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A new Ipsos MORI (@IpsosMORI) poll finds that 7 in 10 people say they have a religion/faith, but there’s a marked difference between Christians and Muslims when it comes to the importance they place on their faith. The global survey looked at the views of over 18,000 people across 24 countries, including the UK and US. According to The Christian Post (@ChristianPost):

In Muslim-majority countries, 94% of those with a religion agree that their faith is important in their lives, compared to 66% in Christian-majority countries.

Muslims are far more likely to believe their religion is the only true path to salvation, liberation, or paradise – 61% compared to 19% in Christian-majority countries. In the US, 32% say their faith or religion is the only true path.

Muslims are also more likely to say their faith or religion is a key motivator in giving time and money to people in need – 61% compared to 24% in primarily Christian societies.

Read this in full.
Read the research in full.
See the slide presentation.

How does this research impact your publishing agenda?

Christianity Today (@CTmagazine) reports: John R. W. Stott died today at 3:15 London time (10:15 am EDT), according to John Stott Ministries (@jsmtweets) President Benjamin Homan. Homan said that Stott’s death came after complications related to old age and that he has been in discomfort for the last several weeks. Family and close friends gathered with Stott today as they listened to Handel's Messiah. Homan said John Stott Ministries has been preparing for his death for the past 15 years. “He set an impeccable example for leaders of ministries of handing things over to other leaders,” Homan said. “He imparted to many a love for the global church and imparted a passion for biblical fidelity and a love for the Savior.”

Read coverage by Christianity Today, RNS, The Christian Post, The New York Times, BBC News, Baptist Press, CBA., Crosswalk, Charisma News Online, Patheos, and AP.

See the John Stott Memorial website and view video.

Visit Langham Partnership International (@langhamlit), founded by John Stott.

Review John Stott's books at the website of his publisher, InterVarsity Press (@ivpress).

George Barna, author of the new trends book Futurecast, assesses how America’s faith has shifted in the past 20 years on 14 religious variables. In a series of briefs, Barna explores not only the aggregate national patterns, but also digs into how matters have changed according to gender, ethnicity, region, generation, and religious segments:

↓ Weekly Bible reading has declined by 5 percentage points. Currently an estimated 40% of adults read the Bible during a typical week.

↓ Church volunteerism has dropped by 8 percentage points since 1991. Slightly less than one out of every 5 adults (19%) donates some of their time in a typical week to serving at a church.

↓ Adult Sunday school attendance has diminished by 8 percentage points. On any given Sunday, about 15% of adults can be expected to show up in a Sunday school class.

↓ Church attendance has receded by 9 percentage points, dropping from 49% in 1991 to 40% in 2011.

↑ The percentage of adults categorized as unchurched has increased (defined as all adults who have not attended any religious events at a church, other than special ceremonies such as a wedding or funeral, during the prior 6 month period). In 1991, just 24% of adults were unchurched. That figure has ballooned by more than 50%, to 37% today.

↑ The percentage of adults who can be classified as born again Christians, based on their belief that they will experience eternal salvation based on their commitment to Jesus Christ, personal confession of sins, and acceptance of Christ as their savior, has risen by 5 percentage points. Currently, 40% of adults can be classified as born again.

↓ When asked to choose one of several descriptions of God, the proportion who believe that God is “the all-knowing, all-powerful and perfect Creator of the universe who still rules the world today” currently stands at two-thirds of the public (67%). That represents a 7 point drop from the 1991 level.

↓ In 1991, 46% of adults strongly affirmed that “the Bible is totally accurate in all of the principles it teaches.” That has slumped to just 38% today.

Among the religious beliefs that have remained relatively constant over the past 20 years were the percentage of adults who describe themselves as Christian (84%); those who say their religious faith is very important in their life today (56%); those who have made a “personal commitment to Jesus Christ that is still important in my life today” (65%); the proportion who agree that Satan is not a living entity but merely a symbol of evil (56%); those who strongly believe that they have a personal responsibility to share their religious beliefs with others who believe differently (25%).

Read Part 1 (general trends) in full.

Read Part 2 (generational trends) in full.

KCI in Grand Rapids, MI, helps brands communicate their marketing messages through a variety of services, from digital to print to data management to mailing to fulfillment. One element KCI recommends to its business clients is the use of QR codes. In fact, KCI believes in the power of QR codes so much that it displays a giant one on the side of its van. When a smartphone with a QR code reader is pointed at it, the code takes the user directly to the KCI website. General manager Eric Liggett says the code will soon take users to KCI's dedicated mobile site, for a more small-screen friendly experience.

