Saturday, June 2, 2007
Bart Barber: Equal-Opportunity Critic of Questionable Statistics
As circumstances would have it, I had the opportunity just this morning to question statistics presented in a manner favorable to arguments that I have made. See here.
Of course, whatever inaccuracies might present themselves in the table. I'm really thankful for Geoff Baggett's hard work in highlighting this phenomenon.
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14 comments:
It looks like other money besides CP giving makes up that list. I asked Marty for a pie chart after his post on Jim Richards.
Bart,
I'm seriously curious and write this comment with respect and courtesy.
Why is this issue so important to you? You have posted a record seven posts in twenty four hours.
What is at stake for you? Or our convention? Or others to whom you feel loyalty?
Again, an honest desire to know from your perspective. If I could understand why you feel the need to minimimize Lifeway's research, maybe I could understand better where you are coming from.
And one final question. If the results had revealed a very low percentage of pastors believed that a private prayer language was a legitimate gift, would you have questioned us about the appropriateness of doing what you are now doing?
Just wondering.
Bart,
You're calling my statistics questionable? :)
Actually, my denominational source took the time to go state by state and complie the graph for me by visiting this site.
The figures are from 2005. 2006 figures are not reflected, so there have, most likely, been changes.
If there are, indeed, any inaccuracies, they are on the part of the SBC, which provides the information for public consumption.
Wade,
This post (of Bart's) and mine had absolutely nothing to do with the LifeWay research. I have simply been doing some analysis of CP giving and trends. Your rebuke seems a bit out of place.
Geoff,
It is a question and not intended as a rebuke.
My rebukes are a tad firmer.
Geoff: Bart said in his last post that this post is the last of a series which did concern the poll. I believed Bart and read this as the last post of a series.
Debbie,
Not that it matters, but do you honestly believe that THIS is the post Bart was referring to?
Geoff,
I commented over at your place, but I do think the figures are questionable. At least for my state of Mississippi, they are demonstrably false. I don't think any thing was intentionally misrepresented, but there was certainly a mistake made in regards to Mississippi's giving.
Bart,
I must regretfully inform you that a statistical error has been discovered in the CP giving report for 2005 posted on our beloved sbc.net.
Said report states that the Mississippi State Convention retained only 40.40% of its CP funds and forwarded the remainder to SBC entities. But my agents in Mississippi have reported that, according to the official 2005 Annual of the Mississippi Baptist Convention, 65% of those funds remained in Mississippi and only 35% were forwarded to the SBC.
How can this be? 40%, 60%, 35%, 65%. Wow ... confusing.
geoff,
certainly you're not saying that figures from reports and research by an sbc entity could be confusing, or....even wrong? gasp!
david
Believe it or not Matt I did until I clicked on the link. There's something to be said for clicking on links, it clarifies things considerably. :)
Debbie,
I understand. Will you forgive me for my comment of incredulity?
Matt: There is nothing to forgive. I'm sure I would have thought the same thing.
Bart,
So as to not intrude upon your mea culpa and expressions of gratitude from fellow bloggers, allow me to ask you, again, why is this issue so important for you?
Wade,
Obviously, my ferocity in blogging has been related to my anger over another related situation.
Apart from that, the issue is important for me because departures from biblical truth always work to the detriment of the churches.
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