PRINCETON, N.J., Dec. 23 (UPI) -- Religion's influence is declining in the United States, said two-thirds of U.S. adults interviewed for a Gallup poll.

The poll marks one of the lowest readings on the influence of religion in Gallup's 50 years of asking about religion and continues a downward trend, said poll organizers.


In surveys, the percentage of U.S. adults who said religious influence was on the rise was 50 percent in April 2005, 39 percent in May 2006, 34 percent in May 2007, 30 percent in May 2008 and 27 percent in the poll conducted Dec. 4-7, said Gallup officials.

The lowest ebb in a Gallup poll came in 1970 during the Vietnam War when just 14 percent said they thought religious influence rising, said Gallup officials, noting shifts in religious perception often correspond to major events in politics and society.

The latest poll interviewed 1,009 adults nationwide and had a sampling error of 3 percentage points.