New Barna Survey Finds Most Americans Baffled by 'Holiness'
Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2006
Posted: 10:31:56AM EST

A new nationwide survey released Monday by The Barna Group indicates that most adults are unclear on the concept of holiness, with Evangelicals faring slightly better than the national average.

The telephone survey of 1,003 Americans in January finds that only one-third of Americans contend that “God expects you to become holy,” and 46 percent believe God has called them to holiness. Young adults (39 years old or younger) are less likely to believe that God expects holiness.

Seventy-three percent of all adults believe that it is possible for someone to become holy, regardless of their past, and 21 percent believe themselves to be holy. Approximately half say they know someone they consider to be holy. Born again Christians average a few more percentage points higher on all three measures of holiness. Story

Latest Pew Study Notes Link between Church Attendance, Happiness
Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2006
Posted: 11:28:53 AM EST

The latest study from the Pew Research Center has found that people who attend religious services weekly are happier than those who attend monthly or less. Other factors contributing to happiness were also explored.

Forty-three percent of weekly churchgoers are very happy, while 31 percent of those who attend church monthly or less are very happy, according to the new study conducted by the nonpartisan "fact tank" based in Washington D.C. And of those who attend church seldom or never, only 26 percent say they are very happy. Story