Putting a QR code on the side of a brand's vehicle is innovative; it goes beyond merely displaying the brand's URL address. It attracts attention, it's fun, and it helps users quickly access more information about you without having to remember and type in a long URL. Great thinking, KCI!

Technology writer Dan Frommer (@Fromedome) of SplatF (@splatf) airs his grievances with QR codes on Business Insider’s (@businessinsider) SAI (@SAI). He says, “Mobile barcodes can be confusing and can waste time. And as mobile technology progresses, they probably aren't even necessary.”

Most people, before scanning their first barcode, have to download scanning apps manually and figure out how to use them. Then, each time there's a barcode to scan, they have to make sure they're using the right scanning app for the right barcode. That's because different types of barcodes, like Microsoft's "Tag" codes, don't always work in all the same apps.

He goes on to criticize how advertisers mismanage the creation and use of QR codes. He says

...in the future, if “near-field communication” mobile technology takes off, you may be able to just bump your phone up against a sensor to tell it to do something, whether it be to check you into a bar on Foursquare, take you to a website, or even pay for dinner. That's faster and easier than a barcode, too.

But then he ends in a turn-around:

Yes, obviously, barcodes have a place in the world. They are simple and cheap for commerce and logistics, and barcodes are widespread.

Read this in full. And be sure to read the comments.

Somersault (@smrsault) believes in the value of QR codes, when used properly, to attract attention and communicate effectively with those comfortable in using them. The key is strategic thinking. For example, read our blogpost "A Mobile QR Code - Literally."

Let Somersault help you in all your marketing communication plans.

ICRS (@ICRShow) (#ICRShow) met in Atlanta July 10-13. Publishers Weekly (@PublishersWkly) says, “CBA — the association of Christian stores, which produces the show — reported total attendance of just under 5,000, a 6% increase over last year’s convention in St. Louis. The association itself has seen some growth through new memberships, but store attrition continues. Most publishers say the show is still an important place for them to have a presence, even if scaled back, but they are approaching it with new strategies.” Read the full report.

In another article, PW says, “There was less doomsday talk this year from exhibiting publishers--as with BEA, they have accepted that the show no longer has the same purpose, but most say it is valuable for reasons other than selling books. Read the full report.

Christian Retailing (@ChristianRetail) writes, “Given the economy and other factors affecting retailing in general, ‘I’m very encouraged that so many retailers found this show to be beneficial because this is a time when you need to go to this type of event to challenge yourself,’ said CBA Executive Director Curtis Riskey.” Read the full report.

On the CBA Industry Blog, read Riskey’s “Message to honored guests after successful ICRS.”

US Director of CLC (@clcusa) Dave Almack (@davealmack) wraps up the show with personal reflections on his FaithLit blog:

1.    Less Panic

2.    Less Hype

3.    More Collaboration

4.    More Innovation

5.    More Productivity

Read the blogpost in full.

See photos from ICRS. 

If you were at ICRS this year, write your comments about it below.

Here are images from the International Christian Retail Show (@ICRShow) (#ICRShow, #ICRS, #ICRS2011) in Atlanta, GA. Wish you were here.

This video introducing the Comon English Bible is debuting at the International Christian Retail Show (@ICRShow) (#ICRShow and #ICRS), going on July 10-13. Stop by the CEB booth 828 to get a free copy (while supplies last) of the just published print edition of the complete Bible.

Also see our previous post "Complete Print Edition of the Common English Bible Debuts at Christian Retail Show."

According to The Christian Post (@ChristianPost), a report to be released August 1 by a globalized think tank predicts that although the world of tomorrow will be richer, healthier and better educated, it will also be a more violent and corrupt unless action is taken to curb terror-related crime.

The Millennium Project’s (@MillenniumProj) 2011 State of the Future (pdf) reports the world's future will include improved access to water, food, health care and schooling. The report projects the number of physicians per 1,000 people will grow to over 20% by 2020. Infant mortality is also projected to drop from over 40% last year to under 30% in the next decade. Both malnutrition and problems accessing water is expected to shrink to less than 15%.

Global school enrollment will rise to 70% in the next decade and the number of women in government is expected to exceed 300% from under 20% in the previous decade, the report predicts.

Read this in full.

Join Somersault (@smrsault) in keeping an eye on the future by reading the Somersault Futurist Daily News and using the SomersaultNOW dashboard of more than 300 articles and RSS fees designed for publishers and marketers; especially note the Future tab. And tell your colleagues. Thanks!

Digital Signage: It's all around us [Infographic] compliments of DigitalSignageToday.com (@DigSignageToday)