Atheists impress on faith test

[Synnical]

http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20101004/NEWS01/10040308/Atheists+impress+on+faith+test

Atheists and agnostics, Jews and Mormons are the most knowledgeable about matters of faith, according to the results of a new study released last week by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life.

The results come from a survey by the Pew Forum, which consisted of 32 questions about religion, said senior researcher Greg Smith.

On average, Americans correctly answered 16 of the 32 questions. A third of the questions focused on the Bible, a third on world religions other than Christianity and a third on knowledge of religion in public schools, religious terms, Mormonism and other issues, Smith said.

Atheists and agnostics averaged 20.9 correct answers. Jews averaged 20.5 correct answers, and Mormons averaged 20.3. Protestants averaged 16 correct answers; Catholics, 14.7, Smith said.

Pew Forum surveyed 3,412 people in the period of about two weeks, from late May to early June.

Not surprised.

-Cindy in Fort Lauderdale

[salvorhardin]

1. Not really

20.9 out of 32 questions is only 65% correct. The headline should really be "Atheists, Jews and Mormons don't suck as much as everyone else on faith test."

[Synnical]

2. Wow, tough teacher

Atheists and Agnostics are supposed to pros on faith? And here I thought religious people were the pros.

Silly me.

:P

-Cindy in Fort Lauderdale

[salvorhardin]

4. If you take a look at the questions that were asked...

They were all incredibly simple, 8th grade social studies type questions. I don't expect atheists to be pros when it comes to knowledge about various religions, but anyone (any American anyway) who can't score 90% or higher on these questions is really quite ignorant. The hardest ones deal with the 1st Great Awakening and church-state separation (knowledge of which is incredibly muddied by the right wing). From: http://pewforum.org/uploadedFiles/Topics/Belief_and_Practices/religious-knowledge-topline.pdf

1. When does the Jewish Sabbath begin? Does it begin on...?
a. Friday
b. Saturday
c. Sunday

2. Is Ramadan…?
a. The Hindu festival of lights
b. A Jewish day of atonement
c. The Islamic holy month

3. Do you happen to know which of these is the king of gods in ancient Greek mythology
a. Zeus
b. Mars
c. Apollo

4. Do you happen to know the name of the holy book of Islam?

5. Which of these religions aims at nirvana, the state of being free from suffering?
a. Islam
b. Buddhism
c. Hinduism

6. In which religion are Vishnu and Shiva central figures?
a. Islam
b. Hinduism
c. Taoism

7. Is an atheist…?
a. someone who believes in God
b. someone who does NOT believe in God, or
c. someone who is unsure whether God exists?

8. And is an agnostic…?
a. someone who believes in God
b. someone who does NOT believe in God, or
c. someone who is unsure whether God exists?

9. What is the first book of the Bible?

10. Will you tell me the names of the first four books of the New Testament of the Bible, that is the Four Gospels?

11. Where, according to the Bible, was Jesus born?
a. Bethlehem
b. Jericho
c. Jerusalem
d. Nazareth

12. When was the Mormon religion founded?
a. Before the year 1200 A.D.
b. Between 1200 and 1800
c. Sometime after 1800

13. The Book of Mormon tells the story of Jesus Christ appearing to people in what area of the world?
a. the Americas
b. Middle East
c. Asia

14. Which of the following best describes Catholic teaching about the bread and wine used for Communion?
a. The bread and wine actually become the body and blood of Jesus Christ, or
b. The bread and wine are symbols of the body and blood of Jesus Christ
c. Other

15. Which of these religious groups traditionally teaches that salvation comes through faith alone?
a. Protestants only
b. Catholics only
c. Both Protestants and Catholics
d. Neither Protestants nor Catholics

16. Please tell me which of the following is NOT one of the Ten Commandments:
a. Do not commit adultery
b. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you
c. Do not steal
d. Keep the Sabbath holy
e. All are in the Ten Commandments

17. Which Bible figure is most closely associated with remaining obedient to God despite suffering?
a. Job
b. Elijah
c. Moses
d. Abraham

18. Which Bible figure is most closely associated with leading the exodus from Egypt?
a. Job
b. Elijah
c. Moses
d. Abraham

19. Which Bible figure is most closely associated with willingness to sacrifice his son for God?
a. Job
b. Elijah
c. Moses
d. Abraham

20. Would you tell me if Mother Teresa was
a. Catholic
b. Jewish
c. Buddhist
d. Mormon'
e. Hindu
f. Other

21. Would you tell me if the Dalai Lama is
a. Catholic
b. Jewish
c. Buddhist
d. Mormon'
e. Hindu
f. Other

22. Would you tell me if Joseph Smith was
a. Catholic
b. Jewish
c. Buddhist
d. Mormon'
e. Hindu
f. Other

23. Would you tell me if Maimonodes was
a. Catholic
b. Jewish
c. Buddhist
d. Mormon'
e. Hindu
f. Other

24. Which of the following statements best describes what the U.S. Constitution (including its amendments) says about religion?
a. Christianity should be given special emphasis by the government;
b. The government shall neither establish a religion nor interfere with the practice of religion; or
c. The Constitution does not say anything one way or the other about religion.

25. According to rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court, is a public school teacher permitted to lead a class in prayer?

26. According to rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court, is a public school teacher permitted to read from the Bible as an example of literature?

27. According to rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court, is a public school teacher permitted to offer a class comparing the world's religions?

28. Do you happen to know what religion most people in India consider themselves?
a. Buddhist
b. Hindu
c. Muslim
d. Christian

29. Do you happen to know what religion most people in Indonesia consider themselves?
a. Buddhist
b. Hindu
c. Muslim
d. Christian

30. Do you happen to know what religion most people in Pakistan consider themselves?
a. Buddhist
b. Hindu
c. Muslim
d. Christian

31. What was the name of the person whose writings and actions inspired the Protestant Reformation?
a. Thomas Aquinas
b. John Wesley
c. Martin Luther

32. Which of these preachers participated in the period of religious
a, Billy Graham
b. Jonathan Edwards
c. Charles Finney

[lazarus]

5. I agree, 90% is easy

[Synnical]

3. Hat Tip to Charlie, who posted this first

Sorry I missed it.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=263&topic_id=42289&mesg_id=42289

-Cindy in Fort Lauderdale