://www.simpletoremember.com/vitals/JewsDontBelieve.htm
Only 8% of born again adults give a 10th of their income to their church. http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdate&BarnaUpdateID=52 http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdate&BarnaUpdateID=147
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
5.5Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion - American Piety in the 21 Century – September 2006 . http://www.baylor.edu/isreligion/index.php?id=406347http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdate&BarnaUpdateID=92
8Barna Research 2001 http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdate&BarnaUpdateID=93
See also http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=Topic&TopicID=15
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Sec. 5 |
MARRIAGE versus DIVORCE |
Only 7% of couples who attend services once a month will divorce within the first 5 years of marriage. The rate for those who go to church once a year or less is 2 ½ times higher. U.S. government's National Survey of Family Growth, Atheists won't save Europe by don feder http://www.frontpagemagazine.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=27937
The overwhelming majority of married men (94 percent) say that they are happier being married than being single. 9The State of our unions 2004; http://marriage.rutgers.edu/Publications/SOOU/TEXTSOOU2004.htm
73% percent say that their sexual life is better since getting married, and 68% say that marriage has helped them become more financially stable.^9
In times past and up to the present, almost all persons who were married did so by age 45. In every generation for which records exist, going back to the mid-1800s, more than 90% of women have married eventually By 1960, 94 percent of women then alive had been married at least once by age 45.^9
Between 1960 AND 2002, the number of unmarried couples [otherwise known as fornicators, living in sin] in America (couples who are sexual partners, not married to each other, and sharing a household, increased by over 1100 percent.^9
Since 1960, there has been an 850 percent increase in the number of cohabiting couples who live with children.^9
Only 51% of people between the ages 18-34 agree with the statement “those who want children should get married.” (2002).^9
While in 1960 only nine percent of all children lived in single-parent families, a figure that had changed little over the course of the 20th century, by 2003 the percentage had jumped to 27 percent.^9
64% of boys and 55% of girls "agreed" or "mostly agreed" with the [sinful] statement that "it is usually a good idea for a couple to live together before getting married in order to find out whether they really get along."^9
Since 1960, the percentage of babies born to unwed mothers has increased more than sixfold.^9
70% percent of the children in unmarried-couple households are the children of only one partner. Larry Bumpass, J. A. Sweet and A. Cherlin, “The Role of Cohabitation in Declining Rates of Marriage,” Demography 53 (1991):913-27.^9
An estimated 40% of all children today are expected to spend some time in a cohabiting household during their growing up years. Larry Bumpass and Hsien-Hen Lu, “Trends in Cohabitation and Implications for Children’s Family Contexts in the U.S.,” Population Studies 54 (2000) 29-41
Between 1960 and 1990, there was a 41% decline in marriage. Larry L. Bumpass, "What's Happening to the Family? Interactions Between Demographic and Institutional Change," presidential address to the Population Association of America, Demography, Vol. 27, No. 4 (November 1990), pp. 483-498, and Janice S. Crouse, "Strengthening American Families: What Works and What Doesn't Work," World Congress of Families II, Geneva, November 1999, Figure 9; http://www.josh.org/notes/file/Internet8-Divorce.pdf.
About 50 percent of marriages end in divorce. 10T.D. Eddins; http://www.geocities.com/tdeddins/CHAPTER01.htm
85% of one-parent families in 1999 were mother-child families.^10
Nearly 60 percent of all children born in 1986 may be expected to spend almost a year, or longer, in a one-parent family before reaching age 18.^10
Until the early 1980s, most of employed women (outside the home) were those with no children under age 18. Today, married women whose youngest child is between 6 and 17 years of age constitute the largest sector of female employment. 64% are also employed whose youngest child is under age 6.^10
Estimates are that approx. 66% of the people who divorce will eventually remarry.^10
The divorce of parents also reduces the likelihood that a child will attain a college education. The college attendance rate is about 60 percent lower among children of divorced parents compared with children of intact families. Janet B. Hardy et al., "Self-Sufficiency at Ages 27-33 Years: Factors Present Between Birth and 18 Years that Predict Educational Attainment Among Children Born to Inner-City Families," Pediatrics, Vol. 99 (1997), pp. 80-87. http://www.hispeace.org/html/artic27.htm
Almost 50 percent of households with children undergoing divorce move into poverty following the divorce. Julia Heath, "Determinants of Spells of Poverty Following Divorce," Review of Social Economy, Vol. 49 (1992), pp. 305-315. http://www.hispeace.org/html/artic27.htm
In 2002, 72.9 million children under age 18 lived in the United States and represented 25 percent of the population, down from a peak of 36 percent at the end of the baby boom in 1964. Children are projected to be 24 percent of the population in 2020. http://www.childstats.gov/ac2004/pdf/pop.pdf.
In 1998, 26% lof America's children, lived in single - parent, “maintained by mother” households; 6% in “maintained by father” households.” U.S. Census Bureau; US Statistical Abstract, Table 76,
In 1998, only 68% of American children live with “two parent family groups” (down from 77% in 1980). U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Reports, (estimated) http://www.prcdc.org/summaries/children/children.html
Only 57% of teens live in the same home with both of their natural parents. (1999) http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=Topic&TopicID=37
Between 1960 and 1990, the percentage of children living apart from their biological fathers more than doubled, from 17 percent to 36 percent. http://mensightmagazine.com/Articles/Popenoe/nofathers.htm
Children who are raised without their fathers account for 63 percent of youth suicides, 71 percent of pregnant teenagers, 90 percent of homeless and runaway children, 85 percent of behavioral disorders exhibited by children, and 71 percent of high school dropouts, in the United States. House Concurrent Resolution 147; [2001?]. https://fatherhood.safeserver.com/legislative.htm.
A child born to a single mother is twice as likely to drop out of high school, twice as likely to have a child before age twenty, and one and a half times as likely to be out of school and out of work in his/her late teens and early twenties. U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Reports, (estimated) Executive Summary:Status of Children in America http://www.prcdc.org/summaries/children/children.html
The general health problems of children from broken homes increase by 20 to 30%, even when adjusting for demographic factors (economic status, etc.). Studies cited in "Twice as strong," The Christian American, March/April 1996, p. 28 http://www.leaderu.com/marco/marriage/gaymarriage5.html#ref221
Nearly one in six adolescents ages 12 to 19 were overweight in the United States in 1999-2002, more than triple the rate in 1976-1980. http://www.childtrendsdatabank.org/indicators/15OverweightChildrenYouth.cfm
70% of children in state reform institutions grew up in single-parent or no-parent homes. "Be glad for the undoing of no-faults," Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph, February 15, 1996, p. B-5. http://www.leaderu.com/marco/marriage/gaymarriage5.html#ref224
9THE STATE of OUR UNIONS 2004 marriage.rutgers.edu/Publications/SOOU/TEXTSOOU2004.htm
10.T.D. Eddins; http://www.geocities.com/tdeddins/CHAPTER01.htm
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Sec. 6 |
Pornography, Adultery, Fornication, Sodomy - Practices (extra martital, pre martial, and homo - sexual relations) |
In addition to giving Biblical names to some sinful practices in this section, i left out some of the stats which quantified the sexual immorality in schools, as they (sadly) read more like an advertisement for brothels rather than places of education.
"I am much afraid that schools will prove to the great gates of Hell unless they diligently labor in explaining the Holy Scriptures, engraving them in the hearts of youth. I advise no one to place his child where the Scriptures do not reign paramount. Every institution in which men are are not increasingly occupied with the Word of God must become corrupt. — Martin Luther
The porn industry rakes in an estimated $10 billion to $14 billion annually in the United States. The $4 billion that Americans spend on video pornography alone is more than the annual revenue of the NFL, the NBA or Major League Baseball. Dillon Fishman Arizona Daily Wildcat http://wildcat.arizona.edu/papers/98/133/03_1.html
It is estimated that Americans now spend somewhere around $10 billion a year on adult entertainment, which is as much as they spend attending professional sporting events, buying music or going out to the movies. It is estimated that Americans now spend somewhere around $10 billion a year on adult entertainment, which is as much as they spend attending professional sporting events, buying music or going out to the movies. CBS News. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/11/21/60minutes/main585049.shtml
The U.S. Customs Service estimates that there are more than 100,000 websites offering child pornography - which is illegal, worldwide. Red Herring Magazine, 1/18/02; http://www.spcc-storrs.org/blog/archives/general/
25 million Americans visit cybersex sites between 1-10 hours per week MSNBC Survey 2000; http://www.spcc-storrs.org/blog/archives/general/
The combined circulation of Playboy and Penthouse exceeds that of Time and Newsweek. http://www.spcc-storrs.org/blog/archives/general/
Nearly 900 theaters show X-rated films and more than 15,000 adult bookstores and video stores offer pornographic material, outnumbering McDonald's restaurants in the U.S. by a margin of at least 3 to 1. http://www.spcc-storrs.org/blog/archives/general/
60% of all web-site visits are sexual in nature. MSNBC /Stanford/Duquesne study, Washington Times Jan. 26, 2000;. http://www.spcc-storrs.org/blog/archives/general/
Between 2/2001 to 7/2001 there was an increase of 345% in child pornography sites. N2H2, 8/01; http://www.afo.net/statistics.htm
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% say people are born gay (though there is no real proof of that, but as we all are born with a sinful nature, we cannot validate practicing what God states is sin, as He also provides grace to overcome our proclivity to sin,). ^ 4
6% of men and 11.2% of women say they have had same-sex relations. http://www.census.gov/prod/www/statistical-abstract.html
From 1970 to 1996 the number of "never married" persons increased from 21 million to 46 million in 1996. ^ 4
Those who live in sin before marriage have a 50% higher divorce rate than those who do not. In addition, 40% of cohabitors break up before marrying.^ 4
Since 1960 there has been an almost 800% increase to 4.3 million in the number of unmmarried couples people cohabiting. Angela Bayer of the Population Resource Center in May 2001; http://www.childstats.gov/ac2000/pop1.htm
The number of unmarried couples living together grew 72 percent between 1990 and 2000, reflecting a significant change in lifestyle. US Census Bureau.Wetzstein, Cheryl, “Unmarried-couple households increase,” The Washington Times, March 13, 2003), www.washtimes.com/national/20030313-37131544.htm). http://www.josh.org/notes/file/Internet9-Cohabiting.pdf
Approx. 40% of "single parent households" consist of two persons sexually cohabiting [living in sin]. The State of our Unions. http://moralissues.hp.infoseek.co.jp/mi/SOOU2004.pdf.
About 25% (est.) of unmarried women between 25-39 are living in sin, with about 50% having previously done so. U. S. Bureau of the Census. 1998. Marital Status and Living Arrangements: March, 1997
Over 50% of all first marriages are begin with living in sin. [“cohabitation,” compared with approx. 10% overall in 1965.] Larry Bumpass and Hsien-Hen Lu. 1998. "Trends in Cohabitation and Implications for Children's Family Contexts." Unpublished manuscript, Madison, WI: Center for Demography; .University of Wisconsin.
The most likely to cohabit are people aged 20 to 24. http://www.josh.org/notes/file/Internet9-Cohabiting.pdf
“Four times as much infidelity is reported among cohabiting men and among married men. Moreover, 1% of married woman reports having had an affair in the past year, compared to 8% of cohabiting women.” (Warren, Dr. Neil Clark, “The Cohabitation Epidemic,” Focus on the Family, June/July 2003, pg. 10-11) http://www.josh.org/notes/file/Internet9-Cohabiting.pdf
From 1976 to the 1990's reported child abuse in the U.S. has risen from 670,000 to nearly 3 million. FBI statistics; http://www.newsherald.com/archive/religion/bl112198.htm
A survey published in the book Sex in America found that 90 percent of wives and 75 percent of husbands claimed never to have committed adultery. Michael Foust, www.lifeway.com
The most comprehensive recent study of Americans' sexual practices, the 1994 National Health and Social Life Survey, found that 75 percent of married men and 90 percent of married women had been sexually faithful to their spouse. http://www.history.pomona.edu/vis/05h21/readings/frc_Q&A.html
In 1900 only about 6% of 19- year- old white unmarried women had engaged in premarital fornication. pbs.org. http://www.quchronicle.com/media/paper294/news/2004/01/29/Lifestyles/PreMarital.Sex.Sparks.Controversy-590821.shtml
Since 1960 there has been over a 400% increase in illegitimate births. The Wall Street Journal,Monday, March 15, 1993 Quantifying America's Decline by William J. Bennett http://www.columbia.edu/cu/augustine/arch/usadecline.html
By age 17, 50% (conservative number) of teenagers have committed fornication (premarital sexual relations). Alan Guttmacher Institute: AGI, Sex and America's Teenagers, New York: AGI, 1994, pp. 19-20.
80% of teens have committed fornication by the time the leave their teens. Singh S and Darroch JE, Trends in sexual activity among adolescent American women: 1982- 1995, Family Planning Perspectives, 1999, 31(5): 211- 219; special tabulations by The Alan Guttmacher Institute (AGI) of data from the 1995 National Survey of Family Growth; and Sonenstein FL et al., Involving Males in Preventing Teen Pregnancy: A Guide for Program Planners, Washington, DC: The Urban Institute, 1997, p. 12; http://www.agi-usa.org/pubs/fb_teen_sex.html
40% of today's fourteen-year-old girls will become pregnant by the time they are 19. http://www.hi-ho.ne.jp/taku77/papers/vc/vc5.htm
25% 1 in 4 teens who have committed fornication acquire an STD. The Alan Guttmacher Institute. 1994 http://www.agi-usa.org/pubs/fb_teen_sex.html#14a
The primary reason for adolescents remaining (a virgin) is that it is against their religious/moral values. Moore, K.A., Driscoll, A.K., & Lindberg, L.D. (1998). A Statistical Portrait of Adolescent Sex, Contraception, and Childbearing. Washington, DC: The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy.
Approx. 80% of college students are guilty of having committed fornication. CDC and Zogby International for The Foundation for Academic Standards & Tradition.
80 percent of college students are given to fornication, 60 percent in non-committed relations. Substituting Sex For Love http://www.humanlife.org/publications/OutsideBox10.pdf
Among college students who live away from home, (at least) 56 percent were guilty of practicing fornication while attending college. http://www.hon.ch/News/HSN/514693.html http://www.colleges.com/Umagazine/articles/health/HN_000406sexabstinence.html.
1.5 - 2% of the US total population are estimated to be homosexual. http://www.straight-talk.net/gay/facts.shtml (1 - 3% - The Centers for Disease Control).
1.51% [and increasing] of the total U.S. population identified themselves as gay, lesbian or bisexual, or 4.3 total million Americans. The Social Organization of Sex: Sexual Practices in the United States (1994). http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=IF04A01
30% of all adults consider having a sexual relationship with someone of the same gender a morally acceptable behavior. www.Barna.org. Beliefs: General Religious (2004)
In 1979, 73% of homosexuals admitted to having sex with boys. In The Gay Report by Jay and Young,
50% of homosexual males have the Human Papilloma Virus. The Ins and Outs of Gay Sex: A Medical Handbook for Men
43 percent of white male homosexuals estimate they have had sex with 500 or more different partners, and 28 percent report more than 1,000 partners. Authors Bell and Weinberg http://www.leaderu.com/issues/fabric/chap11.html
86 percent of offenders against males described themselves as homosexual or bisexual" (W. D. Erickson, M.D., et al., in Archives of Sexual Behavior 17:1, 1988).
60 percent of U.S. adoption agencies accept applications from homosexual men and women, and 40 percent already have made such placements. 19 percent of the agencies contacted say they deliberately seek homosexuals as adoptive parents or advertise as "gay friendly." Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute; http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=35331 [small sample size; survey funded by pro homosexual group.]
