Christmas, perhaps the favorite holiday in America, is a time when Christians and others commemorate the birth of Christ the Savior into the world. But nowadays Christ may not be the main focus of Christmas in America. According to a January 2009 survey released by the Barna Group, Christianity is no longer the default faith in America. Rather, half of all adults contend that Christianity is just one of many options to choose from, according to the report.
According to the study, by a three to one margin, adults say they are more likely to develop their own set of religious beliefs than to accept them from a particular church. This trend suggests that a growing number of religious adults in America do not embrace Jesus Christ as the Savior. This in turn means that the birth of Christ is not their main focus for Christmas.
Moreover, retail sales during the Christmas shopping season are critical to the success of many retailers. Twenty-percent of their annual sales come from Christmas shopping. Even though we regard the Friday after Thanksgiving as the start of the shopping season, it is not unusual to see the campaign for Christmas shopping starting as early as October. Given the high unemployment rate in our country and the sluggish economy, getting shoppers into the stores early and getting them to spend more is a main focus of retailers during Christmastime.
For faithful followers who believe in the birth of Christ as the Savior, it is His miraculous birth that remains the main occasion for Christmas. But a growing number of adults believe otherwise, and for many struggling businesses, a successful Christmas shopping season is the main focus.
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