In a recent Gallup poll, it appears that Christmas is becoming a more secular season. I think we knew that without a poll though. Here’s what they’re saying:
The 90% celebrating Christmas contrasts with the 68% of Americans who report identifying with a Christian faith, indicating other faiths partake in the holiday. Christmas also spans all major demographic lines and acts as a cultural bridge across political divides.
The Data: While the majority of Americans continue to celebrate Christmas, only 58% now say they celebrate it as a religious holiday, down from 77% two decades ago.
Evolving Observances: The shift toward a more secular Christmas is particularly pronounced among younger and more liberal demographics.
Globally, 80% of people consider religion an important part of their daily life. The importance of religion varies significantly by country. For instance, in Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Indonesia, nearly everyone reports that religion is a significant part of their daily life. Conversely, religion plays less of a role in people’s lives in countries such as Sweden and Japan.
My biggest concern is the drop of 19% over the last 20 years in the US of those celebrating Christmas as a religious holiday. Again, not a complete surprise, but the numbers don’t lie.
We live in a post-Christian society. When you look even deeper, you’ll find that only 6% of those claiming to be a Christian have a Biblical Worldview according to George Barna’s research.
Conclusion: With compromise as the norm, go deeper into God’s Word for all your critical questions about life, calling, and purpose. Keep first things first, follow Christ, led by the Spirit, worshiping the Father and stay in the scriptures as your handbook for life.
And that’s the mid-week memo.
Steve
