Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World

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    Top Stories of 2009: Economy, Obama and Health Care

    Summary of Findings The troubled economy and efforts to revamp the nation’s health care system dominated the public’s news interest in 2009. From the year’s start, Americans kept a close watch on the unfolding economic crisis, as well as Barack Obama’s efforts to grapple with the crisis while trying to make good on campaign promises. […]

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    Non-Dogmatic Americans

    About one-third of Americans say they regularly or occasionally attend religious services at more than one place; most sometimes attend services of a faith different from their own.

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    Reading the Stars

    One-in-four American adults believe in astrology, including 23% of Christians.

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    Eyed by Evil

    Fully 16% of Americans believe in the “evil eye” or that certain people can cast curses or spells that cause bad things to happen to someone.

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    See Dead People

    Nearly one-in-five Americans say they have seen or been in the presence of ghosts.

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    Mystical Experiences

    About half of the U.S. public says they have had a religious or mystical experience.

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    Global Restrictions on Religion

    About one-third of the countries in the world — 64 nations — have high or very high restrictions on religion.

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    “Sext” Receivers

    15% of cell-owning teens ages 12-17 say they have received sexually suggestive nude or nearly nude images of someone they know via text messaging.

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    “Sext” Senders

    17% of teens who pay for all of the costs associated with their cell phones send sexually suggestive images via text.