Pew Forum Survey on US Religious Knowledge

[ladyozma]

A new study out by the Pew Research Center takes a look at religious knowledge across the United States.  Some are shocked by the results, while others are not. What are your thoughts on the study stating that the most knowledgeable groups about religion comprise of atheists, Jews, and Mormons?

These findings resulted in quite a few ruffled feathers

Comments

I don't think the questions were out there

[ladyozma]

First of all, asking about Greek mythology when the Greek culture has greatly influenced many aspects of life today is not a bad thing. And sadly more people knew that Zeus was the Greek King of the Gods (65%) than knew that Ramadan was the Islam holy month (52%), the Koran was the Islam holy book (54%), Joseph Smith was Mormon (51%), Martin Luther inspired the reformation (46%), or John Edwards participated in the the First Great Awakening (11%)

When you do a study like this you want to have questions focusing on general knowledge to show that people are not uneducated as a whole, but just unaware of their own tenants. And, since it was a comparative study of religious knowledge, furthermore of religious knowledge in a country where there are many religions, they needed to cover a variety of religions. Sadly, people knew more about other faiths than their own in some cases.

More people knew that Joseph Smith was Mormon than they knew about their own faith. Of Christians of every flavour but Mormonism and white Evangelicals only at most 19% knew that Protestants teach that Salvation comes through faith alone. White Evangelicals and Mormons knew at 28% and 22% respectively. (For information purposes only, 22% of Atheists also knew this.) Only 55% of Catholics knew that their faith teaches in transubstantiation.

Sadly more people knew who Susan B Anthony was (72% overall) than knew about their own faith or world faiths. Which, by the way, is the same percentage of those who knew who was the political party in power.

Interestingly, when asked questions on Mormonism, Mormons scored by and large higher than other religions when asked about their own faith. Sadly, more non-Mormons knew about Mormonism than even their own faith. Mormons knew at 88% when their religion was founded while the overall score was 42% for Christians, 61% for Jews, and 70% for Atheists. That's barely less than knew Martin Luther and overwhelming more than knew John Edwards. Mormons also knew at 90% where Jesus appeared to the American people according to the Book of Mormon and 93% knew that Joseph Smith was Mormon.

Christians were asked questions about the Bible and scored poorly on that as well. Overall, only 55% of Christians knew that the Golden Rule was not one of the ten commandments, 66% knew that Genesis was the first book in the Bible, 72% knew who Moses was, 60% knew who Abraham was, and 39% knew who Job was. These questions were actually good for all the faiths since the Old Testament relates to Christians, Jews, and Muslims.

The questions did ask people about their own faith. The evidence shows, and those interviewed in reaction to this study agree, that the problem is that many Americans do not study even their own religion. People choose a faith and then stop "looking". Of those polled, 37% read their scripture at least once a week outside of services. While that's more than a third, that's still nearly two/thirds of those of a faith not reading their scriptures. How do you learn about your own faith if you do not read your holy book? Also, 48% said that they "seldom" or "never" read other books about religion or visit websites about their own religion. 70% said they seldom or never read books/visit websites about other religions.

Re: I don't think the questions were out there

[swampfaye]

But it has nothing to do with KNOWING your religion. It's fine for a culture or history test, but this was supposed to be about knowing YOUR OWN religion. It was a very poorly made study.

Re: I don't think the questions were out there

[ladyozma]

When you do a survey you need to test for general knowledge. That's just a fact. Any good study does this. You need to make sure that the people you are surveying are not just completely out of the loop. It gives a baseline when you ask questions in regards to things everyone should know. And, once more, they did ask people about their own faith. And sadly, people did not fare well. When you look at all the things people were asked about their own faith and did poorly in, how can you say that it was poorly done?

Re: I don't think the questions were out there

[swampfaye]

My mistake, looks like they do count Mormons as Christians. But if you look at the percentages of the breakdown of the study, it's not at all representative of the percentages in society.

It depends on what the study is for. Saying it's good to have 'general knowledge' is completely subjective. General knowledge means what exactly? Everyone knows when Christmas is, Christian or not. Is that "general knowledge?" Or is knowing WHERE Jesus was born "general knowledge." What is "general knowledge" of "the classics?" Your list is going to be completely different than mine, but it doesn't mean I have less "general knowledge." That term in itself is so misleading. "General knowledge" could be something completely different in only a year.

I just can't jump for joy with this study. I find it very biased.

Re: I don't think the questions were out there

[ladyozma]

You need to inquire as to outlier knowledge not pertaining to the study itself. General knowledge of things learned in school. Greek mythology is discussed in the third grade. Questions like Susan B Anthony and the Vice President. While you could argue that Mother Theresa being Catholic might only relate to Catholics, but she's quoted by religious and non religious alike because she is a major world figure in modern day.

