BLIND FAITH - Americans believe in religion -- but know little about it

washingtonpost ^ | Sunday, March 4, 2007 | Stephen Prothero

[The_Reader_David]

. . .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.

[RayStacy]

for later

[mmichaels1970]

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.

[voltaires_zit]

> 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?

[RexBeach]

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.

[Mr. Blonde]

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.

[Vaquero]

one of my all time favorites! (all right lighten up...)

[RC2]

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.

[mmichaels1970]

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?

[silverleaf]

Book-selling press release hype alert:

[Vaquero]

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

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

[GSlob]

". . .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?

[Carl LaFong]

Edward's a flaming bundle of sticks.

[silverleaf]

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)

[RexBeach]

Catholics.

[100-Fold_Return]

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?

[Vaquero]

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)

[Carpe Cerevisi]

Ahhh...the Chreaster people.

[Grizzled Bear]

"Religion is for those who are afraid of Hell. Jesus is for those who have been there."

- Dave Mustaine