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

Sect. 1

U.S. Teens Spiritual Statistics

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

Sec. 2

General national spiritual statistics

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

Sec. 3

Faith Beliefs

Sec. 4

Differences among Denominations

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

Sec. 5

MARRIAGE versus DIVORCE

Sec. 6

Pornography, Adultery, Fornication, Sodomy - Practices

(extra martital, pre martial, and homo - sexual relations)

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).

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).

Sec. 9

ABORTION

  Sec. 10

    Drinking

Sec. 11

Drugs, and Mental Health

Sec. 12

GENERAL HEALTH

Sec. 13

CRIME + PUNISHMENT

Sec. 14

Education

Sec. 15

Finances

(some are repetitions of data from other categories, and most figure are approximate.)

CONSUMER HEALTH CARE

SEXUAL SINS

CRIME, DRUGS and ALCOHOL

PERSONAL + HOUSEHOLD INCOME, SPENDING AND DEBT

TAXES

CULINARY INDULGENCE

VEHICLES

MISCL.

Sec. 16

Population and Resources

IMMIGRATION

Miscl.

Master table of numbered references:

Sec. 17

Special compilation: 1960-62 to 1980 and beyond.