Move over 'O Holy Night,' only half of Americans see Christmas as religious

PBS ^ | December 18, 2013

[ConservativeStatement]

While the vast majority of Americans celebrate Christmas, only about half say they see it as mostly a religious holiday, according to a recent Pew Research study. One third of those polled consider it a cultural celebration focused on exchanging gifts and spending time with family.

While 86 percent of Americans say they plan to attend a gathering of family or friends on Christmas Eve or Christmas and purchase presents for loved ones, only 54 percent plan to attend a religious service over the holiday that theologically observes the birth of Jesus Christ.

[LibLieSlayer]

Watch Hallmark Channel... many references to GOD and JESUS and many Church scenes. Not in all of their movies but certainly in many of them.

[TexasCajun]

"So a really good Christmas message is to really emphasize healthcare and health insurance among our families, your child, your niece, your nephew, particularly young people that think they are invincible, let them know they are not, and the time is now to sign up. That's a real Christmas message and it's something that gives some reason for the season other than toys"

[liberalh8ter]

Wow.....Al's looks are reflecting his soul.

[Fester Chugabrew]

Nothing new here. “He came unto His own and His own received Him not.” No amount of wishing or force can change the winds of testimony from Above.

[cloudmountain]

Saw a recent story on Mark Wahlberg. He goes to Mass daily, and sometimes twice on Sunday (once at an early Mass, then later with the wife and kids).
This was on Yahoo, and I was kind of shocked. Not by him going to Mass, but by them actually spotlighting it

YES, indeed, that is amazing.

I have no doubt that after Christmas Yahoo will return to its secular, anti-Christian, especially anti-Catholic, joys of snide.

[cloudmountain]

Yep, because the perception is that, faith is often a part of a woman’s life. When a man goes to church and in a special way, a father, he is taking the “spiritual bull by the horns.”

So true.
Would that there were more such fathers.
But you DO know, that in most cultures, children are the bailywick of mothers. THEY are "in charge" of the children for the first few years of life, and therefore inculcate when it's most important.

After two years of age, I've been told, the "cake is baked."

[Gaffer]

They lead a President. Why not the groups you cite?

[cloudmountain]

My parents were both raised Catholic but lied to me about what they believed and only occasionally went to church. So I guess my own non-belief really isn’t too surprising.

No, it isn't.

You chose a call sign that reflects your thinking...dark and angel, a split of your thinking. Your parents will have to account for that one day. I wouldn't want to be them standing before the Almighty, explaining why I neglected my son's faith. I assume that you are male.

Faith is a gift; we don't all get it. One can work on it over the years. Sometimes, things do happen that bring it back. It might be a GOOD thing to get the ball rolling, at least, by attending church services. At least you can pick up on whatever good vibes are circling the service. It couldn't hurt, could it?

[cloudmountain]

You are so right . . . which is why I generally endorse the militant Catholic stance against divorce. If you can suck it up and work it out until the children are grown and out of the house, you've saved an entire generation. Plus, chances are, the idea that divorce is a solution has generally faded.
Yeah, I understand there are situations where it is unavoidable including infidelity and physical violence. But the vast majority of divorces these days are some selfish reason which boils down to "he/she doesn't meet my needs anymore!"
Buy a damn clue. Once you get married and especially add children to that marriage, it isn't about you anymore.

Amen to that.

[Count of Monte Fisto]

They’ve been attacking Christianity for decades. Muslims have never had a significant political or financial influence on these pressure groups or on the country. Are there any other influential ethno-religous groups that are so anti-Christian?

[JSDude1]

You are probably right; because I’ve seen it. The poor sometimes (has an entitlement mentality), not just from government, but from benevolent churches as well.. However it is up to us Christians not just to feed them, but to share the truth of the Gospel as well.

[Godwin1]

Those who foster and cheerlead a culture of unbelief celebrate the growth of the culture of unbelief. Ho hum. The majority political party endorses, celebrates, and seeks to increase the mass murder of innocent early stage humans. Herod reigns triumphant. What do we expect?
To find God, one has to seek Him. A consumption mad public nourished on decadent sitcoms, cynical late night comics, and violent videos in unlikely to take time to contemplate the First and Last Things. The loss or weakening of belief has to be seen in the context of overall cultural decline and social meltdown. Good Lord , we live in a country where homosexuals can "marry"!

[Salvation]

O Holy Night
Oh holy night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviors birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared and the soul felt it’s worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
Oh night divine, Oh night when Christ was born;
Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother;
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name.

Christ is the Lord! O praise His Name forever,
His power and glory evermore proclaim.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
Oh night divine, Oh night when Christ was born;
Oh night divine, Oh night, Oh night Divine.

[Salvation]

[Rashputin]

And it's useful idiots playing "holier than thou" who have been greasing the skids for the slide into paganism for decades by always being ready to come up with a reason to surrender one Christian preence in society after another so they can keep on going along to get along.

People who sacrifice their children to Moloch with abortifacient contraceptives rather than practicing self-control a few days a month saying Christmas is a pagan Holiday are pathetic surrender monkeys.

[DPMD]

Interesting stat when you consider that we must move over - er, make that bend over - for 2- 3 % of the population that thinks same sex sex is the ideal lifestyle. Using that logic, 46% should be an overwhelming mandate for all time.

[DPMD]

Interesting stat when you consider that we must move over - er, make that bend over - for 2- 3 % of the population that thinks same sex sex is the ideal lifestyle. Using that logic, 54% should be an overwhelming mandate for all time in favor of a religious Christmas.

Hope this corrects my previous post.

[Pining_4_TX]

I don’t care if there are only 10 Christians left in the world, Christ is still the way, the truth, and the life and no one comes to the Father except through him.

These liberals are so smug and arrogant thinking that if they can convince a majority of people to reject Christianity, they will win the battle. They can have their polls, but God is in charge. If the US continues to slide into paganism, then God will not bless this country.