Americans know little about their own religions.

[GostHacked]

This is an interesting bit. And yes we can say 'surveys mean nothing'.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/09/28/survey-americans-know-little-religion/

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.

I think you are going to find this in many countries where we have such a large mixed bag of people from all over the world.

Atheists and agnostics scored highest, with an average of 21 correct answers, while Jews and Mormons followed with about 20 accurate responses. Protestants overall averaged 16 correct answers, while Catholics followed with a score of about 15.

I guess the notion of a Christian nation may not really apply anymore. I really find it ironic in a way that the agnostics/atheists seem to know more about religions than Christians or Catholics in the US.

The study also found that many Americans don't understand constitutional restrictions on religion in public schools. While a majority know that public school teachers cannot lead classes in prayer, less than a quarter know that the U.S. Supreme Court has clearly stated that teachers can read from the Bible as an example of literature.

Some possible questions here:

Do Americans know more about Islam than they do about Christianity?

Can they really call themselves a Christian (or whatever) if they can't tell you what the religion is about and what it's basic tenets are?

If you know more about another religion than your own, can you really say that there is a problem with another religion? There is some irony in all this as well. But I am having a hard time trying to exactly convey the message.

[Shwa]

This is an interesting bit. And yes we can say 'surveys mean nothing'.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/09/28/survey-americans-know-little-religion/

I think you are going to find this in many countries where we have such a large mixed bag of people from all over the world.

I guess the notion of a Christian nation may not really apply anymore. I really find it ironic in a way that the agnostics/atheists seem to know more about religions than Christians or Catholics in the US.

Some possible questions here:

Do Americans know more about Islam than they do about Christianity?

Can they really call themselves a Christian (or whatever) if they can't tell you what the religion is about and what it's basic tenets are?

If you know more about another religion than your own, can you really say that there is a problem with another religion? There is some irony in all this as well. But I am having a hard time trying to exactly convey the message.

Then the answer is clear isn't it? Back to bible school for the majority of the adherents. And not just any old bible school, but the new! and improved! bible school that reflects modern, martial sensibilities about other religions and their inferiority. I can imagine the ad campaigns crusades now, likely on Fox.

Onward Christian Soldier...

[eyeball]

Then the answer is clear isn't it? Back to bible school for the majority of the adherents. And not just any old bible school, but the new! and improved! bible school that reflects modern, martial sensibilities about other religions and their inferiority. I can imagine the ad campaigns crusades now, likely on Fox.

Onward Christian Soldier...

No kidding. This makes the times seem even more dangerous. We're probably never more than a galvanizing act and a wingnut away from apocalypse.

[Bitsy]

Upon first read, the agnostics and atheist knowledge does not surprise me, most have formed these belief after being raised in a religious home/environment. I would like to read the study, it sounds very interesting

[MightyAC]

“I have heard many times that atheists know more about religion than religious people,” Mr. Silverman said. “Atheism is an effect of that knowledge, not a lack of knowledge. I gave a Bible to my daughter. That’s how you make atheists.”[/Quote]

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/28/us/28religion.html?_r=2&src=ISMR_HP_LO_MST_FB

I agree with Mr. S, IMO knowledge of religion and religious history leads to non-belief.

[ToadBrother]

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/28/us/28religion.html?_r=2&src=ISMR_HP_LO_MST_FB

I agree with Mr. S, IMO knowledge of religion and religious history leads to non-belief.

One of the brightest guys I ever met was the Catholic priest at my wife's church. Intelligent, articulate, well-informed on sciences and politics. I find the above statement more than a little prejudiced. To be sure there are plenty of ignorant religious people, but some of the whacked-out statements I've seen on Christianity by many of my fellow atheists leads me to believe that ignorance isn't exactly hard to find no matter where you look.

[MightyAC]

Would you expect the president of American Atheists to be non-biased on this topic?

The statement does not imply that all faithful are ignorant. It simply states that increased religious knowledge tends to lead to non-belief.