"40 percent of the children adopted [recently in Massachusetts] have gone to gay and lesbian families," according to Masachusetts Democratic state Sen. Therese Murphy. WorldNetDaily on July 1; http://www.massnews.com/2004_editions/07_july/070804_kids_given_to_gay_parents.htm
Children raised in same-sex parents are more likely to become sexually promiscuous and are more likely to become homosexual themselves. Riggs SC. Coparent or Second-Parent Adoption by Same-Sex Parents. (letter) Pediatrics 2002; 109: 1193-4. http://www.lifesite.net/features/marriage_defence/SSM_MD_evidence.pdf
A major Dutch study of homosexual men in "committed" relationships found that only 7 out of 156 had been sexually faithful, or 4.5 percent. The study cited above found that even homosexual men in "steady partnerships" had an average of 6 "casual" sodomite partners per year. Michael Foust, www.lifeway.com http://www.history.pomona.edu/vis/05h21/readings/frc_Q&A.html
In this study, 43% of white male homosexuals were guilty of having sodomite relations with 500 or more partners, 28% admitted to 1000 or more partners in a lifetime, and of these people, 79% said that half of those partners were total strangers. Bell, A. and Weinberg, M. Homosexualities: a Study of Diversity Among Men and Women. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1978. http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=IS01B1
Male homosexual relationships in Holland last an average of 1.5 years, with gay men reporting an average of eight partners a year outside of their “committed” relationships. Xiridou M, et al. The contribution of steady and casual partnerships to the incidence of HIV infection among homosexual men in Amsterdam. AIDS. 2003; 17: 1029-38.)
Gay men have sex with someone other than their primary partner in 66% of relationships within the first year, rising to 90% of relationships after five years. Harry J.Gay Couples. New York. 1984
A 1997 study of 2,583 older homosexual men found the "modal range for number of sexual partners was 101-500. 10 to 15% said they had had more than 1,000 sexual partners. The Journal of Sex Research. Timothy J. Dailey, author, Dark Obsession. http://www.lifeway.com
A study of homosexual men shows that more than 75% of homosexual men admitted to having sex with more than 100 different males in their lifetime: approximately 15% claimed to have had 100-249 sex partners, 17% claimed 250-499, 15% claimed 500-999 and 28% claimed more than 1,000 lifetime sexual partners. Bell AP, Weinberg MS. Homosexualities. New York 1978.
61 percent of homosexuals in Chicago’s Shoreland area had more than 30 sexual partners. 2008 Baptist Press. http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=19649
Lesbian women were more than 4 times as likely to have had more than 50 lifetime male partners than heterosexual women. Fethers K et al. Sexually transmitted infections and risk behaviours in women who have sex with women. Sexually Transmitted Infections 2000; 76: 345-9.
Approx. 66% of same-sex "marriages" in Massachusetts have involved lesbians. 2008 Baptist Press. http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=19649
The 2003-2004 Gay/Lesbian Consumer Online Census surveyed the lifestyles of 7,862 homosexuals. Of those involved in a "current relationship," only 15 percent describe their current relationship as having lasted twelve years or longer, with five percent lasting more than twenty years. http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=IS04C02
At least 66% of homosexuals are guilty of regularly engaging in sodomy. Corey, L. and Holmes, K. "Sexual Transmission of Hepatitis A in Homosexual Men." New England J. Med., 1980, pp. 435-38.
The States with the highest concentrations of homosexual households were
1. Vermont
2. California (San Francisco; Guerneville; W. Holllywood; Palm Springs; Oakland; Long Beach)
3. Washington (Seattle-Bellevue-Everett)
4. Massaschusetts (Provincetown; N. Hampton; Roxbury)
5. Oregon
6. New Mexico (Albuquerque)
7. Nevada
8. New York (New York, NY; Chelsea)
9. Maine
10. New Jersey (Jersey city)
U.S. Census 2000
4http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=Topic&TopicID=2
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Sec. 7 |
Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD or STI); Physical effects of sin “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God” (1Cor. 6:9, 10). “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” (Rev. 21:8). |
“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God” (1Cor. 6:9, 10).
“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” (Rev. 21:8).
For more information on this subject, you might try http://www.scvlcc.org/topic.asp?id=19&category=STDs , or http://www.medinstitute.org/medical/index.htm
25% of college students [or more] have been are infected with an STD. www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/1615.html
More than 1 out of 4 teenage girls is infected with common sexually transmitted diseases, with the most common sexually transmitted disease being HPV. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
65 million or more Americans have an STD. American Social Health Association. (1998). 11http://www.ashastd.org/learn/learn_statistics.cfm
More than 50% all people are likely to acquire an STD at some point in their lifetime. Koutsky L. (1997). Epidemiology of genital human papillomavirus infection. American Journal of Medicine, 102(5A), 3-8. 11^ (Another study says 1 in 4: National Academy Press, Washington, DC, December 1996 http://www.ppct.org/facts/research/std_usa.shtml
It is estimated that approx. 20% of all Americans are now infected with an STD. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Tracking The Hidden Epidemics:Trends in STDs in the United States, 2000 (Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2000). http://www.siecus.org/pubs/fact/fact0008.html http://www.cdc.gov/nchstp/od/news/RevBrochure1pdfmag.htm
An estimated 10% of adolescent girls and 5% of women of reproductive age are infected with the STD Chlamydia. http://www.daybreakinc.org/health/std/common.asp http://www.thebody.org/cdc/stdoverview.html http://www.pelvicpain.com/facts.html
80% of women and 50% of men show no signs of having (incurable) chlamydia, after being infected. http://www.pcc-courieronline.com/042105/news/sex.html
80% of people who have a sexually transmitted disease experience no noticeable symptoms. Moscicki, B., et al, "The Use and Limitations of Endocervical Gram Stains...," American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 157:1, July, 1987.
In a national survey of US physicians, less than one-third routinely screened patients for STDs. American Journal of Public Health, 92, 1784-1788.
1960 there were 2 known Sexually Transmitted Diseases (syphilis and gonorrhea); today there are more than 25. http://www.kidscouncil.org/cgi-bin/display.pl?article_id=18&action=newsArticle
It is estimated that up to 25% of Americans [33% of all women] have genital herpes , an incurable (but “manageable”) infection, yet up to 90% of those with herpes are unaware they have it. Fleming DT et al. (1997). Herpes simplex virus type 2 in the United States, 1976–1994. New England Journal of Medicine, 337, 1105–1111. 11http://www.ashastd.org/learn/learn_statistics.cfm
Approximately 75% of women at some time in their lives (usually soon after the onset of sexual activity), become infected with HPV, (a group of more than 100 viruses, two types of which, HPV 16 and HPV 18, are said to cause more than 90% of all cervical cancers). © 2001-2005 GlaxoSmithKline - All Rights Reserved ; http://www.gsk.com/ControllerServlet?appId=4&pageId=402&newsid=251 Updated May 19, 2004
50 to 75% of sexually active men and women acquire genital HPV infection at some point in their lives. Kaiser Family Foundation http://www.kff.org/content/2003/3345
A teenage woman has a 1% risk of acquiring HIV, a 30% risk of getting genital herpes and a 50% chance of contracting gonorrhea through single act of unprotected fornication with an infected partner. The Alan Guttmacher Institute. 1994 http://www.agi-usa.org/pubs/fb_teen_sex.html#14a
1 out of every 75 men and 1 out of 700 women in the United States were HIV positive in 2001. St Lawrence JS et al. (2002) World Health Organization. http://www.redribbon.com/what-is-hiv-aids.htm
Over 50% of adults aged 18 to 44 have never been tested for an STD, other than for HIV / AIDS. 11http://www.ashastd.org/learn/learn_statistics.cfm
One out of 20 people in the United States will get infected with hepatitis B (HBV) some time during their lives. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hepatitis B Frequently Asked Questions. Updated April 1, 2005. Retrieved April 22, 2005 from http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/b/faqb.htm
Hepatitis B is 100 times more infectious than HIV. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hepatitis B Prevention for Men Who Have Sex With Men. Online Fact Sheet. Updated April 1, 2005. Retrieved April 22, 2005 from http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/msm/hbv_msm_fact.htm.
Approximately half of HBV infections are transmitted sexually. 12HBV is linked to chronic liver disease, including cirrhosis and liver cancer. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Tracking the hidden epidemics, 2000: Trends in the United States. Retrieved April 22, 2005 from http://www.cdc.gov/nchstp/od/news/RevBrochure1pdfHepatitisB.htm.
For more information on this subject, you might try http://www.scvlcc.org/topic.asp?id=19&category=STDs , or http://www.medinstitute.org/medical/index.htm
11http://www.ashastd.org/learn/learn_statistics.cfm
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Sec. 8 |
The Deleterious Physical Effects of the Sin of Sodomy "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination" (Leviticus 18:22). “And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly [perverse and unnatural], and receiving in themselves [in their own bodies] that recompense [punishment] of their error which was meet [fitting]" (Rm 1:27). |
"Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination" (Lv. 18:22).
“And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly [perverse and unnatural], and receiving in themselves [in their own bodies] that recompense [justice] of their error which was meet [fitting]" (Rm 1:27).
Approx. 60% of men infected with HIV contracted it thru the practices of sodomy (men lying with men as with women), 25% through illegal drug injections, 15% through heterosexual contact. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): HIV Prevention Strategic Plan Through 2005. January 2001. http://www.niaid.nih.gov/factsheets/aidsstat.htm
Men who have sex with men (MSM) account for approximately 42% of all new AIDS diagnoses in 2003 in the U.S. and 57% of new AIDS diagnoses among men that same year. Twenty-Five Years of HIV/AIDS --- United States, 1981—2006 www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5521a1.htm http://www.knowhivaids.org/facts_stats.html See also http://www.statehealthfacts.org/comparebar.jsp?ind=507&cat=11&sub=118&yr=1&typ=2&sort=820
In 2004, 4.9 million people were diagnosed as being HIV positive, the most ever reported in a year. That brings the number of worldwide HIV-infected individuals alive today to approximately 39 million. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/rxforsurvival/series/diseases/hiv_aids.html
Homosexuals account for 60% of all syphilis cases, and 17% of all hospital admissions (other than for STDs) in the United States "Changes in Sexual Behavior and Incidence of Gonorrhea." Lancet, April 25, 1987.
Because semen contains virtually every germ carried in the blood stream, ingesting it is fairly equivalent to ingesting raw human blood. Corey, L. and Holmes, K. "Sexual Transmission of Hepatitis A in Homosexual Men." New England J. Med., 1980, pp. 435-38.
Sperm readily penetrates the anal wall (which is only one cell thick) and gains direct access to the blood stream. This causes massive immunological damage to the body's T- and B-cell defensive systems. Manlight, G. et. al. "Chronic Immune Stimulation By Sperm Alloantigens." J. American Med. Assn., 1984, 251(2), pp. 237-438.
A 1982 study showed 78% of homosexuals were affected by STDs. Rueda, E. "The Homosexual Network." Old Greenwich, Conn., The Devin Adair Company, 1982, p. 53.
Homosexual men accounted for 42 percent of new HIV cases in 2000 and 60 percent of all cases among all men. The Centers for Disease Control. Michael Foust. www.lifeway.com
Among all new cases heterosexuals accounted for 33 percent, and injection drug users 25 percent. The Centers for Disease Control
The number of people infected with AIDS in the US is doubling approximately every 5 years. http://www.redribbon.com/what-is-hiv-aids.htm
Globally 15,000 people acquire AIDs every day, 40,000 each year in the US. www.thebody.com/amfar/pdfs/microbicides.pdf..
As of the end of 2001, an estimated 40 million people worldwide - 37.1 million adults (50% being women) and 3.0 million children younger than 15 years - were living with HIV/AIDS. More than 70 percent of these people (28.5 million) live in Sub-Saharan Africa; another 14 percent (5.6 million) live in South and Southeast Asia. UNAIDS. Report on the Global HIV/AIDS Epidemic, 2002: "The Barcelona Report" http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/artic/hiv_aids_statistics_niaid_fact_sheet_niaid.htm
Over 25 million people around the world have died of AIDS-related diseases. http://www.avert.org/aroundworld.htm
It is estimated that about 500,000 (a half million) Americans have died because of AIDS, and nearly 1 million people in the United States are presently living with HIV/AIDS. Twenty-Five Years of HIV/AIDS --- United States, 1981--2006 www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5521a1.htm. http://www.knowhivaids.org/facts_stats.html; Kaiser Family Foundation (2004?)
Death rate extrapolations for USA for HIV/AIDS: 15,244 per year, 1,270 per month, 293 per week, 41 per day . http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/h/hiv_aids/deaths.htm
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that 850,000 to 950,000 U.S. residents are living with HIV infection, one-quarter of whom are unaware of their infection Fleming, P.L. et al. HIV Prevalence in the United States; http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/artic/hiv_aids_statistics_niaid_fact_sheet_niaid.htm; http://www.msm.edu/EXPORT/HIV_fact.htm
AIDS is now the number 1 cause of death among adults 24-44 years old in Baltimore, San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York. http://www.redribbon.net/what-is-hiv-aids.htm http://www.msm.edu/EXPORT/HIV_fact.htm
AIDS is the leading cause of death among African Americans aged 24 to 44, while HIV is the third leading cause of death among Latinos and fifth leading cause among whites in the same age group. Kaiser Family Foundation http://www.kff.org/content/2003/3345
In 2001, HIV/AIDS was among the top three causes of death for African American men aged 25-54 years and among the top 4 causes of death for African American women aged 20-54 years. CDC, National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHSTP)
AIDS is a leading cause of death among African-American men ages 25-446, and African American women ages 25-34 years (2003). CDC, NCHS, National Vital Statistics Report, November 7, 2003 http://www.cdc.gov/omh/Highlights/2005/HDec105.htm
Average life years lost from HIV/AIDS: 35.7 years (SEER); 37.9 for HIV in North Carolina. Years of Potential Life Lost in North Carolina, NCMJ March/April 2002, Volume 63, Number 2; http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/h/hiv_aids/deaths.htm
A Canadian revealed that homosexuals can expect a reduction in life expectancy of 8 to 20 years. R.S. Hogg, S.A. Streathdee, K.J. Craib, M.V. O'Shaughnessy, J.S. Montaner, and M.T. Schechter, "Modelling the impact of HIV disease on mortality in gay and bisexual men," International Journal of Epidemiology, Vol. 26, 657-661, 1997.http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=IS01B1 http://www.narth.com/docs/correctionletter3.html
The life expectancy for a gay male in the United States is estimated to be lower than the normal life expectancy for a man living in Vietnam, Swaziland, Tanzania, and Somalia. http://www.arthurhu.com/index/gay.htm#lifeexpect
Worldwide, approximately one in every 100 adults aged 15 to 49 is HIV-infected. In Sub-Saharan Africa, about 9 percent of all adults in this age group are HIV-infected. In 12 African countries, the prevalence of HIV infection among adults aged 15 to 49 exceeds 10 percent. UNAIDS. Report on the Global HIV/AIDS Epidemic, 2002: "The Barcelona Report." http://www.aegis.com/factshts/niaid/2000/niaid2000_fact_sheet_aidsstat.html
In 2001, approximately 6,000 young people aged 15 to 24 became infected with HIV every day - that is, about five every minute. UNAIDS. Report on the Global HIV/AIDS Epidemic, 2002: "The Barcelona Report." http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/artic/hiv_aids_statistics_niaid_fact_sheet_niaid.htm
Excluding HIV, more than $8 billion is spent each year to diagnose and treat STDs and their complications. Institute of Medicine. (1997). The hidden epidemic-Confronting sexually transmitted disease (edited by Thomas R. Eng and William T. Butler). Washington, DC: National Academy Press. 11http://www.ashastd.org/learn/learn_statistics.cfm
The overall cost treating AIDS in the United States was $16 billion in 2002. http://www.redribbon.net/what-is-hiv-aids.htm
The lifetime cost of treating an AIDS patient in the United States was $102,000. in 1992. Dr. Fred J. Hellinger, Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, an arm of the Public Health Service.
