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BLIND FAITH - Americans believe in religion -- but know little about it
washingtonpost ^ | Sunday, March 4, 2007 | Stephen Prothero

Posted on 03/06/2007 8:06:29 AM PST by VU4G10

The United States is the most religious nation in the developed world, if religiosity is measured by belief in all things supernatural -- from God and the Virgin Birth to the humbler workings of angels and demons. Americans are also the most religiously ignorant people in the Western world. Fewer than half of us can identify Genesis as the first book of the Bible, and only one third know that Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: commies; post
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1 posted on 03/06/2007 8:06:31 AM PST by VU4G10
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To: VU4G10
. . .religiosity. . .

Now there is a vulgar word. It's a sneer by folks who can't bring themselves to say "piety".

Still I suppose there's some good in that: they still have the subconscious sense that piety is a good thing.

2 posted on 03/06/2007 8:09:40 AM PST by The_Reader_David (And when they behead your own people in the wars which are to come, then you will know. . .)
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To: VU4G10

for later


3 posted on 03/06/2007 8:11:08 AM PST by RayStacy
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To: VU4G10
Fewer than half of us can identify Genesis as the first book of the Bible, and only one third know that Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount.

Hence those who completely believe in "The DaVinci Code" and "The Jesus Tomb". Their brains are ripe for the picking.
4 posted on 03/06/2007 8:12:06 AM PST by mmichaels1970
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To: The_Reader_David

> Now there is a vulgar word. It's a sneer by folks who
> can't bring themselves to say "piety".

Can it really be piety if you don't know the first thing about it?

Doesn't piety imply a level of understanding that isn't apparent in these results?


5 posted on 03/06/2007 8:14:01 AM PST by voltaires_zit
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To: VU4G10

I'll be there are a lot of Catholics who do not know what the "Immaculate Conception" was.

You know, I just heard a sound bite of John Edwards on the Laura Ingraham Show this morning. He said to his interviewer that he does not think America is a Christian nation, and that the use of the word Christian, in that context, troubles him.

Now I ask you, fellow Freepers, is Mr. Edwards a huge schmuck, or what?

Good Lord.


6 posted on 03/06/2007 8:16:20 AM PST by RexBeach
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To: VU4G10

It is truly amazing what most people don't know. The statistics for how many can list the 5 freedoms guaranteed by the first amendment is pretty alarming.


7 posted on 03/06/2007 8:19:04 AM PST by Mr. Blonde (Like I always say, there's no "I" in team. There's a "me" though, if you jumble it up.)
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To: VU4G10
one of my all time favorites! (all right lighten up...)


8 posted on 03/06/2007 8:20:37 AM PST by Vaquero ("An armed society is a polite society" Robert A. Heinlein)
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To: VU4G10

Most people do not continue their education within their religion. But they do rely on one thing...."Faith". Faith that what they have been told is the truth. As for the Bible, it's a tough read and most don't read it. It's difficult to understand why people in the Bible did what they did and you won't understand it unless you know how the people lived back then. As an example, the statement "It's easier for a camel to go through the eye of the needle than it is for a rich man to get to heaven." Note that it says "the needle", not "a needle". The "needle" was a gate in a defensive wall that was only for people. It had nothing to do with "a" needle. Anyway, people don't study Biblical History. Most are too busy working for a living and raising a family.


9 posted on 03/06/2007 8:21:10 AM PST by RC2
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To: RexBeach
I'll be there are a lot of Catholics who do not know what the "Immaculate Conception" was.

Practicing Catholics? Or do you mean mostly C&E (Christmas and Easter) Catholics?
10 posted on 03/06/2007 8:21:48 AM PST by mmichaels1970
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To: VU4G10
Book-selling press release hype alert:


11 posted on 03/06/2007 8:21:59 AM PST by silverleaf (Fasten your seat belts- it's going to be a BUMPY ride.)
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To: RexBeach
Now I ask you, fellow Freepers, is Mr. Edwards a huge schmuck, or what?

NO! he's a FAGGOT....St.Ann told me so.

12 posted on 03/06/2007 8:22:01 AM PST by Vaquero ("An armed society is a polite society" Robert A. Heinlein)
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To: The_Reader_David
". . .religiosity. . .
Now there is a vulgar word."
The proper word is "spirituosity". ted kennedy, for example, is so enspirited that he's flammable. For that same reason he's bactericidal in, by, and of himself - can anyone remember the last time he came down with any bug?
13 posted on 03/06/2007 8:22:16 AM PST by GSlob
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To: RexBeach

Edward's a flaming bundle of sticks.


14 posted on 03/06/2007 8:23:00 AM PST by Carl LaFong ( Enough Is Too Much !)
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To: RexBeach

The interviewer should have noted that as a Methodist, Mr Edwards is a Christian and therefore, why does the term "Christian" bother him? Does he believe Christianity is an exclusionary intolerant belief system?

(sound of crickets chirping)


15 posted on 03/06/2007 8:24:30 AM PST by silverleaf (Fasten your seat belts- it's going to be a BUMPY ride.)
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To: mmichaels1970

Catholics.


16 posted on 03/06/2007 8:24:30 AM PST by RexBeach
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To: VU4G10
Ten posts thus far and not one question of what the bleep does the Washington [bleep] know about real Americans.

The dumbing down of American?

17 posted on 03/06/2007 8:25:19 AM PST by 100-Fold_Return (Sell Low--Buy Lower)
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To: mmichaels1970
C&E (Christmas and Easter) Catholics?

after 10 years of Catholic School I am not even C&E...more of a W&F* Catholic...but I do know the mantra...(including I.C. and the Assumption).

(*weddings and funerals)

18 posted on 03/06/2007 8:26:35 AM PST by Vaquero ("An armed society is a polite society" Robert A. Heinlein)
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To: Vaquero

Ahhh...the Chreaster people.


19 posted on 03/06/2007 8:27:54 AM PST by Carpe Cerevisi
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To: VU4G10
"Religion is for those who are afraid of Hell. Jesus is for those who have been there."

- Dave Mustaine
20 posted on 03/06/2007 8:31:00 AM PST by Grizzled Bear ("Does not play well with others.")
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