Edited September 28, 2010 by MightyAC

[Michael Hardner]

One of the brightest guys I ever met was the Catholic priest at my wife's church. Intelligent, articulate, well-informed on sciences and politics. I find the above statement more than a little prejudiced. To be sure there are plenty of ignorant religious people, but some of the whacked-out statements I've seen on Christianity by many of my fellow atheists leads me to believe that ignorance isn't exactly hard to find no matter where you look.

Agreed, but I think the point is that atheists tend to come from a background of belief, rather than indifference.

[bush_cheney2004]

I think the question and any conclusions drawn are flawed. It's like asking CEOs to explain the rudiments of finance and accounting. Christianity in its many forms is a specialized field of study for scholarly understanding. Churches have purposely de-emphasized the classic lexicon and practices used to reinforce such understanding (e.g. Vatican II).

Ask this question of Native Americans and their "religion" if you dare.

Edited September 28, 2010 by bush_cheney2004

[wyly]

The statement does not imply that all faithful are ignorant. It simply states that increased religious knowledge tends to lead to non-belief.

which is what I've always believed...ignorance is the basis of religion...education is the end of religion...

[M.Dancer]

I think the question and any conclusions drawn are flawed. It's like asking CEOs to explain the rudiments of finance and accounting. Christianity in its many forms is a specialized field of study for scholarly understanding. Churches have purposely de-emphasized the classic lexicon and practices used to reinforce such understanding (e.g. Vatican II).

Ask this question of Native Americans and their "religion" if you dare.

WHile I didn't see the questionaire, the article did say the "basic tenets" of their faith...

I can easily come up with my own questionaire that most, without the aid of google would score very low...because the "basic tenets" are filled with nuance.

...and I imagine that most CEOs given the range of discussion in the boardroom have a good grasp on the rudiments of accounting and finance.

[wyly]

Agreed, but I think the point is that atheists tend to come from a background of belief, rather than indifference.

atheists tend to ask questions and not accept everything they're told as absolute truth without investigation... Edited September 28, 2010 by wyly

[bloodyminded]

Atheists are no smarter, but they have no horse in the race; or if they do, it's the horse of disbelief. This doesn't prove them right, obviously, but it does mean they aren't bound by the calcifying effects of having personal identity tied up with received, mystical doctrine.

This isn't to say atheists aren't bound by idiotic beliefs and idiosyncrasies, like everyone else; it means that their beliefs are not of a type that are designed to be cherished and holy, designed to be sacred--and ultimately of the utmost importance.

So when an atheist realizes, for one example of many, that the Greek gods were said to impregnate women, who then gave birth to half-men, half-gods...it is easy to understand that this is precisely the genesis of the Christ-birth story.

This doesn't prove--not in some objective, scientific way--that the Christ-birth story isn't true; but it raises some red flags, and helps provide insight into the use of myths.

[bush_cheney2004]

WHile I didn't see the questionaire, the article did say the "basic tenets" of their faith...

Yet such basic "tenets" are argued even within each faith. For instance, web based definitions of "Eucharist" gives a varied opinion.

I can easily come up with my own questionaire that most, without the aid of google would score very low...because the "basic tenets" are filled with nuance.

Agreed

...and I imagine that most CEOs given the range of discussion in the boardroom have a good grasp on the rudiments of accounting and finance.

Some do....and some don't. Doesn't mean that CEO's "know little" about finance and accounting.

[MightyAC]

I think the question and any conclusions drawn are flawed. It's like asking CEOs to explain the rudiments of finance and accounting. Christianity in its many forms is a specialized field of study for scholarly understanding. Churches have purposely de-emphasized the classic lexicon and practices used to reinforce such understanding (e.g. Vatican II).

Ask this question of Native Americans and their "religion" if you dare.

The same 32 questions were given to all participants, Christians were not at a disadvantage. This link discusses the survey in more depth.

Previous surveys have shown that America is among the most religious of the world’s developed nations but also the least knowledgeable.

I also find it interesting that Atheists and Jews also score the highest on (non-religious) general knowledge questions. I'm not surprised that Atheist tend to score well as many studies have shown that the educated are less likely to be religious. However, I didn't expect Jews to outperform the general population. I will have to explore the demographics of Jewish Americans vs the population as a whole.