The monthly medical cost now (Nov 2006) for people with HIV from diagnosis until death is averages to be $2,100. The lifetime (now 24.2 years avg.) HIV care cost per person in optimal HIV care is now $618,900 per person. 06 Nov 2006 NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center Schackman , Freedberg, MGH;, Gebo Moore Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard Medical School, and BU School of Public Health).http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/55870.php http://porkbusters.org/2007/02/prevent_baby_aids_or_learn_how.php
43 percent of white male homosexuals estimate they have had sex with 500 or more different partners, and 28 percent report more than 1,000 partners. Authors Bell and Weinberg http://www.leaderu.com/issues/fabric/chap11.html 86 percent of offenders against males described themselves as homosexual or bisexual" (W. D. Erickson, M.D., et al., in Archives of Sexual Behavior 17:1, 1988).
32% of Homosexuals have suffered abuse by their partner http://www.springerlink.com/content/r6q02560022h4276/?=eec72
[Legalizing or in any wise promoting a practice that is responsible for the deaths of 16 MILLION souls is not "loving," but it is to seek to turn them from such destruction to new life in Christ.]
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Sec. 9 |
ABORTION |
55% of adults are against legalized abortion in all or most circumstances, while 42% support it. Barna research 2001 http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdate&BarnaUpdateID=103
37%. of Americans say abortion is morally acceptable. http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=Topic&TopicID=2
7 out of 10 U.S. women are sexually active but do not want to become pregnant. (AGI 2000). 12Alan Guttmacher Institute ,http://www.agi-usa.org
At current rates, an estimated 43 percent of American women will have at least one abortion by the age of 45. 12Facts in Brief: Induced Abortion, 2000. http://juneauchoice.com/whohasabortions.htm
40% of women ages 15 to 44 have had at least one abortion. ^12
America leads the world in abortions performed. Since abortion was legalized by the U.S. Supreme Court in Roe vs. Wade, more than 50 million babies have been killed. This amounts to over one eighth the population of the entire United States. http://www.operationsaveamerica.org/news/news/2006-01.htm
The U.S. has the highest rate of teen pregnancies and births among western industrialized nations. http://www.coolnurse.com/teen_pregnancy_rates.htm
Approximately 4 in 10 young women in the U.S. become pregnant at least once before turning 20 years old. 12 Facts in Brief: Teen Sex and Pregnancy, 1996.
4 out of 10 teen pregnancies end in murder by abortion. 12 (1999)
The United States has one of the highest abortion rates among developed countries -- 26 abortions in 1992 for every 1,000 women aged 15 - 44. Facts in Brief, 12 September, 1995; http://www.californiaprolife.org/abortion/aborstats.html
Almost 1 out of every 3 of all pregnancies in the U.S. end in murder by abortion (1.4 million abortions each year). http://tennesseerighttolife.org/human_life_issues/human_life_issues_abortion_lies_and_myths.htm
At current rates, an estimated 43 percent of American women will have at least one abortion by the age of 45. 12
Since abortion was legalized by our Supreme Court in Roe vs. Wade, more than 30 million babies have been killed. This now amounts to one eighth the population of the entire United States. Statistics Concerning the State of America http://freedomministries.com/outlinestats.html
Approx. 80% of all abortions are among never-married women. Centers for Disease Control WWW.CDC.org
Only 8% of women having abortions have never used a method of birth control; 12Facts in Brief: Induced Abortion, in the U.S. (9 August 2002). http://www.agi-usa.org/pubs/fb_induced_abortion.html
Only about 1 percent (13,000 abortions) each year are attributed to rape and incest- 12^ Approx. 2% in “Why Do Women Have Abortions?" A. Torres & J.D. Forrest, Family Planning Perspectives, Jul/Aug 1988
58% of women committing murder by abortion say they used birth control during the month of conception. 12 http://www.noelforlife.org/resources/readfacts.asp?number=45&topic=&display=
50% of such say that abortion is their only means of "birth control." 12
40 % of women who had abortions in the U.S. had no other children; 12
45 % of women who had abortions in the U.S. had at least one previous abortion; 12
52% of U.S. women having abortions are younger than 25 years old. 12
Over 93% of abortions are performed for social reasons. "Why Do Women Have Abortions?"A. Torres & J.D. Forrest, Family Planning Perspectives, Jul/Aug 1988
1% of abortions are performed due to life or health threat to the mother: "Why Do Women Have Abortions?"A. Torres & J.D. Forrest, Family Planning Perspectives, Jul/Aug 1988
Women who have had abortions face a 58 percent greater risk of dying during a later pregnancy. Reardon, Aborted Women-Silent No More, (Chicago: Loyola University Press, 1987).
The likelihood of having breast cancer is [up to] 150% greater for women who had an abortion before the age of 18. Having an abortion before the age of 30 increases the risk 110%. Before the age of 45 = 50%. Study by Dr. Janet Daling in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, November 2, 1994, (pp. 1584-1592). http://www.abortionfacts.com/breast_cancer_connection/studies.asp See also http://www.leaderu.com/ftissues/ft9705/opinion/brind.html http://www.pregnantpause.org/safe/abckahl.htm
Breast cancer risk increased 140% following a abortion.(British Journal of Cancer 1981; 43:72-6 )
Black women of age 50 and above who had at least 1 induced abortion have an increased breast cancer risk of 370%. Study by Howard University study December, 1993 issue Journal of the National Medical Association. http://www.abortionfacts.com/breast_cancer_connection/studies.asp
4% of abortions are performed due to health of the baby: "Why Do Women Have Abortions?" A. Torres & J.D. Forrest, Family Planning Perspectives, Jul/Aug 1988
After 1 or more abortions, 48% of women experienced abortion-related complications in later pregnancies, with over 2 miscarriages for every live birth. 12.5% of first trimester abortions required stitching for cervical lacerations. Wilke, Handbook on Abortion, (Cincinnati, Hayes Publishing Co., 1979). Lacerations occurred in 22 percent of aborted women."Abortion in Hawaii", Family Planning Perspectives (Winter 1973) 5(1):Table 8.
Cervical damage from previously induced abortions increases the risk of miscarriage, premature birth, and complications of labor during later pregnancies by 300 - 500 percent. Hogue,"Impact of Abortion on Subsequent Fecundity", Clinics in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (March 1986), vol.13, no.1. (premature birth is the #1 cause of infant mortality and mental retardation).http://www.abortionfacts.com/reardon/after_effects_of_abortion.asp , from David C. Reardon pamphlet. See also http://www.letusreason.org/Curren12.htm and http://www.family.org/cforum/fosi/bioethics/facts/a0027728.cfm
Abortion increases the rate of suicide upwards to 600%. Shelton JD, Schoenbucher AK. Death after legally induced abortion. A comprehensive approach for determination of abortion-related deaths based on record linkage. Public Health Rep. 1978; 93(4):375-8. http://www.messengers2.com/articles/science/abortion_effects.htm
Women who had an abortion are 2.6 times more likely than delivering women to be hospitalized for psychiatric treatment in the first 90 days following abortion or delivery. Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) David Reardon, Ph.D. http://www.afterabortion.org/news/inpatient_CMAJ.html
Women who elected to murder their babies by abortion (“elective terminations”) had 6.5 the risk of suicide, and 14 times the risk of being a homicide victim. 1997, Scandinavian medical journal, Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 1997;76:651-657 http://togetherforlife.ca/stats/stats2.htm
1 out of 6 women who had an abortion were identified as "evangelical Christians." 12
Catholics have abortions at a rate 29% higher than Protestants, even after standardizing for age and excluding nonwhites and Hispanics 12Stanley K. Henshaw and Katheryn Kost , Family Planning Perspectives, vol. 28, no. 4 (July/Aug. 1996), based on an AGI survey of 9,985 women obtaining abortions in 1994-95.
68% of American children live with two parents. This is down from 77% in 1980. 24% of children live with only their mother, 4% live with only their father, and 4% live with neither of their parents. Statistics Concerning the State of America http://freedomministries.com/outlinestats.html
Almost 80% of teen mothers end up on welfare. Overall monetary cost to tax payers: $120 billion+. http://www.theodora.com/teddy/newyork/teenage.html Calculations based on the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (1979-1985) in Congressional Budget Office. (1990, September). Sources of Support for Adolescent Mothers. Washington, DC:
12Alan Guttmacher Institute, 120 Wall Street, 21st Floor, New York, N.Y. 10005; http://www.agi-usa.org/
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Sec. 10 |
Drinking |
About 50% US adults report a family history of alcoholism or problem drinking. Grant B, Harford TC, Dawson DA, et al. Prevalence of DSM-IV alcohol abuse and dependence, United States 1992. Alcohol Health & Research World 18(3). 1994. http://www.mentalhealthscreening.org/alcohol/factsheet.htm
16,189 people are killed in drunk driving automobile accidents each year. That's one death caused by drunk driving every 32 minutes. Statistics Concerning the State of America http://freedomministries.com/outlinestats.html
Nearly 115,000 people die prematurely of alcohol abuse each year, said the NIAAA. http://www.gannett.com/go/difference/greatfalls/pages/part11/mess.html
Over 18% of Americans experience alcohol dependence or alcohol abuse some during their lives. US. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Home and Garden Bulletin No. 232. Nutrition and Your Health. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 1995. http://www.mentalhealthscreening.org/alcohol/factsheet.htm
One in three British men and one in five women drink double the amount considered safe at least once a week. Alcohol Concern organization
50% of high school students had at least one drink of alcohol during the 30 days prior to a CDC survey: http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/pressrel/r2k0609b.htm
32% had 5 or more drinks of alcohol on at least one occasion during the 30 days preceding same survey. http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/pressrel/r2k0609b.htm
About 8% of 8th, 23% of 10th, and 32% of 12th graders report having been drunk during the past month. Johnston LD, O'Malley PM, and Bachman JG. Data tables from the 2000 Monitoring the Future Survey. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan News and Information Services [On-line]: www.monitoringthefuture.org; accessed January 18, 2001. http://www.mentalhealthscreening.org/alcohol/factsheet.htm
By high school graduation, 80 percent of students have tried alcohol. http://www.restoredcog.org/youth/articles/0312-pia.html
n 1999, about 14% of 8th, 26% of 10th, and 30% of 12th graders reported binge drinking (5 or more consecutive drinks for males, 4 for females) during the past 2 weeks. http://www.mentalhealthscreening.org/alcohol/factsheet.htm
27% of British 15-year-olds had been drunk 20 times or more, compared to 12% of young Germans, 6% of Netherlands youth and only 3% of young French. Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR).
In a survey of 26,086 elementary age students in 22 states. 26% of 12 graders used illicit drugs in the past month, 23% of 10th graders, and 13% of 8th graders. Statistics Concerning the State of America http://freedomministries.com/outlinestats.html
79% of college students living in a fraternity or sorority house report binge drinking. Grant BF and Dawson DA, National Longitudinal Alcohol Epidemiologic Survey. Journal of Substance Abuse 9:103-110, 1997
Since 1993, colleges have seen a 125 percent increase in binge drinking by women. http://www.restoredcog.org/youth/articles/0312-pia.html
"Binge drinking" (5 or more drinks in a row) increased 17 percent among all adults between 1993 and 2001, 56 percent among 18- to 20-year-olds. Adults age 21 to 25 went on drinking binges an average of 18 times. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention www.cdc.gov
Among those living in a fraternity or sorority house, the rate of binge drinking is still higher (79%). Wechsler H, Lee J, Kuo M, and Lee H. College binge drinking in the 1990s: A continuing problem: Results of the Harvard School of Public Health 1999 College Alcohol Study. Journal of American College Health 48:199-210, 2000. http://www.mentalhealthscreening.org/alcohol/factsheet.htm
On a typical campus, per capita students spending for alcohol--$446 per student--far exceeds the per capita budget of the college library. (Eigen, 1991 in the 1998 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse).
47% of college students now drink primarily to get drunk. Grant BF and Dawson DA, National Longitudinal Alcohol Epidemiologic Survey. Journal of Substance Abuse 9:103-110, 1997
44% of college students reported binge drinking in 1999 . Wechsler H, Lee J, Kuo M, and Lee H. College binge drinking in the 1990s: A continuing problem: Results of the Harvard School of Public Health 1999 College Alcohol Study. Journal of American College Health 48:199-210, 2000 http://www.mentalhealthscreening.org/alcohol/factsheet.htm
College students spend over $5.5 billion a year on alcoholic beverages (mostly beer)--more than they spend on all other drinks [soda, tea, milk, juice and coffee] and books combined. Sidney Ribeau, PresidentBowling Green State University http://www.collegevalues.org/diaries.cfm?id=476&a=1. See also www.hsph.harvard.edu/cas/rpt1998/CAS1998rpt2.html [which is also a illustration of how to do a survey.]
According to a U.S. Surgeon General, nationally college students drink almost four billion cans of beer and enough wine and hard-alcohol to make their annual consumption of alcoholic beverages an unthinkable 34 gallons per person. Sidney Ribeau, President, Bowling Green State University. http://www.collegevalues.org/diaries.cfm?id=476&a=1
More undergraduates will die from alcohol related causes then will obtain MA's or PHD's combined. Eigen, L. February 1991. Alcohol Practices, Policies and Potentials of American Colleges and Universities. An OSAP White Paper. Rockville, MD: Office for Substance Abuse Prevention. http://media.shs.net/prevline/pdfs/phd858.pdf
Alcohol on college campuses is a factor in 40 percent of all academic problems and 28 percent of all dropouts. Anderson, D. 1994. Breaking the Tradition on College Campuses: Reducing Drug and Alcohol Misuse. Fairfax, VA: George Mason University. http://media.shs.net/prevline/pdfs/phd858.pdf
Alcohol is a key factor in 33 percent of suicides, 50 percent of homicides, 62 percent of assaults, 68 percent of manslaughters, 50 percent of head injuries, and 41 percent of traffic fatalities. It also plays a large role in domestic abuse and injury, child abuse and neglect, and workplace injuries. Prevention Enhancement Protocols System. August 1999. Preventing Problems Related to Alcohol Availability: Environmental Approaches, Parent and Community Guide. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. http://media.shs.net/prevline/pdfs/phd858.pdf
Each year approximately 16,000 Americans are killed in alcohol-related crashes. Los Angeles Police Dept. http://www.lapdonline.org/bldg_safer_comms/prevention/other/drunk_driving_98.htm
Alcohol is a factor in nearly half of all traffic fatalities. Los Angelus Police Dept. http://www.lapdonline.org/bldg_safer_comms/prevention/other/drunk_driving_98.htm
Every other minute, another person is seriously injured in an alcohol related crash. Los Angelus Police Dept. http://www.lapdonline.org/bldg_safer_comms/prevention/other/drunk_driving_98.htm
Highway crashes currently account for more than 40,000 deaths annually in the United States [50,000 incl. non-occupants: www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov]. Jim Hall Chairman, National Transportation Safety Board, The Advisory Council on Traffic Safety, Chattanooga, Tennessee July 27, 2000 http://www.ntsb.gov/speeches/former/hall/jhc000727.htm
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Sec. 11 |
Drugs, and Mental Health |
Less than 1% of all Americans had used illegal drugs before 1960. The Honorable Judge Robert Ulrich Chief Justice, Missouri Court Of Appeals, Western District; http://www.shalomjerusalem.com/heritage/heritage19.html
In 2002, 10% of 12th grade students reported using illicit drugs other than marijuana in the past month, the highest percentage in more than 10 years. http://www.childtrendsdatabank.org/indicators/58IllicitDrugUse.cfm
2005 saw a 212% increase in prescription drug abuse by US teens. Columbia University's National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse http://www.ahrp.org/infomail/05/09/27a.php
In 2003, more than 20% of students in the 12th grade reported using marijuana in the past 30 days. http://www.childtrendsdatabank.org/indicators/46MarijuanaUse.cfm
Almost 47% of high school students report life-time use of marijuana. http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/pressrel/r2k0609b.htm [1999]
27% used marijuana during the 30 days preceding a CDC survey. 13http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/pressrel/r2k0609b.htm [1999]
4% used cocaine during the 30 days preceding the same survey. ^13
15% used inhalants during their lifetime. ^13
9% used methamphetamines during their lifetime. ^13
Inner-city youth with a "strong religious orientation" 54% less likely to use drugs than their peers. Harvard University study: Atheists won't save Europe by Don Feder http://www.frontpagemagazine.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=27937
From 1960 to 1980 the teen suicide rate has risen more than 200% (1 suicide every 17 minutes). National Center for Health Statistics. Quantifying America's Decline by William J. Bennett; http://www.columbia.edu/cu/augustine/arch/usadecline.html
Youth suicide rates skyrocketed 400 percent since 1950. Lost Boys, Why Our Sons Turn Violent and How We Can Save Them, James Garbarino, Ph.D. http://www.yellodyno.com/
For every two victims of homicide in the U.S. there are three deaths from suicide [all ages]. http://whs.wsd.wednet.edu/Faculty/Lynch/sadd/statistics.html
Males ages 15 to 19 are five times as likely to commit suicide as women. http://whs.wsd.wednet.edu/Faculty/Lynch/sadd/statistics.html
8% of high school students attempted suicide during the 12 months preceding a 1999 survey. CDC survey. Centers for Disease Control; http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/pressrel/r2k0609b.htm
Depression among American youth increased from 400% since 1950. http://www.yellodyno.com/html/childabusestatistics.html
From1958 to 1990 the suicide rate for 15- to 19-year-olds in the US increased 267 percent. United States 1985, National Institute of Mental Health, Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration, Public Health Service, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, p. 150; Statistical Abstract of the United States, Bureau of the Census, U.S. Dept. of Commerce, (1988) p. 82, (1990) p. 86, (1993) p. 99.http://www.cchr.org/morals/return.htm
As of 2005, nearly 60 percent of drug poisoning deaths in the U.S. involved legal and illegal narcotics (up from 50 percent in 1999). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/111-03092008-1500573.html
Use of narcotic drugs rose by almost 75% among women 45–64 years of age between 1988–1994 and 1999–2002. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). http://www.mindfully.org/Health/2007/Prescription-Related-Fatalities5feb07.htm
Spending for drugs rose 40 percent from 1998 to 2000 [and continues].http://www.mercola.com/2001/may/19/prescription_drugs.htm
The average number of prescriptions per elderly person grew 45 percent from 1992 to 2000. From 1992 to 2010, the average number of prescriptions per senior is projected to grow by 96 percent. http://www.familiesusa.org/assets/pdfs/drugod852b.pdf
The number 1 and number 3 prescription sales drugs for the year 2000 were for treating ulcers. Number 2 and 5 were for cholesterol lowering medication, while numbers 4, 7 and 8 were for the treament of depression. http://www.therubins.com/geninfo/eldpresc.htm
13http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/pressrel/r2k0609b.htm [1999]
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Sec. 12 |
GENERAL HEALTH |
3 out of 4 Americans have a diagnosable chronic condition. Recent statistics show that cancer effects 33 percent of adults, 15 million Americans suffer from asthma, 65 percent of Americans are currently overweight or obese. The Centers for Disease Control says that one out of every three children born in 2000 will become diabetic. April 1999 study in Effective Clinical Practice.
