According to a new Gallup survey, 77% of Americans believe religion is losing its influence in the country. That’s the highest percentage in more than 40 years. But, also according to the findings, about the same percentage of Americans believe the decline in religious influence is a bad thing for society. Frank Newport, Gallup’s editor in chief clarified the findings, saying the numbers are not a reflection of the personal religious habits of Americans (like church attendance), but show how events and social trends create larger, shared worldviews. He said the idea of America being less influenced by religion is definitely a commonly held perception. “It may be happening, but Americans don't like it. It is clear that a lot of Americans don't think this is a good state of affairs" … Discuss

Another day, another ancient text with an extra-canonical take on Jesus Christ. But this is an ancient Egyptian text, so you just know it's not going to be another run-of-the-mill, Gnostic allegation of illegitimate children or secret wives. No, this text, according to Roelof van den Broek, emeritus professor of the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands, says that Jesus Christ of Nazareth was a shape-shifter.

"How shall we arrest him (Jesus)," the text quotes the Jewish leaders as saying. "For he does not have a single shape but his appearance changes. Sometimes he is ruddy, sometimes he is white, sometimes he is red, sometimes he is wheat coloured, sometimes he is pallid like ascetics, sometimes he is a youth, sometimes an old man." The text goes onto say that this awesome-sounding mutant power is the reason Judas had to kiss Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane—because the Romans couldn't tell which one was Jesus.

The text was written by someone claiming to be St. Cyril of Jerusalem, but Dr. van den Broek believes that to be a pseudonym, so we also have a name-shifter on our hands here. He's releasing a novel on his findings in a new book called Pseudo-Cyril of Jerusalem on the Life and the Passion of Christ ... Discuss