[M.Dancer]

Some do....and some don't. Doesn't mean that CEO's "know little" about finance and accounting.

Indeed..

[wyly]

Atheists are no smarter, but they have no horse in the race; or if they do, it's the horse of disbelief. This doesn't prove them right, obviously, but it does mean they aren't bound by the calcifying effects of having personal identity tied up with received, mystical doctrine.

all atheists at one time had a horse in the race, I was brought up in christian doctrine...

through education and an inquisitive mind atheists have grown in numbers...does that make them smarter? no...but being smart is not the same as being educated...

educating the general public to think for themselves and ask questions will be the end of religion...

[M.Dancer]

I'm taking the quiz...

http://features.pewforum.org/quiz/us-religious-knowledge/index.php

sample questions

According to rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court, is a public school teacher permitted to lead a class in prayer, or not?

What religion do most people in Pakistan consider themselves?

Which one of these preachers participated in the period of religious activity known as the First Great Awakening?

I think I got 11 out of 15...but it is mistakem

When asked...

1. Which Bible figure is most closely associated with leading the exodus from Egypt?

•Job •Elijah •Moses •Abraham

I picked moses...they said I was wrong

Edited September 28, 2010 by M.Dancer

[Bonam]

Atheists are no smarter

Statistically speaking, this is incorrect. Studies have shown atheism/agnosticism to be correlated with intelligence (IQ) among Americans, as compared to the majority Christian population.

Here's a table:

• 
  
  
• Denomination Representative...Number...IQ......SD
  
• Episcopal/Anglican.......... 180,714 113.43 11.68
  
• Jewish...................... 206,453 112.43 13.14
  
• Atheist..................... 117,681 111.08 12.78
  
• Agnostic.................... 303,645 109.13 14.21
  
• Methodist................... 698,178 108.33 13.41
  
• Presbyterian................ 238,987 107.74 13.55
  
• Lutheran.................... 955,037 107.51 12.01
  
• Protestant (Other).......... 588,766 107.42 13.38
  
• Disciples of Christ......... 228,558 106.90 12.99
  
• Roman Catholic.............. 2.868M 106.66 12.98
  
• Other....................... 290,001 106.43 13.65
  
• Mormon...................... 194,657 106.16 12.87
  
• Un. Church of Christ........ 168,237 106.14 12.47
  
• Bible Church................ 804,237 106.09 14.21
  
• Muslem...................... 58,658 104.87 9.94
  
• Personal Philosophy......... 1.034M 103.98 14.54
  
• Holiness.................... 125,422 103.56 12.88
  
• Baptist..................... 1.598M 102.13 13.78
  
• Pentecostal................. 292,747 101.89 13.05
  
• Total....................... 10.953M 106.09 13.57
  

Interestingly, Anglicans and Jews score even higher than Atheists and Agnostics. Given the large sample sizes, I would not discount these results.

[bloodyminded]

The same 32 questions were given to all participants, Christians were not at a disadvantage. This link discusses the survey in more depth.

Previous surveys have shown that America is among the most religious of the world’s developed nations but also the least knowledgeable.

I also find it interesting that Atheists and Jews also score the highest on (non-religious) general knowledge questions. I'm not surprised that Atheist tend to score well as many studies have shown that the educated are less likely to be religious. However, I didn't expect Jews to outperform the general population. I will have to explore the demographics of Jewish Americans vs the population as a whole.

North American Jewish people tend, disproportionately, towards the leftish side of the political spectrum.

That's why they're smarter.

[bloodyminded]

all atheists at one time had a horse in the race, I was brought up in christian doctrine...

Good point. I was too.

through education and an inquisitive mind atheists have grown in numbers...does that make them smarter? no...but being smart is not the same as being educated...

Agreed.

[bloodyminded]

Statistically speaking, this is incorrect. Studies have shown atheism/agnosticism to be correlated with intelligence (IQ) among Americans, as compared to the majority Christian population.

