Declining majority of Americans believe biblical Christmas story reflects historical events | Pew Research Center

December 11, 2017

Americans Say Religious Aspects of Christmas Are Declining in Public Life

Declining majority of Americans believe biblical Christmas story reflects historical events

Declining majority of Americans believe biblical Christmas story reflects historical events

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Declining majority of Americans believe biblical Christmas story reflects historical events

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Americans Say Religious Aspects of Christmas Are Declining in Public Life
Most say religious parts of Christmas are now emphasized less, but relatively few are bothered by it
Half of Americans plan to attend church on Christmas
Fewer now say Christian displays should be allowed on government property without representation from other religions
About half say it ‘doesn’t matter’ how stores greet customers for holidays
Declining majority of Americans believe biblical Christmas story reflects historical events
Belief in Christmas story declining among both ‘nones’ and Christians
Republicans more likely than Democrats to prefer ‘merry Christmas,’ support Christian displays on public property
Growing doubts about events in the Christmas story among young people
Growing minority of Americans oppose religious displays on government property
About a third of Americans are bothered by perceived shrinking role of religion in Christmas
One-third prefer for stores to use ‘merry Christmas,’ but half now say holiday greeting doesn’t matter
Nine-in-ten Americans say they celebrate Christmas
Most religious ‘nones’ celebrate Christmas, but more culturally than religiously
Most Americans will gather with family on Christmas; about half will attend church
Declining majorities believe in virgin birth, other elements of Christmas story
Recent drop in share of U.S. adults who believe in all four elements of biblical Christmas narrative
Millennials more likely to celebrate Christmas as a cultural holiday; less likely to attend church