PHOENIX -- A majority of Protestant pastors believes Christianity's influence is on the decline as non-Christian religions and new age spirituality gain popularity.
Eighty-two percent of ministers polled by Ellison Research said they expected the influence of non-Christian religions to increase in the United States during the next decade. A majority -- 55 percent -- think new age spirituality also will gain ground.
Thirty-five percent said they thought the number of Christians would increase in the next 10 years, while another 35 percent thought it would decrease. Three in 10 said it would stay the same, according to the Associated Baptist Press.
Ellison Research, headquartered in Phoenix, based its findings on a national survey of 567 Protestant ministers who are actively leading churches. The study has a 4.1 percent margin of error.
According to the survey, 37 percent of pastors expect the number of Christian Americans to decrease compared to 34 percent who said the number will increase. Forty-four percent expect the number of Americans attending church to decrease compared to 33 percent who predict growth in church attendance.
