Nearly half of the population believes that Jesus Christ rose from the dead, according to a new survey commissioned in Wales Theos, the public theology think tank. The findings challenge the widespread view that Easter is seen as little more than an opportunity to indulge a taste for chocolate. Randy Meyers, pastor of a local church says even though he feels the holidays are over-commercialized, the widespread awareness of the event does bring more people through the church doors. "Yeah, at New Hope we call them the CEO's Christmas Easter Only attenders. It is interesting because our attendance can almost double, ah, during these holidays". According the survey:
•60% of the people questioned believed that the resurrection. At the heart of the Easter story is true with 35% believing Jesus rose physically from the dead; and 24% said they believed it was in fact a "spiritual resurrection"
•44% said that Jesus died for the sins of the world.
•26% the Easter story had no meaning today.
