Seventy-two percent of Americans now think that religion is losing influence on American life, but more Americans are open to religion in the public sphere, according to a Pew Research poll released Monday.

Only 22 percent of Americans now believe that religion is gaining influence, down from a 37 percent high in 2002. The now-widespread belief that religion is losing its foothold on American life might be responsible for the increase in the number of people who say houses of worship ought to express their social and political views: 49 percent, up from 43 percent in 2010.

Almost a third of Americans now think churches and other houses of worship should come out in favor of specific candidates, up from 24 percent in 2010 and 22 percent in 2002.

The research shows that the increase in support for religious influence is mainly limited to those who think that religion has a positive societal impact and Republican and Republican-leaning voters.

Respondents were asked about social issues with religious implications. Their responses could prove useful in predicting the outcome of this year’s midterm elections.

Polling results depict a growing polarization on social issues. Forty-nine percent of Americans are in favor of same-sex marriage and 41 percent opposed. Support levels are down from February, when Pew reported 54 percent were in favor of gay and lesbian marriage.

American support for same-sex marriage has been steadily growing since 2004, but these latest statistics show a leveling-off of support, with the yearly average support in 2014 matching 2013’s numbers. The number of American’s who consider homosexuality a sin has jumped five points since 2013, and now stands at 50 percent.

More than half of Republican and Republican-leaning voters are dissatisfied with the way their party is representing their views on immigration, government spending and same-sex marriage. Democrats were more likely to believe their party represented their views on those issues.

The Pew survey was conducted Sept. 2-9, based on the responses of 2,002 American adults.