Here's a table:

• 
  
  
• Denomination Representative...Number...IQ......SD
  
• Episcopal/Anglican.......... 180,714 113.43 11.68
  
• Jewish...................... 206,453 112.43 13.14
  
• Atheist..................... 117,681 111.08 12.78
  
• Agnostic.................... 303,645 109.13 14.21
  
• Methodist................... 698,178 108.33 13.41
  
• Presbyterian................ 238,987 107.74 13.55
  
• Lutheran.................... 955,037 107.51 12.01
  
• Protestant (Other).......... 588,766 107.42 13.38
  
• Disciples of Christ......... 228,558 106.90 12.99
  
• Roman Catholic.............. 2.868M 106.66 12.98
  
• Other....................... 290,001 106.43 13.65
  
• Mormon...................... 194,657 106.16 12.87
  
• Un. Church of Christ........ 168,237 106.14 12.47
  
• Bible Church................ 804,237 106.09 14.21
  
• Muslem...................... 58,658 104.87 9.94
  
• Personal Philosophy......... 1.034M 103.98 14.54
  
• Holiness.................... 125,422 103.56 12.88
  
• Baptist..................... 1.598M 102.13 13.78
  
• Pentecostal................. 292,747 101.89 13.05
  
• Total....................... 10.953M 106.09 13.57
  

Interestingly, Anglicans and Jews score even higher than Atheists and Agnostics. Given the large sample sizes, I would not discount these results.

I was raised Anglican and am now atheist...hence my genius.

[GostHacked]

Atheists are no smarter, but they have no horse in the race; or if they do, it's the horse of disbelief. This doesn't prove them right, obviously, but it does mean they aren't bound by the calcifying effects of having personal identity tied up with received, mystical doctrine.

I don't think that was the point of the article. It simply showing that atheists know more about the religions people follow than those actually following the religions. There are dumb atheists as there are smart ones.

This isn't to say atheists aren't bound by idiotic beliefs and idiosyncrasies, like everyone else; it means that their beliefs are not of a type that are designed to be cherished and holy, designed to be sacred--and ultimately of the utmost importance.

They are not designed to be cherished or holy.

I will say I am agnostic, and I do know little about religion ....My results are .... dammit the page is FAILING !!!

[ToadBrother]

I think the question and any conclusions drawn are flawed. It's like asking CEOs to explain the rudiments of finance and accounting. Christianity in its many forms is a specialized field of study for scholarly understanding. Churches have purposely de-emphasized the classic lexicon and practices used to reinforce such understanding (e.g. Vatican II).

Ask this question of Native Americans and their "religion" if you dare.

I think ask just about any faith group, and you'll find levels of knowledge of the laity is fairly limited. Not every Christian, Muslim, Jew, Buddhist, Hindu and so on and so forth is going to be a trained theologian. That's why there is such a thing as organized religion, so the "brain work" of understanding the intricacies of the faith are left to a trained theological class; mullahs, rabbis, priests, whatever.

The same goes for constitutional issues. Let's face it, most people, wherever they live, probably only have the rudimentary understandings of their governing and political systems, half-remembered from civics classes. Weirdo obsessives that hang around online political forums are not typical of the population as a whole. It would be nice if every citizen in every country understood their constitution, but let's face it, there are aspects to most constitutional systems that still require no small amount of expertise to understand the intricacies of. The US Constitution, compared to Canada's complex mix of organic, legislative and constitutional framework, is a lot easier to understand, but still not every concept is graspable without actually endeavoring some understanding even in a well-written constitution.

As to this whole "atheists are smarter" line, it just bothers me. Believe me, here on the Internet at least, I've met some pretty damned stupid atheists.

[ToadBrother]

I was raised Anglican and am now atheist...hence my genius.

The wall between Anglican and atheist is a thin one, though...

I always like to look at Anglicanism as the greatest example of the English capacity for compromise... "Oooh, you like a bit of Catholicism... we can do that... Protestantism a bit more your taste... well, we've got that too... Not too much of a believer... well we can handle that."

Anglicanism is this smorgasbord of Christian churches, or used to be until the gay and women vicar issues began cracking the facade. It's a real pity, because the Church for several centuries had tolerated a rather disparate set of traditions.