Because of their poor diets and excess weight, people now in their 50s and 60s suffer from more health problems than their parents did at the same age. The Week Magazine, 5/4/07 http://www.veegle.com.
The leading (listed) causes of death 92004) in the U.S. are: Heart disease: 654,092; Cancer: 550,270; Stroke (cerebrovascular diseases): 150,147; Chronic lower respiratory diseases: 123,884; Accidents (unintentional injuries): 108,694; Diabetes: 72,815; Alzheimer's disease: 65,829; Influenza/Pneumonia: 61,472; Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome, and nephrosis: 42,762; Septicemia: 33,464. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/lcod.htm
Actual Causes of Death in the United States (2000) were seen as, Tobacco (435 000 deaths; 18.1% of total US deaths), poor Diet and Physical Inactivity (400 000 deaths; 16.6%), Alcohol Consumption (85 000 deaths; 3.5%). Other actual causes of death were Microbial Agents (75 000), toxic agents (55 000), Motor Vehicle crashes (43 000), incidents involving Firearms (29 000), Sexual Behaviors (20 000), and illicit use of Drugs (17 000). http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/291/10/1238. American Medical Association
In the summer of 1900, the major causes of death were 1. Pneumonia and influenza; 2. TB; 3. Diarrhea; 4. Heart disease; 5. Stroke. http://www.bitoffun.com/Funfacts.htm
It is estimated that about 500,000 (a half million) Americans have died because of AIDS, and nearly 1 million people in the United States are presently living with HIV/AIDS. Twenty-Five Years of HIV/AIDS --- United States, 1981--2006 www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5521a1.htm. http://www.knowhivaids.org/facts_stats.html;
In 2003-2004, 17.1% of children and adolescents 2-19 years of age (over 12 and a half million) were overweight, and 32.2% of adults (over 66 million) were obese. Almost 5% of adults were extremely obese. http://www.cdc.gov/women/pubs/overwght.htm
Americans are the most overweight people on the planet, with Mexicans, Australians, Greeks, New Zealanders and Britons being not too far behind. U.S. Census Bureau.
American's production of solid waste increased from 3.7 pounds in 1980 to 4.4 pounds in 2006. http://www.census.gov/prod/www/statistical-abstract.html
In California about two-thirds of men (63.4%) and almost half of women (45.2%) are overweight or obese. Vainio H, Kaaks R, Bianchini. “Weight control and physical activity in cancer prevention: international evaluation of the evidence.” European Journal of Cancer Prevention, 2002; Supplement 2: S94-S100. 13.5http://news.ucanr.org/mediakits/Nutrition/nutritionfactsheet.shtml#sources
Childhood obesity has more than tripled for children aged 6-11 years. 1999-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity Among Adults: United States, 1999-2002. www.cdc.gov. ^13.5
Fifty percent of overweight children/teens remain overweight as adults. Childhood Overweight, A Fact Sheet for Professionals, University of California, Berkeley, Cooperative Extension, Department of Nutritional Sciences, January 2000. ^13.5
Children who are ever breast-fed are 15%-25% less likely to become overweight, and those who are breast-fed for 6 months or more are 20%-40% less likely. Preventing Obesity and Chronic Diseases Through Good Nutrition and Physical Activity, Revised August 2003. National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, www.cdc.gov/nccdphp ^13.5
Household income spent on away-from-home foods rose from 25 percent of total food spending in 1970 to nearly one-half in 1999. Preventing Childhood Obesity: Health in the Balance. 2005. Institute of Medicine. www.iom.edu ^13.5
Sweets, desserts, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages account for nearly 25 percent of all calories consumed by Americans. Salty snacks and fruit-flavored drinks add another five percent. Sodas alone contribute 7.1 percent of total calories eaten. Healthy fruits and vegetables make up only 10 percent of caloric intake in the U.S. diet. Gladys Block, professor of epidemiology and public health nutrition at UC Berkeley, June 2004, Journal of Food Chemistry and Analysis. ^13.5
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, healthier diets could prevent at least $71 billion per year in medical costs, lost productivity, and lost lives. Frazao E. "High Costs of Poor Eating Patterns in he United States." In America's Eating Habits: Changes and Consequences. Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. Washington, DC: USDA, 1999. Agriculture Information Bulletin No. 750, pp 5-32 ^13.5
Over 750,000 people in the United States die every year from conventional medicine mistakes. Death by Medicine, by Drs. Gary Null, Carolyn Dean, Martin Feldman, Debora Rasio and Dorothy Smith, 2003. http://www.newstarget.com/009278.html
^13.5 http://news.ucanr.org/mediakits/Nutrition/nutritionfactsheet.shtml#sources
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Sec. 13 |
CRIME + PUNISHMENT |
From 1960 to 1990 violent crime rose 560%. F.B.I. Quantifying America's Decline by William J. Bennett http://www.columbia.edu/cu/augustine/arch/usadecline.html
99% of Americans will be victims of theft at least once in their lives. 80% of Americans can expect to be victims of violent crime at least once in their lives. Statistics Concerning the State of America http://freedomministries.com/outlinestats.html
Justice spending per capita in 2001 was about double the spending in 1982, 60 percent of which being in law enforcement, and local police and sheriff's department employees accounting for 80 percent of all law enforcement personnel nationwide. 14Bureau of Justice Statistics http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/press/jeeus01pr.htm.
Overall, there were about 81 justice system employees per 10,000 population in 2001, with New York State being the highest (94 full-time equivalent justice employees per 10,000).14 http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/press/jeeus01pr.htm.
In 1999 the national average for justice expenditures was $442 per capita. http://justice.uaa.alaska.edu/forum/18/4winter2002/e_expend.html
Per capita justice expenditures in 2001 were $586 — about $254 per person for police protection, just over $130 per person for judicial and legal services and approximately $200 per person for correctional services both in the community and in confinement facilities. Local, state and federal governments spent a record $167 billion on direct expenditures for police protection, judicial and legal services and corrections activities. 14 http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/press/jeeus01pr.htm.
The nation has tripled its prison population since 1980; opening the equivalent of 3 or more new 500 bed prisons every week.14 http://www.wrongfuldeathinstitute.com/links/prison/prisonstats.htm
The rate of incarceration has risen from 313 per 100,000 in 1985 to 476 of every 100,000 in 1997. U.S. 14 ^
The current prison population of over 2 million constitues a growth of over 850% in the past 30 years. 14^
1 out of every 32 adults in America were under parole or probation or in jail or prison in 2003. U.S. Department of Justice· Office of Justice Programs Bureau of Justice Statistics http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/correct.htm
About 1 in every 143 U.S. residents were actually in state or federal prison or a local jail, at the end of 2001. http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/press/p02pr.htm
One in every 136 U.S. Residents (almost 2.2 million people) was behind bars by last summer. That 2.6 percent increase from mid-2004 to mid-2005 translates into a weekly rise of 1,085 inmates. Bureau of Justice Statistics; Elizabeth White The Associated Press
Since 1995 the number of female prisoners (6.8 percent of all prison inmates) in federal or state prison has grown 42 percent, while the number of male prisoners has increased 27 percent. U.S. Department of Justice. http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/press/p02pr.htm
The 2002 prisoner increase was equal to an additional 700 more inmates every week during the year. U.S. Department of Justice. http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/press/p02pr.htm
Each year, more than 600,000 inmates in the U.S. are released from prison. Within three years, two-thirds of them will be rearrested for new crimes involving new victims. BreakPoint®, June 30, 2006, Prison Fellowship Ministries.
25% of the total world prison population are in America, which has the highest percentage of it's citizens behind bars. Alan Elsner, Gates of Injustice [This is best understood as excluding communist countries, such as China and North Korea, which not only redefine freedom, but probably also prison.]
The cost of running the U.S. prison system is now more than $57 billion per year [violent offenders costing 50 percent more than others. Alan Elsner, Gates of Injustice.
The three states with the lowest ratio of imprisoned to civilian population are, as of 2004, Maine (148 per 100,000), Minnesota (171 per 100,000), and Rhode Island (175 per 100,000). The three states with the highest ratio are Louisiana (816 per 100,000), Texas (694 per 100,000), and Mississippi (669 per 100,000). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_prison_population#_note-0
A survey showed that among the nearly 300,000 prisoners released, 67.5% were rearrested within 3 years, and 51.8% were back in prison. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_prison_population#_note-9
Between 1990 and 2000 the number of State correctional facilities increased by 351. States also added over 528,000 beds, an 81% increase. 14 Bureau of Justice Statistics; Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics, 2003 (table 6.1.2004)..
On December 31, 2000, State prisons were operating between full capacity and 15% above capacity, while Federal prisons were operating at 31% above capacity.^14..
Hepatitis C: Often lethal liver disease; spread by blood exchange, infects approximately 41% of the inmates just in California prisons alone; compared to less than 2% of the population at large.^14...
Nearly 600,000 inmates are released each year; many of them riddled with disease.^14...
Hepatitis C: Often lethal liver disease; spread by blood exchange, infects approximately 41% of the inmates just in California prisons alone; compared to less than 2% of the population at large.^14..
Texas built 84 of the 351 new State prisons built since 1990 in the United States. ^14..
In Canada, there was a 340 percent greater incidence of violent crime over its 1965 figure, with similar rises in robbery, assault, rape and murder statistics. http://www.cchr.org/morals/return.htm
In Canada, the rate of violent crime doubled in the '60s, increased by 30 percent in the '70s and rose another 46 percent in the '80s. "Juristat," Service Bulletin for the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, October 1990.
Motor vehicle crashes remain the number one cause of death among youth (in the US) ages 15 to 20. (2000). http://whs.wsd.wednet.edu/Faculty/Lynch/sadd/statistics.html
61% of adults view gambling as a morally acceptable behavior. Barna Research http://www.barna.org
A survey of Massachusetts high school students found that 1 in 20 had already been arrested for a gambling-related offense; 10% experienced family problems due to gambling; and 8 percent had gotten in trouble at work or school because of gambling. Howard J. Shaffer, "The Emergence of Youthful Addiction: The Prevalence of Underage Lottery Use and the Impact of Gambling," Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling, January 13, 1994, p. 12) http://www.av1611.org/kjv/refuel.html
All told, Americans legally wagered $550 billion on [sinful] legal gambling in 1995 an astonishing 3,200 percent increase in gambling since 1974. 14http://www.ncalg.org/library/working%20on%20these/factsheet.htm
In 1995, more money was spent on casino gambling than was spent on movie tickets, theater, opera and concerts combined. In 1993, Americans made more trips to casinos than they did to Major League baseball games, NFL football games, symphony concerts and Broadway shows combined.^14.5
Every state except two (Hawaii and Utah) allows some form of legal gambling. ^14.5
In less than ten years after casinos were legalized in Atlantic City, the crime rate increased 258 percent! ^14.5
In Gulfport and Biloxi, Mississippi, the site of 11 out of 13 casinos in that state, crime increased in every category in 1994, with murder, rape, robbery and car theft at least doubling. ^14.5
Since casinos came to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, domestic violence has increased 69 percent, and it is estimated that 37 percent of all pathological gamblers have abused their children. ^14.5
Pathological gamblers are responsible for an estimated $1.3 billion worth of insurance- related fraud per year. ^14.5
The amount of money wagered annually in the United States is estimated to be $0.5 trillion. Feigelman W, Wallisch LS, Lesieur HR. Problem gamblers, problem substance users and dual-problem individuals: an epidemiological study. Am J Public Health 1998;88:467-70. http://www.aafp.org/afp/20000201/741.html
Americans spend approximately $31.5 billion annually on state lottery games. Gambling impact and behavior study: final report to the National Gambling Impact Study Commission. Chicago: National Opinion Research Center, University of Chicago,1999. http://www.aafp.org/afp/20000201/741.html
Americans spend approximately $31.5 billion annually on state lottery games. University of Chicago,1999 ^
Thirty to 50 percent of money collected by casinos annually comes from about 4 percent of the population. http://dianedew.com/gambling.htm
Gamblers legally bet over $586 billion annually. [1996] http://dianedew.com/gambling.htm
Getting killed by lightning is seven times more likely than winning a million dollars in a state lottery. (Harper's, July 1983) http://dianedew.com/gambling.htm
Crime rates in casino communities are 84% higher than the national average. (U.S. News & World Report, 1/15/96) http://dianedew.com/gambling.htm
Homicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among 15 to 24-year-olds overall. http://whs.wsd.wednet.edu/Faculty/Lynch/sadd/statistics.html
Between the mid 80's to the mid 90's the youth homicide rate increased by 168 percent. Lost Boys, Why Our Sons Turn Violent and How We Can Save Them, James Garbarino, Ph.D. http://www.yellodyno.com/html/violent_kids_stats.html
Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death among youths ages 15 to 20. http://whs.wsd.wednet.edu/Faculty/Lynch/sadd/statistics.html
70% of juveniles in state-operated institutions come from fatherless homes. 36% of children live without their biological fathers. Statistics Concerning the State of America http://freedomministries.com/outlinestats.html
From 1960 to 1990 child abuse has risen from 670,000 in 1976 to nearly 3 million in the 1990s. The FBI; U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation
Family members were most likely to murder a young child (20%). http://www.criminaldefenselawyer.com/nationalandRegionalStatisticsonCrime.cfm
1987 to 1996 saw an increase of more than 50 percent in juvenile arrest for murder, possession of weapons, robbery, and aggravated assault. FBI: U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (1997). 1996 Uniform Crime Report. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice. http://www.yellodyno.com/html/violent_kids_stats.html
33% of students were in a physical fight in 2001. http://whs.wsd.wednet.edu/Faculty/Lynch/sadd/statistics.html
Juvenile homicide rate in the U.S. is higher than in any other industrialized country. Fox, J.A. (1996). Trends in Juvenile Violence. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice. http://www.yellodyno.com/html/violent_kids_stats.html
In Australia, the number of serious assaults has risen 391 percent between 1973-74 and 1991-92, and the robbery rate increased 190 percent.34 In New Zealand, the total number of violent offenses increased 615 percent between 1960 and 1990, from 2,937 to 20,987.35 The crime rate in Greece has increased 1,268 percent between 1980 and 1990.36 In Sweden, the per-capita crime has gone up fivefold since 1950,37 and in Germany the number of arrests for robberies has increased 60 percent between 1972 and 1985. Assault and theft rose 71 percent. “Number of offences reported per 100,000 population for selected countries, 1972-1985,” The Size of the Crime Problem in Australia. www.christian-parenting.learninginfo.org/chap06.htm
British kids were also involved more frequently in fights (44% in the U.K. to 28% in Germany), with violent offenses among British under 18s rising 37% in the three years to 2006. Time magazine, March, 2008
A 345% increase in child pornography sites was found between 2/2001-7/2001 (N2H2, 8/01) http://www.spcc-storrs.org/blog/archives/general/
The U.S. Customs Service estimates that there are more than 100,000 websites offering child pornography - which is illegal, worldwide. Red Herring Magazine, 1/18/02; http://www.spcc-storrs.org/blog/archives/general/
25 million Americans visit cybersex sites between 1-10 hours per week MSNBC Survey 2000; http://www.spcc-storrs.org/blog/archives/general/
The combined circulation of Playboy and Penthouse exceeds that of Time and Newsweek. http://www.spcc-storrs.org/blog/archives/general/
77 percent of those who molested boys said they were regular users of hard-core pornography. 87 percent of those who molested girls boys said they were regular users of hard-core pornography. W. Marshall, Report on the Use of Pornography by Sexual Offenders, Report to the Federal Department of Justice, Ottawa, Canada. 1983. http://www.family.org/pastor/resources/sos/a0006443.cfm
86 percent of convicted rapists said they were regular users of pornography. W. Marshall, Report on the Use of Pornography by Sexual Offenders ^
A 1979 study in Phoenix, Arizona, showed that neighborhoods with a pornography business realized 40 percent more property crime and 500 percent more sexual offenses than similar neighborhoods without a pornography outlet. U.S. Department of Justice, "Child Pornography, Obscenity and Organized Crime," February 1988. http://www.family.org/pastor/resources/sos/a0006443.cfm
Nearly 900 theaters show X-rated films and more than 15,000 adult bookstores and video stores offer pornographic material, outnumbering McDonald's restaurants in the U.S. by a margin of at least 3 to 1. http://www.spcc-storrs.org/blog/archives/general/
60% of all web-site visits are sexual in nature. MSNBC /Stanford/Duquesne study, Washington Times Jan. 26, 2000.
