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Survey: 18% reveal Gibson's "Passion" Inspired Greater Church Attendance and Personal Prayer

VENTURA, California, July 12, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ inspired a greater frequency of church attendance, personal prayer, and church-related activity, according to a Barna Group Survey. In total, 18 percent of respondents admitted that their practice of religion was altered as a result of seeing the film.

The Barna Group surveyed 1,600 adults from across the US on the impact that viewing The Passion had on their lives. In total, one-third (31 percent) of Americans reported having seen the film. Although this is not as high as other block-busters released in the last year such as Finding Nemo (57%), or Pirates of the Caribbean (45%), the viewer totals for these movies included VHS and DVD releases as well, whereas The Passion totals are for theatre release only. Typically, only one in ten movies viewed by Americans are seen on the big screen -- the remaining nine are viewed at home.

One in six viewers (16 percent) revealed that The Passion had affected their religious beliefs. The types of change in belief was related as: an increased awareness of how one's actions affected others; a deeper appreciation for what Christ's suffering and death had wrought for them; and a renewed sense of the importance that one's life decisions and behavior has.

". . . about 13 million adults changed some aspect of their typical religious behavior because of the movie and about 11 million people altered some pre-existing religious beliefs because of the content of that film," George Barna, director of the research, emphasized. "That's enormous influence," he said.

"More than any other movie in recent years, The Passion focused people on the person and purpose of Jesus Christ," he continued. "In a society that revolves on relativism, spiritual diversity, tolerance and independence, galvanizing such intense consideration of Jesus Christ is a major achievement in itself."

The Passion was the eighth-highest grossing film of all time.

Read the LifeSiteNews.com Special Report:
The Passion of the Christ - Numerous Positive Stories Counter Harsh Critics
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2004/feb/040225a.html

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