Posted on 09/28/2010 11:55:57 AM PDT by killermedic
A new survey of Americans' knowledge of religion found that atheists, agnostics, Jews and Mormons outperformed Protestants and Roman Catholics in answering questions about major religions, while many respondents could not correctly give the most basic tenets of their own faiths. 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. More than half of Protestants could not identify Martin Luther as the person who inspired the Protestant Reformation. And about four in 10 Jews did not know that Maimonides, one of the greatest rabbis and intellectuals in history, was Jewish.... 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. Jews, along with atheists and agnostics, knew the most about other faiths, such as Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism and Judaism. Less than half of Americans know that the Dalai Lama is Buddhist, and less than four in 10 know that Vishnu and Shiva are part of Hinduism.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
My guess is that the pollsters did not accept Jerusalem as the birthplace of Jesus, when Bethlehem is obviously the more precise answer.
Assuming that to be so, it would appear that the majority of the Mormons surveyed were not confused about the birthplace of Jesus. If they are not confused, why should you be?
Yep.
Interesting. Elsie’s right on this one. Jews typically consider the so-called “10 Commandments” (there are actually 613 of them) as being issued to and only binding to Jews. They consider the 7 Noahide laws, which are also embedded in the 613, to be applicable to Gentiles. The Law is not about “condemnation”...that’s strictly a Christian construct...magritte
Hum...
As far as "knowing more about Christianity” two thoughts...
Did the survey decide if the questions were just answered or answered correctly...
Second, as it is you guys have made a habit of studying Christianity for 180 years to understand how to twist it into your “becoming Gods” polytheistic product that has a familiar ring to it for easier sales. You spend hours training and studying from grade school up so you can go out on "missions" to divert people away from Christianity. Like any good sales person you are more knowledgeable about your own product as well as that of the competition than the average customer. With the new sales directive of the past decade or so that is now pushing the "We are Christians too" theme, that skill set has become more important than ever.
So why are these results a surprise again?..
What does that mean? It means Mormons know where Jesus was born.
Your stretch of logic is really pathetic. As you know, Bethlehem is about 5 miles outside of Jerusalem. When you harp on Mormonism it usually is a better attempt than this.
Still misguided, but better than this. This attempt just tries to slam Mormonism a bit too much.
yeah it's all a big Mormon conspiracy.
If Mormons would have taken "last" in this survey you probably would have been jumping up and down proclaiming how uninformed Mormons are, however when they take 'first' you jump up and down proclaiming how Mormons probably designed the survey.
Sheeeesh.
btw, In many surveys, Mormons were shown to disapprove of 0bama more than any other religion.
btw, Similarly, in many surveys, Mormons were shown to be more conservative than any other religion
Any thoughts on those results? Mormons design those surveys also to shine positive light on Mormons?
Yes, that is it. /sarc
Sheeeeeesh.
your comments here have nothing to do with the fact that Mormons scored higher on this survey... and obviously you need another pill to cope with that.
Play it as aggressively as you want to, play it to the hilt if you wish. Sing it from the highest mountain for all I care.
Won't change a thing.
It won't make the BOM real, it won't make Smith a prophet, and it won't change the fact that the LDS members, especially the handles and the true believing apologist study Christianity more than most for the very fact that is the base that most of the marks come from and the facts of historic Real Christianity is what cause Mormonism to fail under honest, rational and serious scrutiny, therefore it must both be understood and marginalized to the maximum effect, which require a high level of knowledge.
And those simple facts are all I am pointing out.
So say neener neener neener until you fall exhausted.
When a multi peer scientific survey verifies BOM ruins or DNA in some American population, then you may have something...
BTW the whole "pill, medical help", whatever thing is really played out, you guys really are playing the lower denominator. I would expect better from those who belong to the "true church" on their way to exaltation...
Discuss the issues all you want, but do not make it personal.
After reading the survey questions, it is mathematically probable that Mormons would score better than anyone else.
Who but a Mormon would actually care or know when Mormonism was founded or who Joseph Smith was.
Mormonism makes up less than 2% of the US population and represents a minuscule percentage of the world wide population, yet two of the questions out of the 18 or so had to do with Mormonism - a tiny obscure American sect that no one even thinks about except Mormons who got those two questions correct.
Sorry.
You are not a Mormon yet from your postings on FR you seem to think about Mormons quite a bit.
atheists, agnostics I believe know because some are intellectuals and others have struggled with faith.
Mormons because when you are given more then the Readers Digest edit version it becomes exciting to the core of ones bones!
There is a great new book out that is just a mind blower for it given you the meaning of words use many generation removed.
So you have a deeper knowledge and grasp of what you are reading!
400 Questions and Answers About the Life and Times of Jesus Christ
In this engaging volume, renowned gospel scholar and teacher Susan Easton Black explores more than 400 questions— many inspired by her own students—about the life and times of the Savior. Organized chronologically from the Nativity to the Resurrection, the author’s skillful responses lend valuable insight into the childhood and adolescence of Jesus as well as His mortal ministry and atoning sacrifice. Many of these descriptive passages provide key details regarding New Testament geography, politics, and culture that illuminate and enhance the scriptural text, while others address more complex doctrinal topics in a succinct and sensitive manner.
Colorfully illustrated with more than 80 images, this book is an ideal companion for students and teachers in a variety of settings, from Seminary to Gospel Doctrine class to personal and family scripture study. The research in this book is backed by extensive documentation, as well as deep and evident love for the subject matter. Dr. Black provides a fascinating view of the historical and religious identity of Jesus Christ through the lens of the restored gospel.
http://deseretbook.com/400-Questions-Answers-Life-Times-Jesus-Christ-Susan-Easton-Black/i/5051395
The “devil” is in the details in how this survey was conducted and the questions asked.
It’s interesting that the vast majority of polls referred to on FR are considered to be suspect, yet, when one presents a poll with the “data” one is searching for, all of you cynics and skeptics are supposed to just “deal with it”.
Uh huh, sure.
Well there appear to be quite a following of Freepers who are not Mormons but really care who Joseph Smith was.
I’ve had enough “religion” to last me for a while.
That’s the problem with most folks, they get all wrapped around the axle about the rites, rote prayers, rituals, legalisms, etc. of “religion” that they forget what they’re really supposed to do.
Who cares how “knowledgeable” the mormons and atheists are? I certainly don’t after looking at the questions. There is no value, there is nothing of substance to support or quantify the article and pollsters claims. On another thread with the same topic, folks were aceing(sp?) it. What does this all say?
That I can study books for the rest of my life and ace polls like this, but there is no value if I don’t adhere to and live by the precepts. Absolutely none.
Well they can do whatever they want. As long as we are around to blow away the smoke and smash the mirrors the LDS tricks won’t work very well, especially with the reasonable.
Lincoln, pre-war & during the campaign, was against the expansion of slavery -- like Kansas becoming a slave state, for instance.
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