See more financial figures under Finances
14.Bureau of Justice Statistics
14.5 http://www.ncalg.org/library/working%20on%20these/factsheet.htm
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Sec. 14 |
Education |
3 million crimes per year are committed on or near school property. http://www.hi-ho.ne.jp/taku77/papers/vc/vc5.htm
6,000 American students were kicked out of school in the 1996-97 school year for packing weapons.- John Hendren, "Internet Provides Bomb Blueprints," www.ap.org, April 26, 1999 (Kids Killing Kids) http://www.yellodyno.com/html/violent_kids_stats.html
2,500 High School students drop out of school every day. U.S. News + World Report, 4-24-06
One million U.S. students took guns to school in 1998. Parents Resource Institute for Drug Addiction. http://www.yellodyno.com/html/violent_kids_stats.html
20% of high school students reported carrying some type of weapons to school each day. Centers for Disease Control. http://www.cdc.gov
68% of prison inmates do not have a High School diploma. U.S. News + World Report, 4-24-06
Almost 33% of school teachers seriously considered leaving their jobs because of student misbehavior. Research firm Public Agenda. http://publicagenda.org/
Nearly 80 percent of school teachers said there are serious troublemakers in their schools who should have been kicked out of regular classrooms. Research firm Public Agenda as reported by www.theolympian.com
College professors who train teachers give a low priority to skills like keeping order and training politeness. Research firm Public Agenda
36% of high school students reported having been involved in a physical fight in the last year. http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/pressrel/r2k0609b.htm
21% of high school students said they avoided using places like school rest rooms because of the threat of harm. U.S. Department of Education
Dr. Victor B. Cline of the University of Utah has estimated that between kindergarten and age 14 a child witnesses the violent death of over 13,000 human beings on the TV screen." http://www.nisbett.com/leavening/creeping/cc06.htm
2,500 educators (three for every school day) from 2001 through 2005 were punished for sexual misconduct, 80 percent of those being to students. Associated Press investigation http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,303780,00.html
Seventeen of the nation's 50 largest cities had high school graduation rates lower than 50 percent, with the lowest graduation rates reported in Detroit, Indianapolis and Cleveland. Approx. 70 percent of U.S. students graduate on time with a regular diploma, but about 1.2 million students drop out annually. America's Promise Alliance, based upon U.S. Department of Education data from 2003-2004. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,344190,00.html
According to a Nielsen Television Index, pre-schoolers sit in front of the tube an average of 54.1 hours each week (64% of their waking hours). http://www.nisbett.com/leavening/creeping/cc06.htm http://www.ridgenet.org/szaflik/tvrating.htm
ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), which is linked to viewing children TV shows, now affects from 4 to 12 percent of U.S. Children. http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5933775/
63% of the Hollywood Elite say the industry glorifies violence. U.S. News And World Report May 9, 1994: 39-44 http://www.ridgenet.org/szaflik/tvrating.htm; http://www.nisbett.com/leavening/creeping/cc06.htm
See and do: over 1,000 studies testify to a casual connection between violence in media and aggressive behavior in children. Violence As Entertainment, Crime Prevention Resource, Fort Worth, TX http://www.yellodyno.com/html/childabusestatistics.html
In 1940, teachers listed the following concerns (in order of magnitude) that interfered with a child's education: (a) talking out of turn; (b) chewing gum; (c) making noise; (d) running in the halls; (e) getting out of line; (f) wearing improper clothing and; (g) not putting paper in the wastebasket. Today, teachers rank the following concerns (in order of magnitude) which interfere with a child's education: (a) drug abuse; (b) alcohol abuse; (c) teen pregnancy; (d) suicide; (e) rape; (f) robbery and: (g) assault. William Kilpatrick; “Why Johnny Can't Tell Right from Wrong, pg. 64. (Simon & Schuster, 1992).www.rchristopherministries.org
50% of all home schooling parents are born again Christians. Barna Research 2001. http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdate&BarnaUpdateID=103
Children that go to Sunday School will receive approx. 78 hours of religious teaching a year. The same will receive approx. 1,260 hours of school and about the same of television. Statistics Concerning the State of America http://freedomministries.com/outlinestats.
Teens devote an average of 7 out of 17 waking hours a day to input from radio, TV, the Internet, etc. Barna Research; http://enrichmentjournal.ag.org/200001/012_second_coming.cfm
Nearly 90% of American teens ages 12 - 17 have Internet access, along with approx. 66% of adults. Pew Internet and American life project.
Adolescents and adults now spend, on average, more than 64 days a year watching television, 41 days listening to the radio and a little over a week using the Internet. http://www.census.gov/prod/www/statistical-abstract.html
Among adults, 97 million Internet users sought news online in 2005, 92 million purchased a product and 91 million made a travel reservation. About 16 million used a social or professional networking site and 13 million created a blog. Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2007 (Table 1139)http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/miscellaneous/007871.html.
The first practical television system began operating in the 1940s. Television reached 9 percent of homes in 1950 and almost 90 percent in 1960. United States (History)," Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2004 http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2004 Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
22 percent of adult Americans are functionally illiterate (they cannot read the front page of a newspaper). The U.S. Department of Education National Adult Literacy Survey (NALS);Kirsch I, et al. Adult Literacy in America: A First Look at the Findings of the National Adult Literacy Survey. Washington, DC. National Center for Education Statistics, US Dept of Education, 1993.
Approximately 50 percent of Americans have reading and computational skills that are inadequate for them to fully function in our modern society. ^ http://www.rmf.harvard.edu/risklibrary/articles/i_health-literacy-incP.asp
47 percent of Americans could not understand written directions to take medicine on an empty stomach, and 60 percent did not understand the standard consent form. Williams MV, et al. Inadequate functional health literacy among patients at two public hospitals. Journal of the American Medical Association. 1995; 274:1677–82.
Only 31 percent of fourth graders read at or above grade level. http://www.childrensdefense.org/pressreleases/040713.asp
Seven out of ten fourth graders cannot read or do math at grade level. http://www.childrensdefense.org/pressreleases/040713.asp
Between 1963 and 1980 national SAT composite scores fell 90 points. College Board Annual SAT Score Reports. 19631980.
The high school class of 2006 recorded the sharpest drop in SAT scores in 31 years. Associated Press.
Nearly 60 percent of high-school seniors lack even a basic knowledge of U.S. History. 1992 National Adult Literacy Survey tests
The national graduation rate is 68 percent, with nearly one-third of all public high school students failing to graduate (2001). http://www.urban.org/publications/410934.htm
The 1992 National Adult Literacy Survey tests show that only about 56% of the blacks and 83% of the whites over sixteen are literate. [55] Scores on 1994 NAEP reading tests indicate that 42% of the 4th graders can't read; 72% of the 8th graders can't read 8th grade assignments; and 66% of the nation's high school seniors can't read 9th grade textbooks in any core subject. USDE. 1994. NAEP Reading: A First Look. p. 18.
Over 50 percent of students at four-year schools and more than 75 percent at two-year colleges lacked the skills to perform complex literacy tasks (unable to interpret a table about exercise and blood pressure, comprehend arguments of newspaper editorials, compare credit card offers with different interest rates and annual fees, or summarize results of a survey about parental involvement in school). American Institutes for Research Ben Feller, Associated Press | January 20, 2006
Almost 80% of seniors at 55 of our best colleges and universities earned a D or F grade on a high-school level American history test a1999 survey showed. USDE 1992 National Adult Literacy Survey tests http://www.philanthropyroundtable.org/magazines/2000-11/cohen.html
Enrollment has increased 70.6 percent since 1990, from 135,000 to 230,000, at the 102 evangelical schools belonging to the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities. Higher Education Research Institute at the UCLA; USA Today Dec. 14, 2005 .
During the same period, enrollments at public colleges increased by 12.8 percent, and at private colleges the increase was 28 percent. USA Today Dec. 14. 2005 Southern Baptist Convention, Baptist Press http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=22361
62% more students are going to college than did in the 1960s". Bill Fitzsimmons, dean of admissions at Harvard.
The District of Columbia leads the nation in the proportion of college grads. http://www.epodunk.com/top10/collegeDiploma/index.html
50% of American college faculty identified themselves as Democrats and 11% as Republicans (33% calling Independent, 5% another party) 72% described themselves as "to the left of center, including 18% who were strongly left. Only 15% described themselves as right of center, including only 3% who were strongly right.". This is in contrast to the the general population in which (in 1999) 18% viewed themselves as liberal and 37% conservative (15% and 33% in 2004). North American Academic Study Survey (NAASS) of students, faculty and administrators at colleges and universities in the United States and Canada, 1999 by Angus Reid (now Ipsos-Reid) copyrite The Berkeley Electronic Press, 2005http://www.bepress.com/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1067&context=forum#search=%22%20Politics%20and%20Professional%20Advancement%20Stanley%20Rothman%22
Nearly half (47 percent) of college freshmen enrolled in 2005 had earned an average grade of A in high school, compared to 2-in-10 (20 percent) in 1970. The majority (79 percent) of freshmen in 1970 had an important personal objective of “developing a meaningful philosophy of life.” By 2005, the majority of freshmen (75 percent) said their primary objective was “being very well off financially.” Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2007, (Table 274). http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/miscellaneous/007871.html
Only 9.6 percent of high school graduates are poor, compared to 22.2 percent of those without a diploma. Copyright © 2002 National Center for Policy Analysis; http://www.ncpa.org/pub/ba/ba428/
Of those people who complete some college, only 6.6 percent fall below the poverty line. This drops to 3.3 percent of those with a bachelor's degree or higher. Copyright © 2002 National Center for Policy Analysis; See more at http://www.ncpa.org/pub/ba/ba428/
For commentary relating to the Bible, Education and Present Conditions, read HERE
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Sec. 15 |
Finances (some are repetitions of data from other categories, and most figure are approximate.) |
NATIONAL SPENDING AND DEBT
By 2009 the debt is estimated to top $10 Trillion Dollars (doubled in 8 years) — approx. 1.4 million a day. "Publicly held" debt accounts for $5.1 trillion of the total, with the remaining $4 trillion being owed to Social Security and other government accounts. Copyright 2007 The Associated Press http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-12-03-debt_N.htm
According to the U.S. Treasury, foreign governments and investors now hold some $2.23 Trillion - or about 44% of all publicly held U.S. Debt (2007), the first being Japan ($586 billion), then China ($400 billion), and then Britain ($244 billion). Saudi Arabia and other oil-exporting countries account for $123 billion. U.S. Treasury. Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-12-03-debt_N.htm
The United States’ Current Account deficit is now [late 2006?] approx. $60 million AN HOUR In 2002 it increased 28% to half a trillion dollars, an amount roughly equivalent to 5% of US GDP. RICHARD DUNCAN http://www.business-in-asia.com/dollar_crisis.html
As of 1994, the Federal Reserve estimated that of the approximately $365 billion of American currency in circulation, 60 percent was held somewhere outside the country. L. Reichard White http://www.usagold.com/gildedopinion/bigfloat.html
Based on an estimated US population of 296,518,520, then each citizen's share of this debt is approx. $26,000. http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/
In 1954 [during the beginning of the “cold war”] defense spending was 70 percent of federal spending while "human resources" was 19 percent. In 2003, defense was 19 percent with human resources accounting for 66 percent. The Next Economy By Robert J. Samuelson Wednesday, December 29, 2004; Page A19. © 2004 The Washington Post Company. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A32610-2004Dec28.html
Apart from total cost of defense, Health and Human Services (approx. 700B) makes up the single largest part of the 2006 budget. http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/fy2006/index.html [while both areas are a priority, and the most important thing is souls and lives – not money, and disdaining the Word of God and supplanting it with the perverse morality and social engineering of Secular Humanism (or with other false religions) has cost America and the world incredibly in monetary realms. Most wars are begun as a result of man's lust for power and which would not be if men yielded to Christ, and obedience to Biblical morals would also eliminate such things as STD's as well as the results of other “hurtful lusts” (1Tim., 6:9), which costs souls now and will do so in the hereafter. Only when one volitionally receives the Lord Jesus and His salvation will one find the spiritual life that alone can truly change the heart, and enable one to follow Christ, and know His peace. And which salvation and sanctification works to the benefit of a country, in temporal terms as well as spiritual. ”Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD” (Ps. 144:15).]
Medicaid is now the largest government health care program, costing federal and state governments $259 billion in FY 2002--surpassing the cost of Medicare, which was $257 billion, for the first time ever. Honorable Thomas A. Scully before the Subcommittee on Health http://www.heritage.org/research/features/issues2004/medicaid.cfm#FF
U.S. health care spending is expected to increase at similar levels for the next decade reaching $4.2 TRILLION in 2016, or 20 percent of GDP. Poisal, J.A., et al, Health Spending Projections Through 2016: Modest Changes Obscure Part D’s Impact. Health Affairs (21 February 2007): W242-253.
