Posted on 09/29/2010 3:05:05 PM PDT by zippythepinhead
Atheists and agnostics know more about major world religions than many people of faith, while Mormons can answer more Bible questions than their Catholic and mainline Protestant counterparts.
Those are among the somewhat startling conclusions about religious literacy in America the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion and Public Life drew after surveying 3,412 Americans.
Some of the multiple-choice questions were relatively simple: Where was Jesus born and who led the exodus from Egypt? What religion was Mother Teresa, what day does the Jewish Sabbath begin and what is the name of Islam’s holy book?
Others were more obscure: What is Indonesia’s dominant religion? Which Christians teach that salvation comes through faith alone?
About half the Protestants (53 percent) couldn’t correctly identify Martin Luther as the person whose writings and actions inspired the Protestant Reformation. Fewer than half of Americans (47 percent) knew the Dalai Lama is Buddhist and only 38 percent correctly associated Vishnu and Shiva with Hinduism.
John Morehead, director of the Western Institute for Intercultural Studies in Salt Lake City, had already noted religious illiteracy in the general population as well as in the evangelical community. But he did not expect Mormons to top them in their biblical fluency.
“Mormons tend to emphasize Mormon scriptures like the Book of Mormon rather than the Bible in their devotional life,” Morehead said in an e-mail.
Even some LDS scholars were surprised to find Mormons at the top.
(Excerpt) Read more at sltrib.com ...
I am very down on mormonism (but not mormons), but I think the headline is probably true, especially if those “other Christians” are Catholic.
But the phrase “other Christians” is a bit deceptive since Mormonism is not Christian.
Wow, who could have predicted that a liberal, 15 question, meaningless quiz, that isn’t on Christianity, would get so much play towards bashing Christians? Actually I did, the prediction was easy.
Who made them the authority? What 3,412 Americans did they survey? What questions were asked? I would say their conclusion is totally wrong.
what is the name of Islam’s holy book?
Others were more obscure: What is Indonesia’s dominant religion?
I think this is actually a misperception and I think the results of the study prove that. As a Mormon, we use both the B of M and the Bible in our teaching and sermons. We study the Bible in 2 out of the 4 years of our revolving Sunday School curriculum, with the Book of Mormon being a 1 year course of study. Of course the Book of Mormon is emphasized as being important. I don't deny that. It is used as a tool for conversion. But I've never heard any of our leaders suggest the Bible should be de-emphasized in our studying.
Bit of a misnomer there in the title, since Mormons are not Christians.
I took their survey and answered 15 of 15 correctly. I did not specify my religion, however. Questions about Vishnu, Ramadan, Nirvana, and the two on LDS might not be normally known by Christians. LDS members might get at least the two questions from their faith more often correct, so I am not sure this is valid.
What Bible? Ours or theirs?
From my understanding Mormons only believe in the Bible “as far as it is translated correctly”. Meaning like most of the world, they can pick and chose portions that they want to follow.
The Bible is not infallible and it is easily manipulated, however, the LDS Church with its construction of the SLC MegaMall is not the Church of Christ. I go by the teachings of the Bible in that “by their fruits you shall know them.”
That applies to non-Christians? What is the fruit supposed to be?
I’m Eastern Orthodox. How did we fair compared to the Oriental Orthodox?
One of the questions, Where was Jesus born??? That’s easy... Jesus was born in Jerusalem right???
At least that’s what the Book of Mormon says...
In context that has to do with false prophets, not Christians.
Whatev’.........
Why you say they arent Christian?? They use the Bible, and believe they get salvation through accepting Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross. I’m not one, but i can accept them as christians,,,
BBBwwww hahahaha!
>>”I am very down on mormonism (but not mormons),”<<
Your statement does not make sense. How can you dislike any religion, but are okay with it’s members (which constitute that religion)? In other words the Mormon members ARE the religion.
Suppose someone said “I am very down on forests (but not the trees)? What exactly would your response be?
BTW,,, when i say “im not one”,, i meant a mormon,,,
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