Bring on the Nativity Scenes… 74% of Americans Support Religious Symbols & Displays on Public Land During Holidays, More People Less Joyous, More Stressed This Year
Posted By Vicki McClure Davidson on December 14, 2010
Westminster Presbyterian Church's Christmas nativity scene in Altadena, California
Despite what the liberal politically correct would have you believe, the vast majority of Americans still favor religious symbols in schools and on public lands during religious holidays, such as Christmas. Only a small percentage of people feel that they shouldn’t be allowed.
Here are the results of a recent poll conducted by Rasmussen Reports, Americans Still Favor Religious Symbols on Public Land, Religious Holidays in the Schools:
It becomes a hot-button issue this time every year: Should religious symbols be displayed on public land, or is that a violation of the long-standing separation between church and state? While legal battles continue to arise, Americans still overwhelmingly support such displays.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 74% of Adults say religious symbols like Christmas Nativity scenes, Hanukkah Menorahs and Muslim Crescents should be allowed on public land. Only 17% disagree and feel these symbols should not be allowed. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
These findings show little change from late December 2008.
Eighty percent (80%) of American Adults also favor celebrating religious holidays in the public schools, another area subject to repeated legal challenge. This includes 43% who believe all religious holidays should be celebrated in the schools and 37% who think only some of those holidays should be recognized. The question did not specify which holidays should be celebrated and which should be excluded. Fourteen percent (14%) are opposed to celebrating any religious holidays in the schools.
Another Rasmussen poll shows that more Americans are stressed out this Christmas than they were last Christmas and that enthusiasm is down:
The holiday season is meant to be joyful and uplifting, but Americans aren’t as enthusiastic this year as they have been in the past.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 48% of Adults consider the holidays joyous, while nearly as many (46%) feel they are stressful.
In early December 2009, 52% considered the holiday season joyous and just 36% described it as more stressful.
Men have more trouble getting into the holiday spirit than women. While 55% of females consider the holidays joyous, 54% of men label them as stressful. Younger adults find the holidays more stressful than their elders.
Beach Kiwanis Charity Christmas Tree Lot | Photo credit: Mike Miller, Flickr, Creative Commons
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Encouraging report, and not surprising. It’s amazing isn’t it how 14% can rule and impose their will over the other 86% of us.
I still don’t think that the founders meant for there to be no sign of faith in God in the public square. I imagine if they could visit for a day, they would be saying to each other, “Now, HOW did they get that from what we said?”
Merry Christmas, Vicki, to you and yours!
Well said, Pup, and Merry Christmas to you and family as well!