Survey: Atheists, agnostics know more about religion

[deadpie]

know more about religion than people who identify with a faith, according to a survey released yesterday.

The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life released its U.S. Religious Knowledge Survey, citing atheists and agnostics as scoring the highest, with those of Jewish and Mormon faiths not far behind.

The survey included questions such as who inspired the Reformation, whether prayer is allowed in public schools in the United States and what the most populous religion in Pakistan is. (Answers: Martin Luther, no and Muslim).

"The thing that was quite striking to me is the strong performance by atheists and agnostics," said Greg Smith, a senior researcher at Washington-based Pew. "It's hard to say exactly why it is."

The average score on the test was 16 correct answers out of 32. The atheist/agnostic average was 20.9 correct answers.

Few people are raised agnostic or atheist, so many people have a background in religion or have researched different faiths, Smith said. Agnostics believe they cannot prove the existence of a supreme being, while atheists do not believe one exists.

On questions about Christianity, Mormons and white evangelical Protestants scored the highest.

Recurring church attendance, weekly family gospel talks and mission opportunities likely led to Mormons to score well, said J. Matthew Scott, who is the Chesterfield County stake president for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

"I think the pathway to study is probably as important to an agnostic as a believer, at least in my opinion," Scott said.

Catholics as a whole scored the lowest , answering 14.7 questions correctly out of 32.

"I'm discouraged to see these figures," said Steve Neill, editor of Catholic Virginian and Catholic Diocese of Richmond spokesman. "Christian formation is a lifelong process, so it shows we have more work to do."

The survey of 3,412 Americans did not ask people if they were actively religious, but it did inquire about frequency of visits to worship services, Smith said.

John Morreall, a religion professor at the College of William and Mary said many people choose their religion based on the one followed by their parents and neighbors.

"If religion for you is just a default thing, you tend not to know the details," he said.

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2010/sep/29/reli29-ar-530732/

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Inb4 Theists rage.

[Amnesiac]

I thought this was already common knowledge. Oh well, more good publicity for us atheists.

Any parent who doesn't know whether or not prayer is allowed in public schools shouldn't be involved in any PTA organization.

[DarkHorses]

Obviously if you've been raised in one religion your whole life you're not going to know that much about the others. I think that's pretty obvious. To be honest it kind of angers me, because I can't help but wonder if there would be less Christians if kids were educated equally on all religions instead of just one. I feel sorry for kids with Christian parents because I think they lack information on other religions, and knowing about other religions is an important thing, and increases the chances of people being more accepting of other religions. It just shows that there's a lot of things that could be improved in the world religion wise.

[The Joker]

Amazing Atheist ftw.

[Amnesiac]

Amazing Atheist ftw.

TheAmazingAtheist is the best person on YouTube. He brings hope and glorious light to otherwise grey and dilapidated skies. :P

[Magus]

I saw the video by TAA. Shame on theists.

[ShatteredWings]

heh i took that (online after the fact)

got 13/15
one was i forgot a bit of a bible story, the other i need to refresh my history.
Sad, considering i've completely rejected organized religion.

Religious people, please learn what youre arguing for before you argue it

[Sith Lord 13]

The survey included questions such as who inspired the Reformation, whether prayer is allowed in public schools in the United States and what the most populous religion in Pakistan is. (Answers: Martin Luther, no and Muslim).

Gotta say something. Prayer IS allowed in public schools, so long as it's not school sponsored.

[ShatteredWings]

Gotta say something. Prayer IS allowed in public schools, so long as it's not school sponsored.

The question was about "prayer lead by a teacher", which is NOT allowed, as that would make it school sponsored.

Also anyone who doesn't know that Pakistan is mostly Muslim, is a moron.

[Mzor203]

Obviously if you've been raised in one religion your whole life you're not going to know that much about the others. I think that's pretty obvious. To be honest it kind of angers me, because I can't help but wonder if there would be less Christians if kids were educated equally on all religions instead of just one. I feel sorry for kids with Christian parents because I think they lack information on other religions, and knowing about other religions is an important thing, and increases the chances of people being more accepting of other religions. It just shows that there's a lot of things that could be improved in the world religion wise.

I think this is a great point and pretty much represents a fundamental flaw in all religions. Children have faith imposed on them from an early age when they're still impressionable and don't have the mental capacity to know the beliefs they're forming and what they actually mean. This is a land of free thought but in many ways that's simply not the case for many people.

It'd be a huge eye-opener if theistic people thought about the fact that if they were the same exact person, but had had a Muslim family, they'd be Muslim right now. And even further, for some religions that would mean that if that ha come to pass, their current God would condemn them and likely send them to hell.

[Sith Lord 13]

The question was about "prayer lead by a teacher", which is NOT allowed, as that would make it school sponsored.

OK, anyone who got that wrong needs to be shot.

[The Joker]

^That rule isn't nearly as publicized here, so no.

[Sith Lord 13]

^That rule isn't nearly as publicized here, so no.

We're talking about American public schools. In America, that fact is practically shoved down our throats. It may be different in other countries.

[ShatteredWings]

We're talking about American public schools. In America, that fact is practically shoved down our throats. It may be different in other countries.

not to turn this into rotw, but isn't that kind of a good thing that our state, which isn't *supposed* to have a religon but does, has it well enforced that you can't shovle it down in public school

[Sith Lord 13]

not to turn this into rotw, but isn't that kind of a good thing that our state, which isn't *supposed* to have a religon but does, has it well enforced that you can't shovle it down in public school

Absolutely. It's a great thing.

[SoWhatsUp]

I read that on Yahoo! I consider myself Agnostic, and I find this survey really funny.

[Continuum]

Also anyone who doesn't know that Pakistan is mostly Muslim, is a moron.

Or a moron that doesn't watch the news, especially world news.

I thought of it expected; but still, a lot of people don't even know more on what they believe in. And Catholicism. Hell, I am ashamed to be even called Catholic.

[The Ninja]

It really doesnt surprise me, i've learned more from the athiests and agnostics on here than i have probably from my pastors and past teachers.

Obviously if you've been raised in one religion your whole life you're not going to know that much about the others. I think that's pretty obvious. To be honest it kind of angers me, because I can't help but wonder if there would be less Christians if kids were educated equally on all religions instead of just one. I feel sorry for kids with Christian parents because I think they lack information on other religions, and knowing about other religions is an important thing, and increases the chances of people being more accepting of other religions. It just shows that there's a lot of things that could be improved in the world religion wise.

yeah im actually planning on studying some different religions. It is kind of sad though how my 50 something year old teacher doesnt know the correct definition of agnostic >.< . To be honest though if kids got more involved with people of other religions, like we are on here, they would know that kind of stuff. is agnostic or athiest considered a religion?

[Amnesiac]

is agnostic or athiest considered a religion?

Apparently there is actually debate over it. Personally, I don't think something that is anti-religious can be a religion. It's like calling bald a hair color.

[The Ninja]

Apparently there is actually debate over it. Personally, I don't think something that is anti-religious can be a religion. It's like calling bald a hair color.

good simile, and thanks for the verification.

[Magus]

Personally, I don't think something that is anti-religious can be a religion. It's like calling bald a hair color.

Including but not limited to Skepticism, Naturalism, Humanism, Secularism Nihilism and etc. . Rejecting religious doctrine is clearly visible from these views.

[UnknownError]

In my primary, from p3 to p7, you learned about Muslims. :yawn: