More than three-fourths of Americans believe religion is on the wane in the country, according to a study by Gallup. Most of those same Americans say that’s really a shame. While 77 percent of respondents said religion was losing influence in the United States, 75 percent believe the country would be a better place if people were more religious. (Gallup)

Paul Asay has covered religion for The Washington Post, Christianity Today, Beliefnet.com and The (Colorado Springs) Gazette. He writes about culture for Plugged In and wrote the Batman book God on the Streets of Gotham (Tyndale). He lives in Colorado Springs with wife, Wendy, and two children. Follow him on Twitter.