It turns out Atheist know more about religions than "religious" folks

[hasoos]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/28/religious-literacy-americ_n_741391.html

Not a surprise.

 

[crandc]

I went to CNN site and got 10 of 10.

They weren't hard questions.

Raised by semi-observant Jews, atheist by conviction.

At least atheists, unlike tea partiers, know something about what we disagree with (bad grammar, I know).

 

[dpc]

Thats why atheists/agnostics are atheists/agnostic, because they do know about religion, and realize that it is silly to believe it.

 

[BrianFromWA]

Not surprisingly, those who said they attended worship at least once a week and considered religion important in their lives often performed better on the overall survey. However, level of education was the best predictor of religious knowledge.

My conclusion from that is that those who attempt to practice what they preach have better understanding of what they're practicing and preaching than anyone. But if you're faking your way through for whatever reason, then those who are better-educated and not practicing are better at answering these questions than those who are not educated, and not practicing.

Honestly, I don't know what the 32 questions asked were, but it said only 12 of them dealt with Christianity. And one of them was "what's the first book of the Bible?" I can't say if I'd get questions about the Qu'ran or why Mormons believe in future diety correct...but if they're questions like "is the Dalai Lama Buddhist?", well, I learned that from World Cultures in High School and Caddyshack.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Athiests are obsessed with arguing with those who are religious in order to validate their own perspective so they study up on it and in particular, the criticisms that most of the religious do not bother following.

 

[blazerboy30]

Athiests are obsessed with arguing with those who are religious in order to validate their own perspective so they study up on it and in particular, the criticisms that most of the religious do not bother following.

+1

Case in point... the starter of this thread.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

Athiests are obsessed with arguing with those who are religious in order to validate their own perspective so they study up on it and in particular, the criticisms that most of the religious do not bother following.

If atheists are obsessed with anything its truth and reason. The religious are obsessed with fables and myths.

 

[speeds]

Its a scientific approach. You shouldn't dismiss something before trying to verify it, or at least understand it.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

If atheists are obsessed with anything its truth and reason. The religious are obsessed with fables and myths.

Live and Let Live.

Atheists are like professional trolls who like to go after dumbass southerners. Truth and reason my ass, they just want to piss off people trying follow their own personal beliefs by constantly talking down to them.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

the thing about roman catholics is many of them are VERY casual. its like a weekend warrior mentality. they go to church just to go through the motions, its more a social event than religious or even some kind of cheap therapy.

 

[GriLtCheeZ]

Athiests are obsessed with arguing with those who are religious in order to validate their own perspective so they study up on it and in particular, the criticisms that most of the religious do not bother following.

The Atheists in this survey are more likely recovering religious people. You seem to be describing the nerds on this board who use PER as a basis for all of their basketball arguments.

 

[Charcoal Filtered]

Live and Let Live.

Atheists are like professional trolls who like to go after dumbass southerners. Truth and reason my ass, they just want to piss off people trying follow their own personal beliefs by constantly talking down to them.

I get knocks on the doors from different religions.

I probably get ten references to god a day from people on Facebook.

Not once have I been baited by an athiest. They are not seeking anyone out.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

No one knocks on my door or posts god references on my facebook feed, so I guess the opposite MUST be true!

 

[blazerboy30]

I get knocks on the doors from different religions.

I probably get ten references to god a day from people on Facebook.

Not once have I been baited by an athiest. They are not seeking anyone out.

Yet you're posting in this thread, started by an atheist. Hmmmmm.

 

[crandc]

Atheists have nothing to sell. No megachurches with really rich pastors. No promise of salvation. Most we can do is suggest you read something by Richard Dawkins, and you can get that from the library for free.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

....and proclaim.."if you believe in any kind of organized religion, you're a fucking idiot!" with a smug smile on your face!

 

[blazerboy30]

Atheists have nothing to sell. No megachurches with really rich pastors. No promise of salvation. Most we can do is suggest you read something by Richard Dawkins, and you can get that from the library for free.

With nothing to sell, why do you feel the need to enlighten those silly religious folks?

 

[agoo]

In a quiz about multiple religions, which I just took and got about half non-Christian questions in a country with a long history of a Christian majority, I would expect an athiest to do better than a religious folk as most religious folk are actually just one of Catholic/Jewish/Baptist/Buddhist/Hindu/Muslim/etc. I think an athiest would be more inclined to hear about different religions before rejecting them than a follower of one religion.

This should be neither surprising, nor a bragging point.

