Survey: Atheists, agnostics know more about religion - Polidicks

[quote]Richmond, Va. -- Atheists and agnostics 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.[/quote] For some reason, I don't find this really shocking. Any true Atheist or Agnostic would surely research on some other faiths. Source: [url]http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2010/sep/29/reli29-ar-530732/[/url]

That doesn't apply here apparently

[QUOTE=Craptasket;25135886]That doesn't apply here apparently[/QUOTE] Shows how little they know :v:

Late as balls.

So you're not allowed to pray in schools in America?

Late.

That's really not as embarrassing for atheists as much as it is for religious people

I think it's more referring to atheists who are more out spoken, every atheist I know doesn't know jack shit.

[QUOTE=Capitulazyguy;25135987]So you're not allowed to pray in schools in America?[/QUOTE] Thats very unlike them. "In God We Trust" no?

its good to know that internet atheists are not in that survey

[QUOTE=Akayz;25136709]Thats very unlike them. "In God We Trust" no?[/QUOTE] "In God We Trust" and the line "One nation under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance have been under attack by atheists for years now. They see it as a separation of Church and State issue. And the Pledge of Allegiance didn't even have the "One nation under God" line until some time in the '50s or '60s anyway.

Why not just be civil instead of complaining about things that don't matter. God isn't an existance believed to be the same as everyone. If atheists are strongly against believing in an actual superior being, they must have views about what they think really matters to them. That means they have beliefs, but not religious beliefs. Yeah, this point is heading nowhere so nevermind :smug:

[QUOTE=Onyx3173;25136795]"In God We Trust" and the line "One nation under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance have been under attack by atheists for years now. They see it as a separation of Church and State issue. And the Pledge of Allegiance didn't even have the "One nation under God" line until some time in the '50s or '60s anyway.[/QUOTE] Nor did "One nation under God" appear until the Civil War, if I'm remembering correctly. But yes, this isn't surprising to me at all. Kind of funny that people think that prayer in schools is legal, though.

It's the fact that organized religions take advantage of people's ignorance which disgusts me. The pope tells people in Africa not to use Condoms. Large organized religions asking for money, land, lives, etc. The idea of god is actually not a bad one, it's the implementation of these corrupt religion itself that is wrong.

[QUOTE=Ultra Violence;25136992]Nor did "One nation under God" appear until the Civil War, if I'm remembering correctly. But yes, this isn't surprising to me at all. Kind of funny that people think that prayer in schools is legal, though.[/QUOTE] I'm pretty sure it was the '50s or '60s but I could be wrong. My mom used to have one of my grandfather's old schoolbooks and it had the Pledge in it without "one nation under God" in it. It's possible it was a really old schoolbook though. [editline]02:08PM[/editline] [QUOTE=Akayz;25136947]Why not just be civil instead of complaining about things that don't matter. God isn't an existance believed to be the same as everyone. If atheists are strongly against believing in an actual superior being, they must have views about what they think really matters to them. That means they have beliefs, but not religious beliefs. Yeah, this point is heading nowhere so nevermind :smug:[/QUOTE] You were bringing up a good point. Most religious people seem to think that since Atheists don't believe in God that they have no morals or beliefs in any way.

Yes, religions taking advantage is bullshit. And The Pope's views are quite queer, although sometimes his mindset can be great, not the german one, the previous one.

[QUOTE=privatesmily;25136793]its good to know that internet atheists are not in that survey[/QUOTE] And somehow internet atheists and physical atheists are totally different things yes?

[QUOTE=Onyx3173;25137088]I'm pretty sure it was the '50s or '60s but I could be wrong. My mom used to have one of my grandfather's old schoolbooks and it had the Pledge in it without "one nation under God" in it. It's possible it was a really old schoolbook though. [editline]02:08PM[/editline] You were bringing up a good point. Most religious people seem to think that since Atheists don't believe in God that they have no morals or beliefs in any way.[/QUOTE] All the god shenanigans added to america's shit was done to combat communism, who's leaders were mostly atheist, and supported an agnostic lifestyle.

One Nation Under God was added during the 50's during the height of YOU GODLESS COMMIES AMERICANS ARE GOOD CHRISTIAN FOLK hysteria and was never removed because that generation sees it as how it should be ( and are still making laws now ).

[QUOTE=sloppy_joes;25137154]All the god shenanigans added to america's shit was done to combat communism, who's leaders were mostly atheist, and supported an agnostic lifestyle.[/QUOTE] I did not know that. I could see how the government might jump to conclusions about that helping though.

cant say im suprised really us athiests are very logical thinkers

[QUOTE=sloppy_joes;25137003] The idea of god is actually not a bad one, it's the implementation of these corrupt religion itself that is wrong.[/QUOTE] If you're atheist, then you're probably the most logical atheist I've ever heard. [editline]05:17PM[/editline] [QUOTE=Jessesmith1;25137214]cant say im suprised really us athiests are very logical thinkers[/QUOTE] Assuming religists aren't.

[QUOTE=Capitulazyguy;25135987]So you're not allowed to pray in schools in America?[/QUOTE] No. Teachers are not allowed to lead prayer in class and/or use religious texts as part of a class curriculum in government funded public schools. This does not hold true to students, nor does it apply to universities, colleges, and private education.

I actually had a teacher in middle school who tried to hand out religious pamphlets to my class. She nearly got fired. And that's actually even funnier cause it was a private school owned by a highly religious couple.

[QUOTE=Luxo;25137322]No. Teachers are not allowed to lead prayer in class and/or use religious texts as part of a class curriculum in government funded public schools. This does not hold true to students, nor does it apply to universities, colleges, and private education.[/QUOTE] Better not be illegal for students. That's infringement of rights.

Is it wrong to believe in Jesus but to not be Christian? :3:

[QUOTE=Jessesmith1;25137214]cant say im suprised really us athiests are very logical thinkers[/QUOTE] You're full of yourself. You're assuming that your opinions make you superior.

[QUOTE=Gmod_Fan77;25137355]Better not be illegal for students. That's infringement of rights.[/QUOTE] [QUOTE=Luxo;25137322]No. Teachers are not allowed to lead prayer in class and/or use religious texts as part of a class curriculum in government funded public schools.[B] This does not hold true to students, nor does it apply to universities, colleges, and private education[/B].[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Onyx3173;25137088]I'm pretty sure it was the '50s or '60s but I could be wrong. My mom used to have one of my grandfather's old schoolbooks and it had the Pledge in it without "one nation under God" in it. It's possible it was a really old schoolbook though.[/quote] Woops, I meant In God We Trust, the one on the penny. That one definitely came around during the Civil War. James Pollock was the Director of the Mint when it was first put on coins.

I don't really understand what it means exactly. It says "know more about religion" like every religion is the same.