In 48 states, the cost of center-based child care for a four-year-old is greater than tuition at a four-year public college. http://www.childrensdefense.org/pressreleases/040713.asp
CONSUMER HEALTH CARE
Health care spending is 4.3 times the amount spent on national defense. California Health Care Foundation. Health Care Costs 101 -- 2005. 02 March 2005. http://www.nchc.org/facts/cost.shtml
America spent about $1.7 trillion (15.3 percent of its Gross Domestic Product) on health care in 2003, as it continued to rise at the fastest rate in US history. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Office of the Actuary, National Health Statistics Group; and U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis and Bureau of the Census. http://www.cms.hhs.gov/statistics/nhe/projections-2003/t2.asp.
More than 50 percent of Americans spend over $75 billion on dietary supplements and natural health approaches. Lyle Hurd, http://americanwellnessnetwork.com/American_Wellness_Network.html
Americans drank about 10 times as much as bottled water per person in 2004 (23 gallons) than in 1980. They also consumed more than twice as much high fructose corn syrup per person as in 1980. Richard Clement/Reuters; http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/miscellaneous/007871.html
SEXUAL SINS
Every incident of child sexual abuse costs the victim and society $99,000. Miller, Cohen & Wiersema, 1996. http://www.yellodyno.com/html/childabusestatistics.html
Teen pregnancy costs the United States at least $7 billion annually. National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. (1997). Whatever Happened to Childhood? The Problem of Teen Pregnancy in the United States. Washington, DC: Author. http://www.theodora.com/teddy/newyork/teenage.html
Overall monetary cost to tax payers for teen mothers: $120 billion+. Based on the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (1979-1985) in Congressional Budget Office. (1990, September). Sources of Support for Adolescent Mothers. Washington, DC
With 19 million sexually transmitted diseases in the United States — almost half occur among the 14-to-25 age group — the cost to the health care system is $15 billion a year. Dr. Kevin Fenton of the CDC.
Divorce and out-of-wedlock childbearing costs U.S. taxpayers more than $112 billion a year, according to a study commissioned by groups advocating government action to bolster marriage. Georgia State University economist Georgia State University economist Ben Scafidi’s, Institute for American Values, the Institute for Marriage and Public Policy, Families Northwest of Redmond, Wash., and the Georgia Family Council,. http://www.federalnewsradio.com/?nid=80&sid=1386915
The overall cost treating AIDS in the United States was $16 billion in 2002. http://usinfo.state.gov/gi/Archive/2003/Dec/01-19252.html
The monthly medical cost for people with HIV from diagnosis until death is averages to be $2,100. The lifetime (now 24.2 years avg.) HIV care cost per such persons is now $618,900 per person. 06 Nov 2006 NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center Schackman , Freedberg, MGH;, Gebo Moore Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard Medical School, and BU School of Public Health) .http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/55870.php http://porkbusters.org/2007/02/prevent_baby_aids_or_learn_how.php
Excluding HIV, more than $8 billion is spent each year to diagnose and treat STDs and their complications. Institute of Medicine. (1997). The hidden epidemic–Confronting sexually transmitted disease (edited by Thomas R. Eng and William T. Butler). Washington, DC: National Academy. Press. http://www.ashastd.org/learn/learn_statistics.cfm
In 2002, the federal and state Governments Spent $12 on Safe Sex and Contraceptives for Every $1 Spent on Abstinence. Melissa G. Pardue, Robert E. Rector, and Shannan Martin Backgrounder #1718
The porn industry rakes in an estimated $10 billion to $14 billion annually in the United States. The $4 billion that Americans spend on video pornography alone is more than the annual revenue of the NFL, the NBA or Major League Baseball. Dillon Fishman Arizona Daily Wildcat http://wildcat.arizona.edu/papers/98/133/03_1.html
It is estimated that Americans now spend somewhere around $10 billion a year on adult entertainment, which is as much as they spend attending professional sporting events, buying music or going out to the movies. It is estimated that Americans now spend somewhere around $10 billion a year on adult entertainment, which is as much as they spend attending professional sporting events, buying music or going out to the movies. CBS News. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/11/21/60minutes/main585049.shtml
Americans spent as much on drugs in 2004 as they did for gasoline. Industry consultants estimated $250 billion in sales (the majority for prescription drugs), which translates into an $850 pharmaceutical fill-up for every American. Jeff Donn ASSOCIATED PRESS, April 16, 2005. http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/health/20050416-0936-americathemedicated.html
Between 2/2001 to 7/2001 there was an increase of 345% in child pornography sites (N2H2, 8/01) http://www.afo.net/statistics.htm
CRIME, DRUGS and ALCOHOL
The cost of running the U.S. prison system is now more than $57 billion per year [violent offenders costing 50 percent more than others]. Alan Elsner, Gates of Injustice.
On average, it costs $20,000 per year to maintain one prisoner. Department of Justice Report: Two-Thirds of Non-Violent Offenders Serving Mandatory Minimum Sentences, The Drug Policy Letter, Spring 1994, at 28. http://www.sumeria.net/politics/footnotes1.html#33
On average, it costs $100,000 to build a single prison cell, and $20,000 per year to staff a prison cell. Todd R. Clear, Tougher is Dumber, N.Y. Times, Dec. 12, 1993, Sec. 1, at 21. http://www.sumeria.net/politics/footnotes1.html#33
The District of Columbia led the nation in 2002 ([ast stats i have] in per capita Government Expenditures (State and Local Government) against crime (total justice system): 2,162. http://www.census.gov/prod/2006pubs/07statab/law.pdf
In 2003 the United States spent a record $185 billion for police protection, corrections, and judicial and legal activities. Expenditures for operating the Nation's justice system increased from almost $36 billion in 1982 to over $185 billion in 2003, an increase of 418%. 14.5 Bureau of Justice Statistics, http://www.wrongfuldeathinstitute.com/links/prison/prisonstats.htm
The United States invests $70 billion on decreasing interpersonal violence or and self-inflicted violence. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.infoniac.com/science/violencecosts.html
From 1977 to 2003 total State and local expenditure for all justice functions increased 567%: Police protection – 545%; Corrections –1,173%' Judicial and legal – 1,974%. 14.5^
Other government functions increased during the same period:
Education – 505%; Hospitals and health care – 572%; Interest on debt – 577% Public welfare – 766%. (Justice Expenditure and Employment Extracts, compiled from the U.S. Census Bureau's Annual Government Finance Survey and Annual Survey of Public Employment). 14.5^
Between 1982 and 2003, per capita expenditure, including Federal, State, and local governments across justice functions, increased from $158 to $638, over 300%.
During the same time period:
Corrections expenditures increased 423%, from $40 to $209 per resident.
Judicial and legal expenditures increased 321%, from $34 to $143.
Police protection expenditures increased 241%, from $84 to $286 per resident. Since 1982 total direct expenditures increased 418%, from nearly $36 billion to over $185 billion. The average annual increase between 1982 and 2003 was nearly 8%. 14.5^
A new prison cell costs $100,000 to build and $200,000 over 25 years to pay interest on the construction debt; and in excess of $22,000 per year/per cell to operate. 14.5^
The New York City Police Department has a $3.3 billion annual budget, larger than all but 19 of the world's armies. jeftrajus http://www.handymanclub.com/Community/Forums.aspx?g=posts&t=5587&page=27
Insurance-related crime among gamblers is estimated at over $1.3 billion a year! http://www.ncalg.org/library/working%20on%20these/factsheet.htm
The average American worker admits to misusing 2.09 hours per 8-hour workday (not including lunch and scheduled break-time) of their employers time (personal Internet use making up 44.7% of the stolen time), costing employers an estimated $759 billion per year. 33.2% of respondents blamed lack of work as their primary reason for doing so, while 23.4% said they were underpaid. Survey by America Online and Salary.com http://www.salary.com/careers/layoutscripts/crel_display.asp?tab=cre&cat=nocat&ser=Ser374&part=Par555
"Americans spend over $90 billion dollars on alcohol each year." Source: UsNoDrugs.comhttp://www.usnodrugs.com/alcohol-statistics.htm
Economic costs to society for Alcohol and Drug Abuse in the United States are estimated at $185 billion annually for 1998. National Institute on Drug Abuse and National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. The Economic Costs of Alcohol and Drug Abuse in the United States, 1995. http://www.mentalhealthscreening.org/alcohol/factsheet.htm 1998.
Economic costs of alcohol-related crashes are estimated to be $45 billion yearly. Los Angeles Police Dept. http://www.lapdonline.org/bldg_safer_comms/prevention/other/drunk_driving_98.htm
An additional $70.5 billion is lost in quality of life due to these crashes. Los Angelus Police Dept. http://www.lapdonline.org/bldg_safer_comms/prevention/other/drunk_driving_98.htm
Federal, state, and local alcohol taxes combined raise approximately $13.1 billion dollars a year, but alcohol use extracts over $ 100 billion a year in social costs such as lost productivity and health costs. Morton M. Kondracke, "Don't Legalize Drugs," The New Republic, June 27, 1988; Robert E. Peterson, "'Stop Legalization of Illegal Drugs," Drug Awareness Information Newsletter, July 1988]. Schaffer Library of drug policy. http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/debate/myths/myths5.htm
In 1995, $60.3 billion, or nearly one in five dollars the federal government spends on all health care entitlements, will be spent to treat illness and conditions attributable to tobacco, alcohol and other drugs." Columbia's Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse
It is estimated that legalizations of recreational drugs would cost American society between $140 billion and $210 billion a year in lost productivity and job-related accidents. Morton M. Kondracke, citation above;. http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/debate/myths/myths5.htm
Excessive drinking costs Americans over $175 billion each year: The National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. http://www.gannett.com/go/difference/greatfalls/pages/part11/mess.html
Businesses lose an estimated $100 billion a year due to substance abuse. U.S. Department of Labor. http://www.gannett.com/go/difference/greatfalls/pages/part11/mess.html
Teen-aged drinking costs Americans an estimated $58 billion annually. Office of Juvenile Justice and Mothers Against Drunk Driving. 1999 Great Falls Tribune http://www.gannett.com/go/difference/greatfalls/pages/part11/mess.html
Alcohol is the number one drug of choice among America's youth, costing an average of $577.91 per year for every household in the United States. Karolyn Nunnallee, national president of Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD). www.madd.org/stats 1999 Great Falls Tribune http://www.gannett.com/go/difference/greatfalls/pages/part11/mess.html
College students spend over $5.5 billion a year on alcoholic beverages (mostly beer)--more than they spend on all other drinks [soda, tea, milk, juice and coffee] and books combined. Sidney Ribeau, PresidentBowling Green State University http://www.collegevalues.org/diaries.cfm?id=476&a=1. See also www.hsph.harvard.edu/cas/rpt1998/CAS1998rpt2.html.
Medical expenses attributable to alcohol abuse are an estimated $22.6 billion this year. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. http://www.gannett.com/go/difference/greatfalls/pages/part11/mess.html
Almost 1 in 5 dollars (60.3 billion) of the total US federal government health care spending entitlements, will be spent in 1995 to treat afflictions and conditions attributable to tobacco, alcohol and other drugs. Columbia's Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse. 1999 Great Falls Tribune http://www.gannett.com/go/difference/greatfalls/pages/part11/mess.html
Americans spent as much on drugs last year [2004] as they did for gasoline. The $250 billion in sales estimated by industry consultants means an $850 pharmaceutical fill-up for every American. The vast majority was for prescription drugs." Jeff Donn Associated Press, April 16, 2005. http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/health/20050416-0936-americathemedicated.html
Americans spent a total of $151 billion on outpatient prescriptions in 2002. Time magazine, July 13, 2005. http://time.blogs.com/daily_rx/2005/07/what_americans_.html
Over 100,000 people die every year from taking prescription drugs. Lyle Hurd, http://americanwellnessnetwork.com/American_Wellness_Network.html
Americans spend slightly less than $70 billion annually to buy illegal drugs. December 2000; Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), by Abt Associates Inc., of Cambridge, Mass. http://www.smythnews.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=SCN%2FMGArticle%2FSCN_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031780461826
70 percent of America's public child welfare system spending is for substance abuse-related sins. Columbia University's National Center on Addition and Substance Abuse. 1999 Great Falls Tribune http://www.gannett.com/go/difference/greatfalls/pages/part11/mess.html
An estimated 80% of prison inmates are alcoholics or drug abusers. Columbia's Center on Addiction and Substance Abuset . 1999 Great Falls Tribune http://www.gannett.com/go/difference/greatfalls/pages/part11/mess.html
Alcohol-related car wrecks cost the US an estimated $45 billion a year, or $1.90 per ounce of alcohol consumed. Mothers Against Drunk Drivers www.madd.org/stats
30 to 50% of hospital admissions are alcohol-related. Dr. Dan Nauts, medical director of the Addiction Medicine Center at Benefis Healthcare. http://www.gannett.com/go/difference/greatfalls/pages/part11/mess.html
PERSONAL + HOUSEHOLD INCOME, SPENDING AND DEBT
United States, Per Capita Income in year 200 dollars: 1990 = 24, 198; 2005 = 34,07. US Census Bureau http://www.census.gov/prod/2006pubs/07statab/income.pdf
Disposable Personal Income Per Capita in 1990 = 30,509; 2005 = 30,509. US Census Bureau
Median household income (2006) 46,000. US Census Bureau. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Median_household_income
In the year 2000 households with income of at least $100,000 were the fastest-growing income division in the U.S. In inflation-adjusted figures (to 1999 dollars), one out of eight American households were in this group last year (12 in 1990). U.S. Census Bureau; http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2000/12/01/292749/index.htm
There were 3.5 million U.S. millionaires in 2001, more than a half million of them (572,000) in California and about 3,000 in Vermont. Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2007, (Table 700) http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/miscellaneous/007871.html
Nearly 80 percent of children in long-term poverty live in some type of broken family or with a never-married parent. 15National Center for Policy Analysis; http://www.ncpa.org/pub/ba/ba428/
On average, a child raised by a never-married mother is 9 times more likely to live in poverty than a child raised by two parents in an intact marriage. ^15
Only 9.6 percent of high school graduates are poor, compared to 22.2 percent of those without a diploma. ^15
Of those people who complete some college, only 6.6 percent fall below the poverty line. This drops to 3.3 percent of those with a bachelor's degree or higher. ^15
Of the 35 million living in American poverty, 46% live in their own homes, 76% have air conditioning, 97% own a color TV, 78% a DVD or VCR, 65% their own washing machine, 73% their own car, 30% own more than one car. U.S. Census Bureau; Executive Summary #1713: Understanding Poverty in America by Robert E. Rector and Kirk A. Johnson, Ph.D. http://www.heritage.org/Research/Welfare/BG1713es.cfm. [This is not to slight those who have much less, nor does it reveal the whole story, but it shows a disparity between those who, like myself, fit into the category of financial poverty in America, and that of poverty in other areas of the world.]
More than half (50.3 percent) of U.S. households — nearly 57 million — owned stocks and mutual funds in 2005, representing 91 million individual investors. Equity owners had a median age of 51, a median household income of $65,000 and $125,000 in median household financial assets. Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2007, (Tables 1194, 1195). http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/miscellaneous/007871.html
The average American household has 13 payment cards, including credit cards, debit cards and store cards. Family Life Facts, http://www.flc.org/hfl/flf01.htm
Over 40% of U.S. families spend more than they earn. Federal Reserve.
