If you search in Google with "" you only get 86 results total. Hope that helps.

Yes I would also like to know, are the search results, "exact" or "broad", and are they global or USA? These settings make a huge difference,

Yes I agree with Richards answer

It seems Rich's given you a good answer

Do we want the Article Power ranking to be high or low? It seems to me that we want it to be high, but I cannot remember what Kyle said about this.

To elaborate on Richa's (@richags) fine explanation, the first figure you see on #1 of Google are total variations for the search term. If I search for the exact match of "christianity and cannibalism" I will see close to 1,000,000 results. http://d.pr/i/VkwA However, if I then go to the last page of those search results http://d.pr/i/H8Ie I will see that in fact there are only 55 exact matches. If you want more information on using the Keyword Tool here take a look at https://my.wealthyaffiliate.com/training/how-to-use-the-keyword-search-tool-on-wa :) Rich.

My understanding is that you should use google to come up with more ideas for phrases. (see "alphabet soup" lesson). Use WA keyword tool to get more accurate competition number.
Have you thought of using shorter phrases with more or less the same meaning? I prefer shorter phrases that are to the point. This is only my opinion. Hope it helps.

Yeah the results you see in WA keyword tool is Quoted search result (QSR) that gives you the exact competition with the exact keyword phrase. You will see the same result if type the same phase in google with quotes.

Also, the figure 247,000 you are seeing is not the right figure. Google doesn't show the right number on the first page. Just keep on going till the last page of search and you will see the exact number that you see in WA Keyword tool.

I know its confusing at first. Let me know if you have any more doubts.

Yea I have heard the same thing a lot. Even myself have asked that question.

I don't know but I would try it in google with the quotes and without them to see what happens