Atheists Outscore Believers

[ironsides]

Test yourself on religion

Here are five questions from the U.S. Religious Knowledge Survey:

Most Americans believe in God but don't know religious tenets - USATODAY.com

 

[wulfie68]

Test yourself on religion

Here are five questions from the U.S. Religious Knowledge Survey:

Most Americans believe in God but don't know religious tenets - USATODAY.com

I actually read through it the other day (followed the links and then went to the appendix of the Pew Survey to see the raw questions) and honestly the ones I didn't get were the 4 gospels (confirmation classes were almost 30 years ago and I haven't been in a church in close to 20), Maimonides and the Billy Graham question. Some of the others I thought were gimmes if you just used reason with the answers (i.e. the leading prayer/bible as literature/comparative religions ones). And yes, even though I was raised Lutheran, I consider myself in the heathen corner as an agnostic.

 

[Cliffy]

Thank you for this super post, you have a unique, gentle and non-judgemental approach that is both comforting and thoughtful.



So what you're both saying, if I'm understanding correctly, is that these strange experiences are very individualistic to you both in that you can accept them as authentic, valid but unprovable and inexplicable experiences? If you were a person of religious conviction, do either of you have an opinion as to whether you would have had to deny that they happened? I know that's probably a question that would be tricky to answer because of the differences in the many religions, but most religions seem not to allow for a person to acknowledge experiences that do not fall within the confines of the structured and accepted parameters of religious tenets.

Very interesting. It's a me too thing. Some I've explained to myself as those things that we have not progressed enough to understand. Others... I have nothing except they happened.

The validity of personal experiences depend on whether or not they fall within your acceptable beliefs. I have approached the subject, for most of my life, by suspending belief. I find they are more of a hindrance than a benefit. Faith to me is a suspension of belief, a letting go rocks and learning how to swim in the stream of life.

 

[Goober]

In an interesting paradox a survey in the USA revealed that on a 32 question quiz about religion atheists and agnostics scored the highest.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/28/us/28religion.html?_r=2&src=tptw

From my personal experience I don't find this particularly surprising. I have often found believers to be woefully ignorant not only of other religions, but of their own.

And I also find Atheists to be quite well informed - Why - Because they preach their own Gospel for lack of another term.

Me I am just a simpleminded Christian - Does that offend a well informed atheist?

 

[Bcool]

And I also find Atheists to be quite well informed - Why - Because they preach their own Gospel for lack of another term.

Me I am just a simpleminded Christian - Does that offend a well informed atheist?

Why on earth would it? :smile: What you believe is your business. Nor would any reasonable atheist, agnostic or secular humanist regard you as "simpleminded" because you have a faith you believe in. Freedom of belief being one of the main tenets of all three.

Offence only comes into the picture when a person or persons of religious convictions forcefully proselytize to or denigrate a person who has decided religion is not for them.

 

[Goober]

Why on earth would it? :smile: What you believe is your business. Nor would any reasonable atheist, agnostic or secular humanist regard you as "simpleminded" because you have a faith you believe in. Freedom of belief being one of the main tenets of all three.

Offence only comes into the picture when a person or persons of religious convictions forcefully proselytize to or denigrate a person who has decided religion is not for them.

Time and again many insult posters because of their Religious Beliefs - Just the facts -

Myself to paraphrase something I read some time ago pertaining to religion and belief - To accept logic you must also accept the unexplained. - My own interpretation - If you cannot accept that then you are using flawed logic.

Myself i am a very simple Christian - believe what you wish - it is your own decision - Not mine - nor can i prove why i believe and nor should I be required to.

Live and let live is easy to state but difficult to live.

 

[Colpy]

Of course they score well!

Nobody is more obsessed with religion than a proclaimed atheist......

 

[wulfie68]

Of course they score well!

Nobody is more obsessed with religion than a proclaimed atheist......

This is truth. Many (not all but many) atheists treat their atheism the same as evangelical fundamentalists do.

 

[Cliffy]

This is truth. Many (not all but many) atheists treat their atheism the same as evangelical fundamentalists do.

I bet the percentage of proselytizers are the same on both sides. I was brought up by a very religious man. But although I rejected that religion, I studied many others, eastern and western, and found them all both useful and lacking. I discovered that the journey toward the truth is a very personal one, so I reject all religion as a personal choice. But if it brings a sense of peace to others, who am I to say they are wrong. As I have said before, most atheists were brought up in a religious setting and for whatever reasons, have rejected it. There may be some very strong emotional reasons for that and that is why they are so adamant about it.

 

[gerryh]

Why on earth would it? :smile: What you believe is your business. Nor would any reasonable atheist, agnostic or secular humanist regard you as "simpleminded" because you have a faith you believe in. Freedom of belief being one of the main tenets of all three.

Offence only comes into the picture when a person or persons of religious convictions forcefully proselytize to or denigrate a person who has decided religion is not for them.

Yet you and Dexter and a few others in this thread HAVE chose to insult those of faith

 

[Cliffy]

Faith is not dependent on what others think. Someone who is unshakable in their faith would not be insulted by the opinions of others.

 

[Goober]

Faith is not dependent on what others think. Someone who is unshakable in their faith would not be insulted by the opinions of others.

On that you are sorely mistaken -

I learned a few things from my parents that some have never learned at this late age.
Never insult a mans wife
Never insult a mans politics
Never insult a mans religion

 

[Cliffy]

On that you are sorely mistaken -

I learned a few things from my parents that some have never learned at this late age.
Never insult a mans wife
Never insult a mans politics
Never insult a mans religion

Well, people will insult all three, especially the last two and do so all the time on here. Why would someone else' opinion matter to you?

If someone says I'm an asshole, I just agree with them and the argument is over.

 

[Goober]

Well, people will insult all three, especially the last two and do so all the time on here. Why would someone else' opinion matter to you?

If someone says I'm an asshole, I just agree with them and the argument is over.

We all are guilty of that Cliffy -
I was referring to the everyday social encounters that people have - My error for not stating it as such.

 

[relic]

When I'm comming up on a stop sign,I have faith in my trucks ability to stop before the line.

 

[Cliffy]

When I'm comming up on a stop sign,I have faith in my trucks ability to stop before the line.

But if your brakes fail, is your faith shaken?

 

[Skatchie]

Here's the thing. You can't prove that there is a God. You can only speculate. I have nothing against "people of faith" but really, they have their opinion and I want them to keep it to themselves.

 

[Cliffy]

Here's the thing. You can't prove that there is a God. You can only speculate. I have nothing against "people of faith" but really, they have their opinion and I want them to keep it to themselves.

Well, unless they are beating down your door, you don't have to listen to them or read them. If we are going to have freedom of speech, we must allow people to speak their truth, whether you like it or not.

 

[Goober]

Here's the thing. You can't prove that there is a God. You can only speculate. I have nothing against "people of faith" but really, they have their opinion and I want them to keep it to themselves.

Can you do the same? So Good Bye now ya all.

But if your brakes fail, is your faith shaken?

No - It is his right foot having a spasm.

 

[Skatchie]

Well, unless they are beating down your door, you don't have to listen to them or read them. If we are going to have freedom of speech, we must allow people to speak their truth, whether you like it or not.

Yes, but then we must also allow atheists their podiums too. It's not that I don' think they can have their opinion. **** off with the billboards and the protests. Unless, that is, that you want us inside your churches on Sundays painted up like devils with sign in hand ridiculing religion. Churches are public places, after all, not private. You just don't see, pro choice signs that are inflammatory like you do pro life. Christians overstep their bounds too much.