 

[crandc]

Can't speak for others but I never called anyone a "fucking idiot".

It's not a matter of "enlightening those silly religious folks". It's a matter of finding out facts. I don't need to be convined of atheism. I became an atheist on my own at 13. But I still find scientific inquiry into history, religion, and the natural world/universe useful and interesting.

Because I don't think ignorance is a good thing. I don't think a candidate who does not know US and world history is more qualified than one who does. I do not think someone who says "I have faith, I don't need to know" is doing him/herself, or his/her children, or the world, any favors by celebrating ignorance.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

....and proclaim.."if you believe in any kind of organized religion, you're a fucking idiot!" with a smug smile on your face!

Then a typical reply is something like "You'll be doing laps in a lake of fire for eternity."

It's so childish.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Then a typical reply is something like "You'll be doing laps in a lake of fire for eternity."

It's so childish.

you forgot to add the part about as they wipe the creamed corn off their mouth with their Tea Party t-shirt.

 

[Masbee]

Was curious, as an Athiest, who was not raised to practice any major religion, what my score would be. Took this test, and blew through it very quickly (no google cheating):
http://features.pewforum.org/quiz/us-religious-knowledge/

Got 14 out of 15 questions, putting me in the 98% percentile.

Didn't seem that hard of a quiz, and it is always a letdown when these types of surveys show so much lack of general knowledge among the population.

Teachers and Educators and Adminstrators of America:

Our Education system BLOWS!!!

 

[blazerboy30]

Can't speak for others but I never called anyone a "fucking idiot".

It's not a matter of "enlightening those silly religious folks". It's a matter of finding out facts. I don't need to be convined of atheism. I became an atheist on my own at 13. But I still find scientific inquiry into history, religion, and the natural world/universe useful and interesting.

Because I don't think ignorance is a good thing. I don't think a candidate who does not know US and world history is more qualified than one who does. I do not think someone who says "I have faith, I don't need to know" is doing him/herself, or his/her children, or the world, any favors by celebrating ignorance.

Ah, so you're selling a reduction of "ignorance", but you're not selling anything. Gotcha.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

The fastest growing 'group' among 'religions' (or state of mind) is atheism and it's not a close race.

 

[MickZagger]

I'm not religious, but I'm pretty spiritual. I find super religous, evangelical types some of the most annoying people there is.

I'd rather slit my wrists than listen to those nutjobs on a pulpit.

I went to Catholic church as a youngster, not regularly but enough. I have no problem with that. When I was young my buddy was fairly religious and invited me to his church. It was one of the most awkward experiences of my life. It was the type of church that almost gave off a vibe like I should feel guilty or something. People were passing out and such. It was so stupid. I thought they were going to bust out snakes next.

Those religious nut jobs in the bible belt are some of the most judgemental people there is. Fuck em' I find a lot of super religious types extremely hypocritical.

For instance, people who have super strong opinion about the gays, are either uncomfortable in their own skin, or have something to hide.

 

[BrianFromWA]

It's ironic that you mention the judgmental ones you've come across as the "super religious evangelicals". If they're some of the most judgmental you've met, then they're obviously not practicing what they preach. Kind of like saying "I hate our military b/c there are 4 guys up for murdering for sport right now". Just b/c someone self-identifies with a group doesn't mean they're a good representative of it.

 

[santeesioux]

RELIGION FIGHT!!1!

Man it seems like politics and religion are the two things that really wind people up in online discussions.

 

[MickZagger]

Its just personal experience and it was enough to turn me off.

As an example, I was at a wedding last summer and most the people attending the event attended the same church. I heard this lady, probably in her 40's soccer mom type say, "I don't know if I could even talk to someone who wasn't a Christian".

I mean really bitch? No wonder you live such closed off life.

 

[blazerboy30]

The fastest growing 'group' among 'religions' (or state of mind) is atheism and it's not a close race.

You refer to atheism as a 'religion', yet in another thread try to say it is the lack of any type of belief. Me thinks you go back-and-forth.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Experiencing fundamentalist Christian lifestyle was hilarious to me. My best friends family lived and breathed the bible. Every channel was blocked other than the Christian Ch. and only could listen to K-Love radio. Oh, and magic was not to allowed in any form (spoken or performed) as it would invite Satan into their home.

I've been to church a few time this decade as I was invited. Out of respect for my friends that invited me I went but literally was in La La Land the entire time. Did not care to listen to a word. I actually remember thinking to myself during the service about different line-up's by Nate McMillan and 'small ball' style