There was a thread awhile back where they tabulated the results. Of course we can't be certainly since the numbers were only tallied from those who opted to participate in the survey, but the results were pretty close to what the USA as a whole is. The largest denomination on FR is Catholic, though all the other denominations combined outnumber them. Fundamentalist protestants make up a small percentage of freepers, and do not represent this forum as a whole.
>> I don’t agree with your attempts to portray a lot of them as some kind of backwards Protestants that live in isolated enclaves of religious ignorance where the knuckle dragging Methodists and Episcopalians and Southern Baptists, and Presbyterians all share a “very narrow world view”. <<
I said nothing of the sort. I specifically said that the YEC types are probably types who live in isolated communities where the only types of Christians they see in their everyday lives are fellow "bible literalists" and they rarely, if ever, encounter Catholic or Orthodox Christianity. And I demonstrated that by showing you there are many portions of the bible belt that are well over 80% protestant, but less than 5% Catholic and probably less than .05% Orthodox.
I certainly didn't say ALL Protestant freepers as a whole are unfamiliar with other types of Christianity. Most protestants in the U.S., if I had to guess, encounter Catholics on a regular basis and have a good understanding of other denominations. But there is a very SMALL faction within protestantism of "only fundamental protestants who follow a literal interpretation of the King James version of the bible are Chrisitans" mindset (for example, this guy) , and my guess is they think that way because that's the only "Christians" they interact with.
I live in a region of the country that is over 60% Catholic (though far less lopsided than the 80%+ protestant regions of the nation), and even though there are plenty of protestants in town I was never really deeply familiar with protestant teachings until college. I was really shocked to learn many protestants think Jesus had brothers and sisters. I had always assumed the vast majority of Christians taught Jesus was an only child.
How else do you explain comments on FR like Catholics never use the bible during mass and Catholics are the only Christians on the planet who have Mary devotionals? Anyone with the very basic understanding of the major denominations within Christianity knows that's false. It would be like me claiming all Protestants pray to Martin Luther. Sheer ignorance that shows you know nothing about other kinds of Christians.
I'm sure they could learn about other kinds of Christians if they wanted to interact with the 4% of the population that is in another denomination, but they choose not to.
You did not demonstrate that at all. The statistics you provided are not necessarily connected to your statement. You are conflating YEC types, with so-called *Bible literalists* (which you ought to define), and Protestant.
There are many mainline Protestant churches which not only do not hold to the YEC position, but do not even recognize Biblical authority, much less literal interpretation.
But there is a very SMALL faction within protestantism of "only fundamental protestants who follow a literal interpretation of the King James version of the bible are Chrisitans" mindset (for example, this guy) , and my guess is they think that way because that's the only "Christians" they interact with.
Very small is the best you can do for ONE pastor and who knows what size denomination? You give them too much credit for the non-issue they are.
I was really shocked to learn many protestants think Jesus had brothers and sisters. I had always assumed the vast majority of Christians taught Jesus was an only child.
No, it's Catholics that teach that Jesus was an only child. The Bible doesn't support that. However, it does say something about your exposure to other ways of thinking. You know, the think that you're condemning in others.
You know, your assuming so much about the alleged cloistered lifestyle of others in this country, reveals a lack of touch with reality on your part.
Don't you think that these people don't get out and go to school, shop, go to movies, go out to dinner, go on vacation, have family and relatives who attend different churhces, have telephones, TV's, computers, read books?
Your attitude is coming across are very condsending.
You live in a state that is 30% Catholic and 40% Protestant.
You need to post the facts about the religious makeup of freerepublic if you have them and the geographical location of those freepers for whom you claim to know their religion and where they live, and who they know, and how they live.
You seem so isolated that you seem to think of Protestant as a single church, and you talk about it as though it is foreign and unknown to you, living in a Protestant nation, you really should get out more.
“I said nothing of the sort. I specifically said that the YEC types are probably types who live in isolated communities where the only types of Christians they see in their everyday lives are fellow “bible literalists” and they rarely, if ever, encounter Catholic or Orthodox Christianity.”
Our homeschool group is about 60% Catholic. They even attended a YEC course that I taught. It made for some interesting conversation. We are even still really good friends.