More Non-Religious Americans Willing to Attend Church This Christmas Than Regular Churchgoers May Assume, Says Survey

More people may be willing to come to church at Christmas than most churchgoers assume. A new poll by LifeWay Research on 1,000 Americans reveals that about 60 percent of the people attend church at Christmas, and among those who don't attend, almost 57 percent said they would go if invited.

"Regular churchgoers may assume the rest of America has already made up their mind not to attend church. In reality, many would welcome going to a Christmas service with someone they know," said Scott McConnell, vice president of LifeWay Research.

Ninety one percent of regular church goers (attending church once a week or more) said they will go to church this Christmas.

LifeWay Research Director Scott McConnell told The Christian Post, "Those invited to a church service at Christmastime, may not attend for the same reasons as those who already plan to go. But the majority are open to going."

"And from those who already typically attend, we are reminded that it isn't the tradition and the Christmas feelings that cause most people to attend. They are there to honor Jesus and acknowledge Him," he said.

As many as 77 percent of those who will attend church at Christmas say they do that "to honor Jesus."

Nine percent said they will go to church to spend time with family and friends, while for another 9 percent, it was a matter of tradition. Only 3 percent said they will attend the Christmas event to get into the "Christmas spirit."

Among the 29 percent non-religious who would attend church, 47 percent said they will do that so as to honor Jesus, 20 percent will go for tradition, 27 percent would want to be with family and friends, and 6 percent like to be involved in the Christmas spirit.

Americans in the southern belt are most likely to visit the church this Christmas. Sixty six percent of the people from South will attend church, closely followed by 64 percent Midwesterners, and 57 percent from the Northeast. Only 53 percent of those surveyed from the West answered affirmatively to going church this Christmas.

The survey was conducted between September 14 and 28 on 1,000 adults in US, and half of them were interviewed through landlines while another half on their cell phones. The sample comes with 95 percent confidence that the margin of error is confined to plus or minus 3.6 percent.