Author: Administrador

By Bob Smietana NASHVILLE, Tenn.— A growing number of Americans are taking “ashes to ashes, dust to dust” literally when they die. About 4 in 10 (41 percent) Americans say they plan to be cremated, according to a survey of 1,036 Americans from Nashville-based Lifeway Research. Six in 10 (58 percent) say being cremated won’t … Continue reading “Few Americans Have Qualms About Cremation”

By Bob Smietana NASHVILLE, Tenn.—In 1954, the United States Congress added the words “under God” to the country’s Pledge of Allegiance. Sixty years later, most Americans would like to keep it that way, despite ongoing legal challenges to the pledge. A lawsuit filed against a New Jersey school district on March 28 contends that reciting … Continue reading “Keep “Under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance, Say Most Americans”

By Bob Smietana NASHVILLE, Tenn.—Hollywood’s “year of the Bible movie” continues to drive sales at the box office in 2014. Four faith-based films have already earned more than $50 million each in ticket sales, according to Boxofficemojo.com. Those films—“Noah,” “Heaven is for Real,” “Son of God,” and “God’s Not Dead”—are among the top 20 grossing … Continue reading “Moviegoers Want More Faith-Based Films, Hollywood Delivers”

By Bob Smietana For many Protestant pastors, domestic violence is the pro-life issue they almost never talk about. A new survey from Lifeway Research found that most Protestant senior pastors say they know victims of domestic violence and believe stopping abuse is a pro-life issue. But those pastors seldom address domestic violence from the pulpit. … Continue reading “Pastors Seldom Preach About Domestic Violence”

By Bob Smietana One in four Americans suffers from some kind of mental illness in any given year, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Many look to their church for spiritual guidance in times of distress. But they’re unlikely to find much help on Sunday mornings. Most Protestant senior pastors (66 percent) seldom … Continue reading “Mental Illness Remains Taboo Topic for Many Pastors”

By Marty King NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) — Compensation for full-time Southern Baptist pastors has not kept pace with inflation over the past two years, while salaries for other full-time ministers and office staff increased at a rate higher than national inflation. These findings are part of the SBC Church Compensation Study, an in-depth survey of … Continue reading “SBC Pastor Salaries Not Keeping Up with Inflation”

By Bob Smietana NASHVILLE, Tenn.– Americans pray for their friends, families, and sometimes their enemies. They ask for divine help in times of trouble but rarely praise God’s greatness. And they seldom add politicians, nonbelievers, or even their favorite sports team to their prayer lists, according to a new survey from Nashville-based Lifeway Research. “Most … Continue reading “Americans Pray for Friends and Family, but Rarely for Celebrities or Sports Teams”

By Bob Smietana NASHVILLE, Tenn.— Most Americans believe in heaven, hell, and a few old-fashioned heresies. Americans disagree about mixing religion and politics and about the Bible. And few pay much heed to their pastor’s sermons or see themselves as sinners. Those are among the findings of a new study of American views about Christian … Continue reading “Americans Believe in Heaven, Hell, and a Little Bit of Heresy”

By Jim Burton NASHVILLE, Tenn.— The nation’s slow economic recovery from a deep recession is showing up in the offering plates of Protestant churches in the U.S., according to a recent survey by Lifeway Research. Although 56 percent of churches still report negative impact from the economy 13 percent report a positive impact – a … Continue reading “Protestant Churches Reflect Improving Economic Trends”

By Bob Smietana  NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The nation’s Protestant senior pastors want the U.S. government to mix justice with mercy when it comes to immigration reform. Most say it’s the government’s job to stop people from entering the country illegally. They also support reform that includes a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants already in … Continue reading “New Survey Finds Widespread Support for Immigration Reform Among Pastors”