Posted on 09/29/2010 3:05:05 PM PDT by zippythepinhead
Atheists and agnostics know more about major world religions than many people of faith, while Mormons can answer more Bible questions than their Catholic and mainline Protestant counterparts.
Those are among the somewhat startling conclusions about religious literacy in America the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion and Public Life drew after surveying 3,412 Americans.
Some of the multiple-choice questions were relatively simple: Where was Jesus born and who led the exodus from Egypt? What religion was Mother Teresa, what day does the Jewish Sabbath begin and what is the name of Islam’s holy book?
Others were more obscure: What is Indonesia’s dominant religion? Which Christians teach that salvation comes through faith alone?
About half the Protestants (53 percent) couldn’t correctly identify Martin Luther as the person whose writings and actions inspired the Protestant Reformation. Fewer than half of Americans (47 percent) knew the Dalai Lama is Buddhist and only 38 percent correctly associated Vishnu and Shiva with Hinduism.
John Morehead, director of the Western Institute for Intercultural Studies in Salt Lake City, had already noted religious illiteracy in the general population as well as in the evangelical community. But he did not expect Mormons to top them in their biblical fluency.
“Mormons tend to emphasize Mormon scriptures like the Book of Mormon rather than the Bible in their devotional life,” Morehead said in an e-mail.
Even some LDS scholars were surprised to find Mormons at the top.
(Excerpt) Read more at sltrib.com ...
Lincoln didn’t write racist “scripture” either.....
Yeah, you sound like a retread that was keeping a back up account.
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[Osage Orange spouts]
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[Stourme states]
Not at all. You're assuming that the thief was never a follower of Jesus. Clearly the thief knew Jesus was the Son of God.
The thief's last act was to testify of Jesus' divinity and ask for forgivness after a manner. Jesus knew the man's heart and accepted him.
pinhead...
it fits...
the thief was being killed for his crime stormy - those are the fruits of his life. where are his works of righteousness necessary to earn God's grace as you have openly claimed are necessary. You are refuting your own words and doctrine now.
It took me a minute, but I think I get it.
But we can't seem to find any evidence of these places...Gigal, Onihah, Mocum, Gadiandi, Gadiomnah, Jacob, Gimgimmo, Jacobugath, Laman, Josh, Gad, and Kishkumen.
Why is that?
There are other things....would you like me to list them?
Ahhhh...is Stourme smiling happy..or is Stourme sad?
It's cute when you refer to yourself that way.
Most of the names Joey Smith made up for his book of mormon seem to be derived during a drunkenn bout with his cronies...
So...I'm guessing you don't believe in death bed or battlefield, ( John 3:16 ) type confessions...
Not at all. You're assuming that the thief was never a follower of Jesus. Clearly the thief knew Jesus was the Son of God.
You said here: If you don't have the works to go along with the faith you claim to have...in God's eyes you have no faith.
And you are assuming that this thief had good works.
Storme sad now.....
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[Godzilla bloviates]
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[Stourme expounds]
Fruits of his life? Let me tell you about the fruits of his life.
1. The thief was selfless. His last moments on earth were to defend the Lord against another who was mocking him. And selflessness is not something that is instantly learned. It's a trait that is learned over time. So I know that at least some portion of his life was devoted to selfless service to others.
2. I know the thief was humble. He acknowledged his crime and accepted his punishment with out complaint.
3. The thief gave testimony. The testimony that Jesus is the Christ given by this humble and selfless man has been read by billions of people. Who knows how many countless souls have been brought to Christ over the ages by this one man's example. Jesus, who knows the begining and the end, saw this to be true and accepted this poor man's cry for forgiveness.
Where are his good works you ask? Right infront of you if you could only see.
But apparantly at some time the thief has been “humbled” by dead dunking...
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[Osage Orange retracts] What I meant was...we know where Jerusalem is, etc..We have some archeology evidence of many cities in the Bible. |
[Stourme smiles]
Hind sight is always 20/20 huh?
Unfortuanately that's not what you said. You didn't say places. You said events.
Historical proof of the events is what you said.
I'm simply asking you to make good on your words. Please show some of "Historical proof of the events " of the Bible you claimed to have.
Just to set the record straight. I'm not a sign seeker. I don't look for the places or any evidence of the Bible or the Book of Mormon. I honestly don't care. I don't need evidence that Moses parted the Red Sea to know he did it. I don't need evidence of a city called Zarahemla to know it was there.
I listen strictly to the Gift of the Holy Ghost on what is true and what isn't. And because I do, I know that with out a doubt that Jesus is the Christ. He is my friend and my Savior and my God.
Have you ever misspoke..I realized what I typed...after I typed it.
And there is evidence of many stories and places in the Bible....but not so much in the BOM.
Why is that? Why do you cling to places called "Zarahemla"....and things like peep stones?? When there is no physical evidence that that place existed, or those stones were real.
Hey BTW.....why would a religion have $50 billion in assets? Ranches, malls, hotels, etc..etc....
Was he baptised by one with the proper authority - no
Was given the Holy Ghost through the laying on of hands?
Both of which according to mormonism are required for salvation, both of which are lacking.
But then if what you describe for the thief is correct, then there is no need for mormon temples, ordiances, laws and other rules for your salvation - is there. But once again, what preceeded all those 'works' stormy - it was faith, for he could not say those things with out faith first (which btw, the scriptures indicate he didn't initially have).
Stourme sinks to new low..
Attempting to wiggle out of your statements....
Answer me this....What do mormons's officially count as works?
Humbleness? Testimony? An act at the end of life?
Somehow....I don't think that's one of the 32
Oh really. So Jesus is heavenly father. That is most interesting. Or has your past as an 'evangelical' confused your thinking?
I think this is evident with many lds defenders who say they previously attended Christian churches, it as though they still use Biblical definitions instead of lds definitions.
What say you Stourme...
You know you sound like resty sometimes?
Who's who anymore?
Stornu...Stornme...it's crazy!!
Maybe haven't received the secret decoder ring either.
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