Who really knows their religious facts? Who can name the first book in Bible, tell you when the Jewish Sabbath begins, name the Holy Book of Islam, and tell you who founded the Mormon church?
Pew Research Forum didn't ask how well people lived their religion, they asked them about facts. Do people know their religions and the religions of others?
Test yourself: Right Here
Who do you expect to know the most overall?
Evangelicals? Mormons? Jews? Catholics?
The best scores overall were by the Atheists/Agnostics. Jews and Mormons were a close second and third.
After that there was quite a gap till you reached Protestants, "nothing in particular" and then Catholics.
Here are the exact figures: (Percent Correct out of 32 questions)
Overall Religious Knowledge
1. Atheist/Agnostic (65%)
2. Jews ( 64%)
3. Mormons ( 63%)
4. Protestant (50%)
a. White Evangelical (55%)
b. White Mainline (49%)
c. Black Protestant (42%)
5. "Nothing in particular" (48%)
6. Catholic (46%)
a. White Catholic (50%)
b. Hispanic Catholic (36%)
- Anybody else find it interesting that the Atheists/Agnostics scored the highest? That's right - those who some call "Godless" actually know the most. You can try to accuse them of not living according to God's laws, or not praying or believing or whatever else you want - but never say they don't know what's out there. They know their stuff, and they know it better then every religious group polled.
SPECIFICS 
Who really knows their religious facts? Who can name the first book in Bible, tell you when the Jewish Sabbath begins, name the Holy Book of Islam, and tell you who founded the Mormon church?
Pew Research Forum didn't ask how well people lived their religion, they asked them about facts. Do people know their religions and the religions of others?
Test yourself: Right Here
Who do you expect to know the most overall?
Evangelicals? Mormons? Jews? Catholics?
The best scores overall were by the Atheists/Agnostics. Jews and Mormons were a close second and third.
After that there was quite a gap till you reached Protestants, "nothing in particular" and then Catholics.
Here are the exact figures: (Percent Correct out of 32 questions)
Overall Religious Knowledge
1. Atheist/Agnostic (65%)
2. Jews ( 64%)
3. Mormons ( 63%)
4. Protestant (50%)
a. White Evangelical (55%)
b. White Mainline (49%)
c. Black Protestant (42%)
5. "Nothing in particular" (48%)
6. Catholic (46%)
a. White Catholic (50%)
b. Hispanic Catholic (36%)
- Anybody else find it interesting that the Atheists/Agnostics scored the highest? That's right - those who some call "Godless" actually know the most. You can try to accuse them of not living according to God's laws, or not praying or believing or whatever else you want - but never say they don't know what's out there. They know their stuff, and they know it better then every religious group polled.
Let's look at Christian knowledge.
Who knows the most about Christian religions and who teaches what?
1. Mormons
2. White Evangelicals
3. Atheists/Agnostics
What if we don't ask what each Christian religion believes - but just stick to the Bible.
Who answered the most Biblical questions right?
1. Mormons
2. White Evangelicals
3. Atheists/Agnostics
Yeah - Turns out Mormons and White Evangelicals really know their Bible. The 4th highest score was by Black Protestants, then Jews, White Catholics, "Nothing in Particular" and Hispanic Catholics.
Let's look at other religions. If we stop asking questions about General Christianity and move to other topics how does the knowledge base hold up?
Knowledge of Judaism?
1. Jews
2. Atheists/Agnostics
3. Mormons
Knowledge of Mormonism?
1. Mormons
2. Atheists/Agnostics
3. Jews
Knowledge of World Religions? (Islam, Buddhism, Hindu and others)
1. Jews
2. Atheists/Agnostics
3. Mormons
Knowledge of what Atheism means?
1. Atheists/Agnostics AND White Evangelicals
3. Mormons
What if we leave religion entirely and ask general knowledge questions. How educated are all the people in the entire study as far as knowledge of Politics, Science, History and Literature:
1. Atheists/Agnostics
2. Jews
3. Mormons
Are you noticing a common theme?
Atheists, Jews, and Mormons are very well informed people. They know what they believe, what others believe, and they know the world around them.
I'm not going to make judgment calls about why, or comment about any other religions. I think knowledge is power and helps diminish prejudice. May we all think higher of those around us, be a little less quick to judge, and may we all work a little harder to understand our professed beliefs, as well as those of others.
(Here is the Pew study with it's complete results)
1 comment:
Interesting. Reminds me of a scripture in 2 Nephi 9: 28 O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish.
29 But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God.
Many atheists/agnostics that I personally know are experts on religion in order to criticize and/or try to disprove them. I am not a fan of people who spend precious time trying to discount the beliefs of others. This is probably also the case of some other religious group's expertise--trying to prove others wrong. I would hope that the things I learn of other religions are in appreciation and interest of the diversity and good that is a part of the human family and their many faiths.
Post a Comment