Together Americans owe $1.713 trillion, nearly three times the value of the nation’s circulating currency. Harper’s Magazine, November 2002. http://www.employmentproject.com/nmj/nmj0211.htm
The percentage of household debt in relation to household assets (what you owe versus what you're worth) has also never been so high. The Federal Reserve
80% of Americans owe more than they own. ©2004 by Rod Rogers, http://www.leaderskillsinc.com/resource_articles/stew_doc_news.htm
Consumer borrowing has risen almost 50 percent in the past five years to a record $6.3 billion. U.S. News & World Report, February 14, 2001; http://www.bibleuniverse.com/finance/finance.asp
Household debt -- everything from home mortgages to credit cards -- now totals about $10 trillion, or roughly 115 percent of personal disposable income. In 1945, debt was about 20 percent of disposable income. The Next Economy By Robert J. Samuelson Wednesday, December 29, 2004; Page A19. © 2004 The Washington Post Company. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A32610-2004Dec28.html
50% of all income goes to pay consumer and mortgage debt. Rod Rogers, http://www.leaderskillsinc.com/resource_articles/stew_doc_news.htm
There were 278 million debit cards in U.S. hands in 2004, with 22.2 billion transactions amounting to more than $1 trillion. Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2007, (Table 1168). http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/miscellaneous/007871.html
45% of people are dependent on relatives. Rod Rogers, http://www.leaderskillsinc.com/resource_articles/stew_doc_news.htm
The average American Credit card debt is $8,562 (2002). [Does not include other forms of debt.] http://www.fool.com/ccc/secrets/secrets.htm (orig. http://www.cardweb.com ?)
Total finance charges Americans paid in 2001: $50 billion. http://www.fool.com/ccc/secrets/secrets.htm
75% of credit card companies revenues come from finance charges. http://loan.yahoo.com/c/cards6.html
55% of households owed nothing on credit cards (2002). Liz Pulliam Weston http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/Banking/creditcardsmarts/P74808.asp
29% of households owe $1,000 or more on their cards. 1% owe $21,400 or more. Bill Whitt at the VIP Forum, a Washington D.C. research firm. Reported by Liz Pulliam Weston, http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/Banking/creditcardsmarts/P74808.asp
Average American undergraduate student credit card debt rose from $1,879 to $2,748 in two years (2000). Nellie Mae Student Loan Applications. http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/redir.cgi?statistic_37&http://www.nfcc.org
The average American college undergrad has $1,843 in credit card debt (2001). Nellie Mae, a student loan provider. http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/redir.cgi?statistic_55&http://Bankrate.com
More than half of families with credit cards (56 percent) “almost always” pay off the balance, 20 percent “sometimes” pay off the balance and another 24 percent “hardly ever” pay off the balance. Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2007, (Table 1170). http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/miscellaneous/007871.html
Bankruptcies set another record in 2003, with 1.6 million personal filings. American Bankruptcy Institute. http://www.abiworld.org/stats/newstatsfront.html
TAXES
Every baby born today “owes” the United States federal government approximately $70,000. Statistics Concerning the State of America http://freedomministries.com/outlinestats.html
Cost of a hospital delivery is approximately $10,000. PPFA 2002
Cost to raise a child until age 18 is approximately $177,250 to $350,210. Parents 2000
The tax revenues that would have been from the 26.9 million children that have been legally aborted in America by 1991 is an estimated $135 billion. The Cost of Abortion, Lawrence F. Roberge http://www.pregnantpause.org/abort/gap.htm
37 million Americans were living under the poverty line last year [2005]- about 12.6 percent of the population. US Census Bureau; www.finfacts.com/irelandbusinessnews/publish/article_10007085.shtml
Immigrants who become U.S. citizens typically pay more in taxes they receive in benefits such as education and public assistance ($70.3 billion as compared with $42.9 billion) - though initially using more state and local services - than do native-born Americans. http://www.immigrationforum.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=277 and www.ericdigests.org/
Undocumented immigrants constitute about 1% of the total U.S. population and 13% of the foreign-born population. http://www.ericdigests.org/
CULINARY INDULGENCE
Americans spend close to $117 billion on obesity related health care, with another $33 billion spent annually in attempts to control or lose weight. Mazur F. Health cost control: prevention. Legislative Update. http://user.adelphia.net/frankmazur/prevention_10_3.htm; Accessed August 26, 2004. http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3977/is_200410/ai_n9461223
Nearly half the costs of obesity are paid out of tax-supported health insurance. Magee M. The cost of obesity in America. Health Politics. Available at http://www.health-politics.com/programjnfo.asp?p=prog_474; accessed July 14, 2004. http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3977/is_200410/ai_n9461223
Total amount spent annually on potato chips: $4.5 billion. Cato book for Congress. http://www.cato.org/pubs/handbook/hb105-18.html
Americans spent approx. 167 million in caviar in 2004. Fred Conte, Univeristy of California at Davis.
Americans spend around $3 billion for cat and dog food a year http://engr.smu.edu/~rada/UselessFacts.html
America Throw away approx. 27% of it's food every year. http://www.metro-region.org/article.cfm?articleid=860
VEHICLES
One billion dollars worth of stolen cars are taken out of the United States annually. White House International Crime Control Strategy - June 1998 http://www.fas.org/irp/offdocs/iccs/iccsii.html
Maine, Vermont, Idaho, and Wisconsin were the 5 least expensive states for auto insurance in 2005, while New York state, Louisiana, Rhode Island Maryland and Washington DC made up the 5 highest. http://www.insurance.com/Article.aspx/MostLeast_Expensive_States_for_Auto_Insurance_in_2005/artid/343 ;http://www.insurance.com/Article.aspx/The_Most_Expensive_States_for_Auto_Insurance/artid/147
Car ownership costs of selected cities around the country are as follows: Detroit - $12,210, Philadelphia - $11,081, Los Angeles - $10,604, Hartford, CT - $9,972, West Palm Beach - $9,170, Buffalo - $8,813, Grand Forks, ND - $7,726, Bismarck, ND - $7,705, Sioux Falls, SD - $7,629, Runzheimer International, a consulting firm; http://money.cnn.com/2006/09/01/autos/costliest_car_ownership_cities/index.htm?cnn=yes
MISCL.
At General Motors, the cost of health care for employees now exceeds the cost of steel.
Health premiums were up 13.9 percent in 2003 over 2002. In 2004, health benefits cost a single employee an average of $3,383, and a family of four $9,068. The Bureau of Labor Statistics
“Each automobile manufactured in the U.S. today contains $700 worth of steel and around $1,700 worth of health care costs.” Mike Milken at HRO World Conference 2004.
Health care cost General Motors $5.3 billion in 2005—31 percent of which was for prescription drugs. Corbett B., Ward's Auto World 2003 Jul 1; http://xnet.kp.org/permanentejournal/SUM07/health-care-reform.html
In 48 states, the cost of center-based child care for a four-year-old is greater than tuition at a four-year public college. http://www.childrensdefense.org/pressreleases/040713.asp
This nations approx. 1 million (annually) high school dropouts are estimated to cost the economy 260 billion over the course of the students lives. U.S. News + World Report, 4-24-06 [Bible church “dropouts” cost more, while the social engineering “values” most schools teach cost both the students and this nation more than money.]
In the United States, 32% of peoples income is spent on housing (including ultitlies, furnishings, services, repairs, etc.) Center for Business and Economic Research; http://cber.cba.ua.edu/rbriefs/ab_jul97.html
American citizens donated $260 billion to charities of all kinds in 2005, the latest year for which figures are available. The Giving USA Foundation.
The amount budgeted by the US government for non-military foreign aid in 2006 ( $17.29 billion) to the entire world was less than American citizens spend celebrating Mother's Day and Father's And the amount spent on winter holidays is greater than all charitable giving combined. National Retail Federation. http://www.godweb.org/holidayspending.htm
The average consumer will spend $30 on Christmas cards and postage this year. National Retail Federation.
Americans are expected to spend $8 billion on Christmas decorations. Unity Marketing, 2005 http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=18650
Eight in 10 dog owners buy their pet holiday gifts. Six in 10 cat owners do. 2005, American Pet Products Manufacturers Association.
Americans spent approx $457 Billion / $800 per person on Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. A typical American child receives 70 new toys a year, most of them at Christmas, and .
$14 Billion / $116 per person Valentine's Day
$13.8 Billion / $115 per person for Mother's Day
$12.6 Billion / $110 per person for Easter
$9 Billion / $100 per person for Father's Day
$5 billion / $60 per person for Halloween. National Retail Federation http://www.godweb.org/holidayspending.htm
$36.3 billion was spent by Americans on pet food and supplies, veterinary visits, medicines, live animals and services (which include massage therapy, spa treatments, couture clothing and gourmet food). 2005, American Pet Products Manufacturers Association.
Pets outnumber people in the United States by about 60 million. 2005, American Pet Products Manufacturers Association. http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/03/10/modern.pets/index.html
14 Bureau of Justice Statistics
15 Copyright © 2002 National Center for Policy Analysis; http://www.ncpa.org/pub/ba/ba428/
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Sec. 16 |
Population and Resources |
According to the International Programs Center, U.S. Bureau of the Census, the total population of the World, projected to 10/08/06 at 21:54 GMT (EST+5) is 6,549,155,343. http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/popclockworld.html
According to the U.S. Bureau of the Census, the resident population of the United States, projected to 10/08/06 at 21:54 GMT (EST+5) is 299,934,174
COMPONENT SETTINGS FOR OCTOBER 2006
One birth every.................................. 7 seconds
One death every.................................. 13 seconds
One international migrant (net) every............ 31 seconds
Net gain of one person every..................... 11 seconds
On July 1, 1906 the U.S. population was listed at 85,450,000. http://www.census.gov/population/www/popclockus.html
U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimate (7-9-07): 302,292,739.
The total U.S. population crossed the 100 million mark around 1915, the 200 million mark in 1967, and the 300 million mark in 2006 (on Tuesday, October 17). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_the_United_States
It took America 52 years to grow from 100 million in 1915 to 200 million in 1967, but only 39 years to reach 300 million. There will be 400 million Americans in 2043, climbing to 420 million by midcentury. US Census Bureau estimates.
The U.S. population more than tripled during the 20th century - a growth rate of about 1.3 percent a year - from about 76 million in 1900 to 281 million in 2000. U.S. population growth is now the highest among developed countries. California and Texas currently the most populous states. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_the_United_States
45% of American children under the age of 5 are minorities, with Hispanics accounting for almost half (1.4 million). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_the_United_States
In 1957, a baby was born every 7 seconds. http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_1741500823_30/United_States_(History).html
Every 7 seconds someone in America turns 50. Gary Onks - SoldOnSeniors, Inc.
People over age 66 will be 19.4 percent of Americans by 2043, up from 11.8 percent now. Carolyn Kaster/ap./file
The United States has both the highest birthrate (2.11) and the highest church attendance in the industrialized world. Atheists won't save Europe by don feder http://www.frontpagemagazine.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=27937
Of the 10 nations with the lowest birthrates, nine are in Europe (the 10th. is Japan), with only 1.5 children born for every woman in the EU (which also has the lowest church attendance in the world). Atheists won't save Europe by don feder http://www.frontpagemagazine.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=27937
World War I saw 15 million deaths, World War II approx 62 million people, Korean War 2.5 million military and civilian deaths. http://en.wikipedia.org
Vietnam war: 58,226 American deaths, with approx. approximately 5.4 million total dead (including some by post war effects). http://answers.google.com
Up to 1986[?] the deaths from that century's battles in all international and domestic wars, revolutions, and violent conflicts was estimated at 35,654,000. The Wall Street Journal, July 7, 1986; 38 million – http://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/com.art.htm.
It is estimated that atheistic communism (Marxism-Leninism and its variants) is responsible for the murder of up to approx. 94 million people in the last century (through assassination, extrajudicial executions, torture, indiscriminate mass killings, and genocide, democide and famine caused by negligence or indifference, or it's war against capitalism. The Black Book of Communism, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Book_of_Communism; (110 million – Death By Government, R.J. Rummel).
Active-duty strength for the U.S. armed forces in 2005 included 493,000 in the Army, 354,000 in the Air Force, 363,000 in the Navy and 180,000 Marines. The nearly 1.4 million men and women in uniform compares to 3 million-plus members in 1970.
There were 14,000 terrorist attacks globally in 2006. 47% of those took place in Iraq. Two-thirds of fatalities from these attacks worldwide occurred in Iraq. Time Magazine, 5/14/07; http://www.veegle.com.
HIV/AIDS [which is virtually 100% preventable by obeying God's command for celibacy until marriage between man and women and monogamy afterwards], is the 4th-Leading Cause of Death in the World (over 25 million dead since 1981), after Ischaemic heart disease, Cerebrovascular disease, and Lower respiratory infections . http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0779147.html; UNAIDS/WHO.
AIDS, at over 58,000 dead per year (2003) is the leading cause of death by Infectious Diseases in the USA [with over a half million American dead from it], followed far behind by Botulism at 132 persons. http://www.disastercenter.com/cdc/disease.htm
AIDS is a leading cause of death among African-American men ages 25-446 in the USA, and African American women ages 25-34 years (2003). CDC, NCHS, National Vital Statistics Report, November 7, 2003 http://www.cdc.gov/omh/Highlights/2005/HDec105.htm
New York State ( 155, 755) led the nation in HIV/AIDs cases in 2002, followed by California 128,064, Florida 90,233, Texas 59,772, New Jersey 45,237, Illinois 28,426, Pennsylvania 28,136. http://www.kff.org/hivaids/loader.cfm?url=/commonspot/security/getfile.cfm&PageID=32947
Including non-occupants, almost (48k+) 50,000 people die in roadway crashes in America (1999). http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/departments/nrd-30/NCSA/Content/Assess2K.html
Nearly 115,000 people die prematurely of alcohol abuse each year, said the NIAAA. http://www.gannett.com/go/difference/greatfalls/pages/part11/mess.html
More than 33% of Americans would desire "everything possible" done to save their lives if they had a lethal disease, up from just over 20% in 1990. Pew Research Center for the People and the Press.
IMMIGRATION
Since 1970 over 90% of U.S. population growth has occurred from recent immigrants and their children born here. Dirk Chase Eldredge 16http://www.insightmag.com/news/2002/03/11/Symposium/Yes-Immigration.Will.Double.The.Population.Of.The.United.States.Within.The.Next-185221.shtml.
Since 1970 licensed drivers in the United States have increased by 64 percent.^15
From 1960 to the 1990's immigration into the U.S. has increased from 300,000 to over 1 million annually. ^15
From 1990 to 1998 U.S. immigration increased 41% (32% of total U.S. population growth). ^15
Immigrants who become U.S. citizens typically pay more in taxes they receive in benefits such as education and public assistance ($70.3 billion as compared with $42.9 billion) - though initially using more state and local services - than do native-born Americans. http://www.immigrationforum.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=277 and www.ericdigests.org/
Undocumented immigrants constitute about 1% of the total U.S. population and 13% of the foreign-born population. http://www.ericdigests.org/
Undocumented immigrants pay taxes of $7 billion annually because their paychecks are subject to income tax and Social Security deductions. http://www.ericdigests.org/
During the 1980's, 75% of all immigrants settled in 6 states: California, New York, Texas, Florida, New Jersey, and Illinois. Approx. 90% live in cities. In 1990, 93% lived in cities. http://www.ericdigests.org/
There were more than 2.3 million immigrant youth in U.S. schools and colleges--about 5% of all students. http://www.ericdigests.org/
Miscl.
From 2000 to 2005, the number of manufacturing jobs declined nearly 18 percent. Virtually every job category registered decreases except pharmaceuticals. Employment in textile mills fell by 42 percent. The job projected to grow the fastest by 2014 is home health aide. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/miscellaneous/007871.html
After English (30% of web visitors) the most-requested languages on the world wide web are Chinese 13%, Japanese 8.5%, Spanish 6.3%, German 6.3% and French 4% (from Internet World Stats, updated November 30, 2005). http://www.internetworldstats.com
By continent, 34% of the world's Internet users are based in Asia, 29% in Europe, and 23% in North America ([2] updated November 21, 2005). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet
U.S. passenger and cargo airline operations required 19.4 billion gallons of jet fuel during the 12-month period ended November 2006. http://www.airlines.org/economics/energy/fuel+QA.htm
Total fuel consuption of all motor vechicles in the US for the year 2000 was 225,821,241. United States Department of Transportation http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/ohim/hs00/pdf/vm1m.pdf
The grain required to fill a 25-gallon SUV gas tank with ethanol, for instance, could feed one person for a year. Time magazine, March, 2008.
Since 2004, ExxonMobil has posted about $100 billion dollars in cumulative profits. The Week Magazine, 5/11/07; http://www.veegle.com.
