Americans split on plans for attending church this Christmas: survey

December 9, 2024

According to a recent survey by Lifeway Images, nearly half of adults in the U.S. say they’re divided on whether they’ll attend church this Christmas season.

The Christian Post reports that the survey of 1,200 Americans, taken in August, shows that 47% said they typically attend church during the Christmas season while 48% say they do not with 5% saying they’re undecided.

Scott McConnell, the executive director of Lifeway Research, commented on the survey, saying, “The very name ‘Christmas’ originates in the church’s celebration of Jesus Christ’s birth. In the mid-14th century, the words ‘Christ’s Mass’ were first merged as a single term for this celebration. While 9 in 10 Americans do something to celebrate Christmas, less than half typically attend church at Christmastime today.”

According to the Christian Post, the study highlights a contrast between different denominations and their likelihood of attending church.

The survey showed that Protestants (57%), Catholics (56%) and other religious backgrounds (53%) are far more likely to attend church at Christmastime than the religiously unaffiliated.

71% of religiously unaffiliated individuals say they don’t usually attend church during Christmas.

The survey shows that the frequency with which individuals attend church services was a significant factor with 95% of those who attend church more than once a week saying they’ll attend church at Christmas.

The survey also suggests that many of those who don’t typically attend church at Christmas, might do so if invited.

Photo: top, Credit: Getty Images