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Home | Lifestyle | Faith + Values

More people say there should be less of a Christian emphasis placed on the holidays

Survey finds 64 percent still believe Jesus is the reason for the season

By TIM HARLOW, Star Tribune

Last update: December 24, 2007 - 2:58 PM

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While a majority of American adults still believe that Jesus should be the focus of the holiday season, a growing segment of the population disagrees.

A recent poll conducted by the Rasmussen Reports found that 27 percent of respondents said that there should be less of a Christian emphasis on the holidays. That's up 10 percentage points from a year ago when just 17 percent of adults felt that way.

Still, 64 percent of respondents said that the holiday season should focus more on the birth of Jesus. That's down one percentage point from 2006, when 65 percent felt that way, and eight percentage points from two years ago when 72 percent said Jesus should be the reason for the season.

Regardless of philosophy, an overwhelming majority -- 91 percent -- will celebrate Christmas this year. Of those who do, three-quarters of adults say they will observe it as a religious holiday, while just 20 percent will mark it as a secular day. Five percent were not sure.

Fewer Americans say they will attend a Christian church service on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day this year, with just 57 percent going to church this year,  compared with 59 percent in 2006.

When asked if Jesus was the Son of God sent to deliver people from their sins, 85 percent of respondents said yes. Nearly 8 in 10 adults said they believe Jesus was born to a virgin and 84 percent said they believe Jesus actually walked on Earth 2000 years ago.

Religious or not, 67 percent of Americans said they decorated their homes for the holidays this year, but that's down from 78 percent last year.

Those are the results of a recent survey of 1,000 adults conducted Dec 16-17. The survey has a margin of error of 3 percentage points.

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