I can't recall the last time someone suggested that I "relax and be more productive." In fact, generally accepted wisdom is that in order to be exceedingly productive one must be hard at work as often and for as long as is possible. Data from recent studies, however, suggests that productivity is enhanced by getting adequate sleep at night, taking naps during the day, going on vacations, and working in 90-minute bursts rather than for long uninterrupted sessions. So What? Tony Read More …
Trends
Valentine’s Expectations (#1005)
A new study from the Washington-based Public Religion Research Institute, conducted in partnership with Religion News Service, provided a number of interesting statistics about Valentine's Day. Spending 49% - less than $50 (including 6% who say they won’t spend anything) 29% - between $50-$100 20% - over $100 Sex (percentage of individuals who say they expect to have sex on Valentine's Day, by religion) 57% - religiously unaffiliated 51% - Catholics 48% - Read More …
Super Stats (#0995)
Much has been written about the loss of productivity in offices around the country immediately following the Super Bowl. Rather than add to the conversation about the big game or the expensive commercials that aired during it, I offer statistics from two recent polls that suggest Americans bring together religion and sports in interesting ways. "Nearly 3-in-10 (27 percent) Americans believe that God plays a role in determining which team wins sports events" (Public Religion Research Read More …
11 Minutes (#0993)
Today, along with a hundred million or so other viewers in the US, I will watch the Super Bowl. In recent years, I have shifted my focus from the game to more of a balance between the game and the commercials. While everyone knows it takes many hours to play a 60 minute long professional football game, it is a bit surprising to learn that the actual playing time amounts to just under 11 minutes (10 minutes and 43 seconds according to a recent Wall Street Journal study). So Read More …
Lowest Birth Rate Ever (#0990)
Recently, the Pew Research Center released a report exploring the declining birth rate in the United States. In 2011, the birth rate reached an all time low. While birth rates have declined for all women in recent decades, the rate of decline is significant greater among foreign born women. Among all American women the change in birth rates by age group between 1990 and 2010 is Ages 15-19: -11% Ages 20-34: -8% Ages 35+: +18% Overall: -11% So What? Many factors, Read More …
Top Bible Minded Cities (#0988)
According to the American Bible Society and the Barna Group, America's top Bible minded cities (based on "highest combined levels of regular Bible reading and belief in the Bible’s accuracy.") are Knoxville, TN Shreveport, LA Chattanooga, TN Birmingham, AL Jackson, MS Springfield, MO Charlotte, NC Roanoke/Lynchburg, VA Huntsville, AL Charleston, WV So What? Bible minded isn't a phrase I have ever used nor one with which I claim any prior familiarity. Read More …
A Spiritual-But-Not-Religious First (#0985)
Diana Butler Bass, popular speaker and the author of several books including Christianity After Religion: The End of the Church and the Birth of a New Spiritual Awakening, labeled President Obama's second inaugural speech "the first spiritual-but-not-religious inaugural sermon," while recognizing such is "a twenty-first century expression of American civil spirituality, embedded in but not dependent upon the ancient vision of American Protestant theology of and for God’s Read More …
The Rise of Online Higher Ed (#0984)
In the 1970s, 80s, and 90s higher education was largely assumed as an on campus experience. As technology improved, distance education began evolving from the exchange of documents and media primarily via postal mail to online exchanges. During the 2000s and now in the 10s, the number of students in higher education taking at least one online course grew on an annual basis. It is reasonable to project that in the not too distant future a majority of students will complete at least Read More …
Executive Pastor Trends (#0983)
Thom Rainer, president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources, recently wrote about the role of executive pastor. The position itself is a relatively new construct, arriving in the latter half of the twentieth century. Initially attractive primarily to megachurches, the value of this position is now seen by congregations significantly smaller in size. This observation is one of five trends Rainer highlights: More executive pastors in smaller churches More executive Read More …
Beyond Pro-Choice / Pro-Life (#0979)
"Not in Her Shoes" is a new brief video (under 2 minutes) designed to encourage conversation about abortion by suggesting people move beyond the labels "pro-choice" and "pro-life" that "actually don't reflect how people feel about abortion." So What? Watch the video and ponder the argument advanced by Planned Parenthood. Do you believe that moving beyond the polarizing labels (pro-choice and pro-life) will help people have more in-depth and meaningful conversations about abortion? Why or Read More …