Survey: Americans don't know much about religion

The Dailey Caller ^ | 09/28/2010 | Rachel Zoll - AP

[svxdave]

"On questions about Christianity, Mormons scored the highest, with an average of about eight correct answers out of 12, followed by white evangelicals, with an average of just over seven correct answers".

[boycott]

The more I learn .... the more I realize how much I don’t know. Fortunately, I have my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

[dr_lew]

“Many Americans think the constitutional restrictions on religion in public schools are tighter than they really are,” Pew researchers wrote.

That's because they are tighter than they "really are". That is, they are tighter de facto than they are de jure.

[Vendome]

Got 14 out of 15.

Thought a teacher could read from the Bible as an example of literature. They read from other religions.

Guess we are on the outs.

Oh well, I’m off to the lions den.

[Eagles6]

Interesting that they didn’t ask any muslims whether they knew that mohamed (may pigs be upon him) raped a 9 yr old girl.

[iowamark]

Mormons scored the highest

Reflects the organization of the Mormon church. Whatever one thinks of their doctrines, Mormons do take their religion seriously and try to pass it on to their children.

Overall, this study is a major embarrassment. I am told that: "You scored 15 out of 15, better than 99% of Americans." In fact, any literate American should know these elementary religion facts.

[J Edgar]

” ... Forty-five percent of Roman Catholics who participated in the study didn’t know that, according to church teaching, the bread and wine used in Holy Communion is not just a symbol, but becomes the body and blood of Christ. ... “

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US Catholic Priests, Bishops, Archbishops and Cardinals should be on their knees, sweating blood and praying for forgiveness for failure to transmit the central truth of The Eucharist!
This is proof positive that the Novus Order Mass, which was written by a suspected Mason, is an instrument that furthers Satan's War on Salvation. Please bring back the Traditional Tridentine Latin Mass for the salvation of the flock

[xjcsa]

Thought a teacher could read from the Bible as an example of literature. They read from other religions.

They can. If you said yes to that one, it's not the one you got wrong.

I got 15 out of 15, but then again I have a degree in religion...

[ansel12]

More than half of Protestants could not identify Martin Luther as the person who inspired the Protestant Reformation.

That is a history answer, not a Christian answer, it helps for people to know history but Martin Luther is not a biblical figure, or a holy figure, he is a historical figure.

[xjcsa]

Overall, this study is a major embarrassment. I am told that: "You scored 15 out of 15, better than 99% of Americans." In fact, any literate American should know these elementary religion facts.

Yep.

[himno hero]

How can there be a successful drive against islam if these are the stats?

[Vigilanteman]

Martin Luther was not the person who inspired the Protestant Reformation. Early reformers like Jan Hus predated Martin Luther by a century or more. Martin Luther was just the first one to get away with it.

State religions were a bad idea then just like the state religion of politically correct agnosticism is a bad idea now.

[ansel12]

This is about religion in general, including five answers that were of religions that are not Christian or Jewish and other answers of history or of law.

It is not a test about Christianity, so the results are pretty unimportant.

[TheBattman]

A better (and even more saddening statement) - Americans who claim religion in ANY form, rarely really know much about their claimed faith. Whether it be about the particular Christian denomination they are members of/attend services of, or if it is someone trying to be rebellious and dabbling in one of the darker/easter religions - still very little beyond superficial knowledge. It is almost like politics - some folks are _________(fill in your chosen religious name/title) because my mom and dad/grandma, etc. were.

So you ask "what does that mean"... and they get a blank look.

I can't speak for others, but as a relatively new pastor, I can speak for at least some Christian denominations - we have completely missed the point of Christ's Great Commission - we have tried to sum it up as "go get folks to wear this name badge that says "Christian"... For many of us, that meant get them to profess faith in Christ, dunk-em, and add them to a list (aka - "Church Roll"). Yet the Great Commission doesn't say that at all - it says "Go make Disciples..." That means teaching them ALL that Christ commanded/taught. Making disciples is also more than just telling someone in a Sunday School class... it is demonstrating what faith REALLY means. It means taking time with people, holding their hand, and showing...

For us Christians - it is our own fault.

Maybe someone else can pipe in for other faiths...

[Jim from C-Town]

I got 14 of 15 but I have a degree in Business.

I think that most people are relatively ignorant. Check out the Jaywalk All stars.

[thulldud]

That's because they are tighter than they "really are". That is, they are tighter de facto than they are de jure.

That's because the teachers and administrators are the ones who think they are "tighter than they really are."

[Vendome]

Thought you all might be interested in this.

I don’t have an Inman list but maybe they will find it interesting.

[Vendome]

Oops. It was the religion of Pakistan which is Islam of course and I mistakenly answered Hindu, which would be India.

Oh well.

[radpolis]

I grew up Christian, but have no religion now, so I guess I am in the atheist category.

I got 15 out of 15.

As far as I am concerned, most 8th graders should know the answers to the questions if they have been awake for most of their lives. The quiz is not even a religious quiz as it is just having a basic understanding of trivia.

I think the hardest question was the Jonathan Edwards question and I remember that from the my US history class in junior high.

And forgive me if I sound like a know it all; I have actually learned a lot about religion from some of the religion threads on Free Republic.

Some of the religious folks here really know their stuff. This lame quiz doesn’t compare to their erudition which I am in awe of.

[Vendome]

You answered 14 out of 15 questions correctly
for a score of 93%.

Not bad for a layman.