The world has an estimated 40 to 45 years left of crude oil . http://plaza.ufl.edu/joec/republican_arguments_essay.htm
One uranium nuclear fuel pellet the size of the tip of your little finger is equivalent to the energy provided by 1,780 pounds of coal; or 149 gallons of oil. http://plaza.ufl.edu/joec/republican_arguments_essay.htm
Estimates show that there are only 60 to 70 years left of uranium left on the planet; it is a nonrenewable source of energy.” Fik, Dr. Timothy J., The Geography of Economic Development). http://plaza.ufl.edu/joec/republican_arguments_essay.htm
16http://www.insightmag.com/news/2002/03/11/Symposium/Yes-Immigration.Will.Double.The.Population.Of.The.United.States.Within.The.Next-185221.shtml.
Master table of numbered references:
1 BARNA RESEARCH ARE FROM THE BARNA GROUP, LTD.1957 EASTMAN AVE. SUITE B VENTURA, CAL 93003 USA;: (805) 639-0000 http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=Topic&TopicID=37 See also http://www.josh.org/notes/file/Internet13-Religion.pdf
2 http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdateNarrow&BarnaUpdateID=216
3© The Barna Group, Ltd. 2007,. http://www.barna.org;
3.5 http://www.glenmary.org/grc/RCMS_2000/Catholic_findings.htm
4 http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=Topic&TopicID=2
4.5 http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdate&BarnaUpdateID=160
5 http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdate&BarnaUpdateID=119
6 http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdate&BarnaUpdateID=150
7 http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdate&BarnaUpdateID=92
8 Barna Research 2001 http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdate&BarnaUpdateID=93 See also http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=Topic&TopicID=15
9 THE STATE of OUR UNIONS 2004 marriage.rutgers.edu/Publications/SOOU/TEXTSOOU2004.htm
10.D. Eddins http://www.geocities.com/tdeddins/CHAPTER01.htm
11 http://www.ashastd.org/learn/learn_statistics.cfm
12 Alan Guttmacher Institute, 120 Wall Street, 21st Floor, New York, N.Y. 10005; http://www.agi-usa.org/
13 http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/pressrel/r2k0609b.htm [1999]
13.5 http://news.ucanr.org/mediakits/Nutrition/nutritionfactsheet.shtml#sources
14.Bureau of Justice Statistics
14.5 http://www.ncalg.org/library/working%20on%20these/factsheet.htm
15 Copyright © 2002 National Center for Policy Analysis; See more at http://www.ncpa.org/pub/ba/ba428
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Sec. 17 |
Special compilation: 1960-62 to 1980 and beyond. |
The trend toward spiritual and moral degradation had already begun before long before this period, with secular humanism being introduced into schools as the State religion around 1930, through John Dewey. Up until about that time, the McGuffey’s Reader and the New England Primer were America's principal school text books. “McGuffey’s Reader, the mainstay of public education from 1836 to 1920, primarily consisted of prayers to God, Scriptural references, and religious instruction to abstain from sin.” Before 1962, prayers were prayed and the Bible regularly read in public schools. Congress approved the first publishing of Bibles in the U.S. in 1782, “a neat edition of the Holy Scriptures for the use of schools.” (http://www.stopschoollevies.org/defense.htm). The next major step was in 1962, when official prayer, and the next year, official devotional reading of the Word of God, was expelled from public schools in America. Rather than the Bible, with it's transcendent moral absolutes, being the general ultimate authority, a form of Christ-less humanism gradually has supplanted it, with the secularly seduced State becoming the final authority of right and wrong. Though for a while a momentum of righteousness did enable some just laws to be implemented, overall America has increasingly cast off the Biblical anchor of righteousness and thus has drifted into the waters of an ever morphing morality that gives liberty to unholy lusts. Such hedonistic philosophy wars against the teaching of the immutable Law of God, which alone supremely enjoins and enables true love for God and one another, and holy liberty with it's necessary limits. And as souls are less God controlled then they must be more government (gun) controlled. And as the people and government itself becomes corrupt, unnecessary suffering results. In contrast to the positive promise, "Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD" (Psalm 144:15), is the negative reality, “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God." (Psalm 9:17). "Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel [applicable to all], every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin" (Ezek 18:30).
Between 1960 and 1990, there was a 41% decline in marriage. Larry L. Bumpass, "What's Happening to the Family? Interactions Between Demographic and Institutional Change,"
Divorce is up 350%.in which children under 18 are involved. U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, and Statistical Abstract of the United States.
• Since 1960 there has been over a 400% increase in illegitimate births. The Wall Street Journal,Monday, March 15, 1993 Quantifying America's Decline by William J. Bennett http://www.columbia.edu/cu/augustine/arch/usadecline.html
Between 1960 and 1990, the percentage of children living apart from their biological fathers more than doubled, from 17 percent to 36 percent. http://mensightmagazine.com/Articles/Popenoe/nofathers.htm
While in 1960 only 9 percent of all children lived in single-parent families (a figure that had changed little over the course of the 20th century), by 2003 the percentage had jumped to 27 percent.9The State of our unions 2004 marriage. http://marriage.rutgers.edu/publications/soou/textsoou2004.htm .
Between 1960 AND 2002, the number of unmarried couples in America – couples who are sexual partners, not married to each other, and sharing a household [otherwise known as fornicators, living in sin] – increased by over 1100 percent. ^9
Child abuse up 2,300%. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Child Maltreatment: Reports from the States to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System.
Premarital sexual activity for girls increased over 500 percent; http://www.christianaction.org.za/media_egroups/uca_2003-04-30.htm
Births to unmarried girls from 15-19 years of age is up 500% U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Historical Statistics of the United States http://www.angelfire.com/music2/fullcircle/
• Since 1960 the percentage of babies born to unwed mothers (any age) has increased more than sixfold.9The State of our unions 2004 marriage. http://marriage.rutgers.edu/publications/soou/textsoou2004.htm .
1960 there were 2 known Sexually Transmitted Diseases (syphilis and gonorrhea); today there are more than 25. Family Research Council: The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Epidemic: www.ccv.org/downloads/pdf/HPV-Epidemic.pdf
Gonorrhonea (a Sexually Transmitted Disease) went up over 200 percent; http://www.christianaction.org.za/media_egroups/uca_2003-04-30.htm
Ilegal drug usage is up 6,000% since 1960. The percent of youth who have used illegal drugs has gone from 5 to 75%. National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Less than 1% of all Americans had used illegal drugs before 1960. The Honorable Judge Robert Ulrich Chief Justice, Missouri Court Of Appeals, Western District; http://www.shalomjerusalem.com/heritage/heritage19.html
Between 1960 and the early 1980s.smoking among 8th-grade girls increased 50 percent over this period, and the percentage of black 8th- and 10th-graders who smoked doubled. U.S. Health and Human Srevices; http://mchb.hrsa.gov/mchirc/_pubs/chusa_99.pdf.
• Suicides rose for all youth 15 – 24 from 5.2 deaths per 100,00 in 1960 to 13.2 in 1988. National Center For Health Statistics. http://wonder.cdc.gov/wonder/prevguid/p0000024/p0000024.asp#Table_1
• From 1960 to 1980 the suicide rate among teens has risen more than 200% (1 suicide every 17 minutes). National Center for Health Statistics. Quantifying America's Decline by William J. Bennett; http://www.columbia.edu/cu/augustine/arch/usadecline.html
• From 1960 to 1990 violent crime rose 560%. F.B.I. Quantifying America's Decline by William J. Bennett http://www.columbia.edu/cu/augustine/arch/usadecline.html
• Criminal Arrests of Teens from age 14-17 per 100,000 is up 150%. U.S. Department Bureau of the Census, Historical Statistics of the United States.
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Sec. 18 |
APPLICATION |
The story has often been told that the way to boil a frog is not to place the poor creature in a pot of boiling water, but in a pot of mild temperature and then incrementally raise the temperature, till before he realizes it he is cooked! May these statistics help us to see how slowly yet surely this country, which has and is greatly blessed of God, has fallen from grace into destructive degradation. Not suddenly, for had most any one of these statistics been realized some years ago they would have shocked God – fearing souls into action, but incrementally the foundations have been are being destroyed, awaiting the day when sufficient stress causes the whole structure to fall. Having increasingly "put off" the Lord Jesus Christ to make "provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof" (Romans 13:14), we are presently reaping the corruption thereof, which this study helps to quantify .
Whose fault is this? While the lost are guilty of rejecting the truth of the gospel and it's morality which they do know (obedience to which brings more light), the more accountable are those who know the Lord but who have not preached of sin, righteousness and judgment (Jn. 16:8), but rather have made their home in this world rather than being grieved at it's – and our own – sins.
The true Christian response to iniquity is not ambivalence, nor a reaction out of of self righteousness, rather it is one of both grief because it offends God, and a passion to turn many to righteousness for His sake, and for theirs.
Psa 119:53 Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law.
Psa 119:158 I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word.
Ezek. 9:4 And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
Dan 12:3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
Acts 26:20 that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
Jude 20-23 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
We ought to have the zeal of a Nehemiah for holiness in the congregation, except instead of smiting certain of them with our fists (see 13:21-25), we are to do so work conversion and holiness "By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left" (2 Cor 6:7 ).
The work of a Christian is not to bring back some some sort of a Mayberry RFD society, as many (of the few activists) seem the more motivated to do, but to see Christ reign in every heart, to see God's will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. "For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet" ( Cor 15:25).
This must start in one's own heart through the Gospel, which is "the power of God unto salvation" (Rm. 1:16). God is glorified when men repent (cf. Rev. 16:9), therefore the commission of Christ to His followers in this lost world is to "turn to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in Me" (Acts 26:18). "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mk. 16:16). "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Mt. 28:19, 20). Praise the Lord!
We who have believed are (and will) to do this as yielded vessels to God, through the power of the Holy Ghost. By Him let us work to convict souls of their utter inability to either merit God and His Heaven nor escape their just and eternal punishment in Hell, and point them directly to the only Begotten Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. It is He Whom the Father sent from Heaven "to be the propitiation [perfect and final sacrifice] for our sins," and "the Savior of the world" (1Jn. 4:10, 14). This is a decision every human soul who can make such a decision must make if they will be saved: "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved “ (Acts 4:12).
This work of salvation and sanctification is neither the work nor the ability of the institutionalized church: we have seen (such as in R. Catholic areas) what little power dead religion has to truly effect such, "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away" (2 Tim 3:5). Rather, the commission of Christ is only to those who have been truly "born of the Spirit" and so follow Him, through effectual faith in and surrender to "the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:13).
Let us therefore, as many as be truly graciously born of God's Holy Spirit (Jn. 3:3-7), obey His word to “put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand" (Eph. 6:11). Let us resist the devil thereby, and exalt the Lord Jesus Christ in our hearts and lives!
"Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and for ever. Amen!
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"O give thanks unto the Lord for He is good; for His mercy for ever” (Psalm 107:1) |
*Brief summary R. Catholicism:
The following summary can be well substantiated, and is not given not of any personal animosity towards Catholicism but as one who was a devout R. Catholic, and who sought to serve the Lord there after becoming born again, I write as one who has seen both sides, and initially and increasingly realized the tremendous contrast between Rome and Biblical regeneration (becoming born again). And having a heart for sound doctrine and a burden for souls, I wrote the following to help explain the Catholicism behind the statistics this is linked to, and to illustrate the basic difference between the gospel of such a system and that of Holy Scripture, with the prayer that souls will choose the latter to their salvation and to the glory of God. Amen!
Unlike typical cults or cultic systems, the Roman religious system does not require strict doctrinal conformity to all it's teachings, but typical of all such systems, she fosters implicit trust/dependence upon something less than Christ alone, that of the Roman Catholic System. Catholics typically therefore believe in a Jesus that will save them partly upon their own merit and that of the Catholic institution, which autocratically declares itself to be the one true church, to whom all are to submit. Her autocratic Caesario-Papacy and vast hierarchical system is much patterned after the Romans Empire in which the church found itself, and lacks the necessary Biblical warrant. While Peter's brethren – type leadership among the apostles is manifested, he is not seen ruling over the other apostles or church as an elevated supreme demi – god after the manner of Rome. Nowhere do we see even one command given to the church to submit to Peter as it's supreme Head, nor one example of him doing so as Rome examples. Not once does Peter refer to himself as the supreme head of the church, but as “an apostle” and “an elder” (1Pet. 1:1; 5:1). In addition, while the Holy Spirit in Scripture clearly gives us instructions for ordaining Bishop/Elders (not priests) as overseers of the church (1Tim. 3:1-7), nowhere is their any provision given for a successor to Peter. All told Rome's interpretation of her foundational text, Matthew 16:13-19, is unsubstantiated by the rest of Scripture. And without the papacy, all of Rome's pretensions to supreme power, and all Her spurious doctrines – which depend upon a presumed apostolic power to effectively add to the Bible – fall.
In addition to resting her case for the papacy essentially upon circular reasoning – namely, that according to her interpretation of Mt. 16:13-19) only her interpretations can be correct in any conflict – Rome also seeks to validate her presumed preeminence via a supposed historical linkage back to the apostles. Yet the authenticity of the, or a, true church does not rest upon any real or supposed historical linkage back to the apostles, any more than the authenticity of a true Jew rests upon physical linkage back to Abraham, as Rm. 2:28, 29 declares. Rather in both cases, authenticity is based upon Abrahamic type faith in the apostolic gospel, which knows nothing of salvation by proxy, or justification that depends on Romish rituals, but which justifies the destitute sinner with the imputed righteousness of Christ the moment they cast all their faith upon the risen Lord Jesus (and thus follow Him:. Acts 10:34-47). Praise ye the Lord!
In contrast, the average Catholic hears no convicting preaching that brings him to realize that he is a guilty and needy sinner who has nothing to offer God that he may gain Heaven nor escape Hell, and thus look directly to God in Christ for mercy, trusting in Him and His sinless shed blood and righteousness for salvation. Instead, the main, modern conveyance of Rome is that souls, not matter how nominal a practitioner they be, will be taken care if they die in Her hands. Though she makes many authoritative pronouncements which give her a form of Godliness, punishments for deviation are seldom enforced, and unholy liberalism and anti - Biblical practices (abortion, homosexuality, etc.) typically reign more where she reigns, as compared with areas where the evangelical Christian faith is believed. At the end, Catholics, from abortion and homosexual – promoting politicians to saloon owners to pious widows, are daily sent off to Heaven in Catholic funerals by way of purgatory. The latter is a Biblically non-existent place which the Roman system provides as a way out of through gifts and performances given by the Catholics on earth. The extreme form of this was the sale of indulgences in the Middle Ages. The extravagant Papal palace in Rome was built partly by the income provided by that manner of extortion! Meanwhile the overall effect of such faith in a system has been generations and a present populace of Catholic souls who are largely Biblically ignorant, and have little to no zeal for God's word, heart-felt Biblical worship or evangelism, and are usually either indifferent or antagonistic toward those who preach Jesus and His gospel of grace (Gal. 4:29). This is also much the case with any “institutionalized” church (Anglican, etc.), which becomes more form than substance In contrast, when Catholics or such like become truly born again (many do, thank God), the opposite becomes manifest, but they must leave such spiritually dead systems of bondage and blindness if they will continue in God's Word (versus the traditions of men), and know true and holy spiritual liberty. Praise ye the Lord!
It is the the Lord Jesus Himself who said, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” And that “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (Jn. 3:3; 4:24). This can only happen when a soul is convicted of his sins, and realizes his utter inability to either gain Heaven nor escape Hell on any of his own merits or that of a church, and casts all his faith upon the Risen Lord Jesus for salvation, turning from sin to Him (cf. Acts 10:34-47). This decision is shown in baptism (by immersion) in identification with the Lord Jesus, and then in following Him in fellowship with a Bible believing/preaching church. If we rest in the Biblical Jesus as our Savior, we will overall follow Him as our Lord. May all lost souls who read this, by the grace of God, make that decision and know the “grace of God in truth” (Col. 1:6). To the glory of God. Amen!
“The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth them that trust in Him.” (Nahum 1:7).
SOURCE: Revealing Statistics, or "present costs of the war against God"