I do not think the study is biased. They really worked hard to try to sample people of a variety of faiths. They tried to gear towards things people should know. And some of the results were surprising. I would have thought that in the south the religious knowledge would have been higher than elsewhere in the nation but actually it was lower.

I understand that some people are taking it as a personal offense, and to those who are knowledgeable about their religion, I can understand that. Unfortunately I have met ministers that did know who Samuel was even though there's two books bearing his name in the Old Testament. Once more, I attended Catholic School and was under the impression that Catholics believed the host to be figuratively the body of Christ and not literally. Talk about a fail there. And I know so many people who do not know their own basic history. So obviously there IS a problem. with properly educating people about their faith.

Re: I don't think the questions were out there

[swampfaye]

I didn't get Greek mythology until junior high school. I didn't study the bible at all until Seminary. I know much more about Celtic mythology than the life of the prophet Joseph Smith, but that's because it's a personal interest.

Still, you're very good to let me discuss this so thoroughly on your livejournal. You are a very patient soul. God bless you just as thoroughly!

Re: I don't think the questions were out there

[ladyozma]

I wouldn't know that Greek Mythology is third grade if I didn't have kids. Like I remember when I studied stuff? I read the Odyssey in 4th Grade under my desk. That's the best I can tell you from my own schooling. LOL :) But I think that since that is taught in schools, that it was a good question. It's not like they asked what Ragnarok is... no one teaches Nordic mythos. Sadly. :(

In the Mormon church our high school students do read the Bible and study it over the course of two years. Of course in children's church (ages 3-11) the children sit through two hours of scripture stories and songs about scripture stories and are given gospel topics to speak on to the other children.

One of the things that I like about the study is how detailed it got and I think that the news articles have sort of misrepresented it. So in talking to you, I was able to bring out more things it said. It kind of bugs me that all the news reports are running around and making it sound like outside of Atheists, Jews, and Mormons that America is a bunch of religious ignorant folk. That's just simply not true. I know a great many knowledgeable people of a great many faiths. Of course that's how it goes with averages. Sure less than half of protestants knew that Martin Luther influenced the Reformation, but that does mean people DID know. Just others did not. That's fine. I know Caramon can recite every prophet our church has had in order but I'm lucky to name half of them and definitely wouldn't be in order.

At any rate, I'm always up to discussion. I actually got to talk with a great many people helping out with something with this study's results coming out and it was very rewarding of an experience. I'm glad I could continue it on my blog with people like you! OK... mostly you. :)

Re: I don't think the questions were out there

[swampfaye]

I was thinking about it and I do think I would be much more comfortable if this were stated as 'religious culture' - I think it's the 'general knowledge' about religion thing that really bothers me. Because setting standards for what other people should know about their own religion or about other religions seems like direct interference with God and the way he communicates individually. If it was about culture, it wouldn't be about faith, which would make me more comfortable. Words are very important in a study, and I know they are measured, especially with a sociological/anthropological/psychological field like this particular study.

I did, however, post this study on my facebook yesterday and say "HAHA@!" to the people who say Mormons aren't Christians (because at least it's clear they know more about Christianity than most Christians, which I accept based on personal experience more than the study).

Thank you again tho Ozma, you are a true saint. And when we are all in Heaven, I will come to you for couponing advice, seriously, I wish I could do what you do with coupons so I will definitely seek you out in the hereafter.

Re: I don't think the questions were out there

[ladyozma]

I see your point about phrasing. This definitely does cover more culture. Then again, there were basic tenants that people were failing to know, so I wonder what would happen if you did poll people about actual deep dogma... could be an interesting study.

I can see your "haha". Like I said in my entry, I don't think this study is going to convince those certain types that Mormons are Christian, but you definitely can't say that Mormons "do not know" as people do try to argue. You'd be surprised at the stuff I hear people say. *SIGH* Too bad people are like that, right? And I'm glad you've had good experiences with Mormons. :)

I will look forward to seeing you in Heaven. :) And thanks for the compliment on my couponing. I try! :) Anytime I can help, I will!

Re: I don't think the questions were out there

[swampfaye]

Also, I'd like to point out that it doesn't count "Mormons" as "Christians" and if they did, the scores for "Christians" would be much higher.

There are people who are Christian and Muslim who are not religious at all and never go to church/mosque. Converts (of which mormons mostly are and a good deal of Jews are) HAVE to study the religion as part of the conversion process. The survey doesn't consider this - it's like someone whose family has been in France their entire life not knowing what Waterloo is as compared to a new citizen who is REQUIRED to study the history in order to become a citizen. There are big big gaps in this study which I consider flawed because I think the people giving the study don't understand religion at all.

Re: I don't think the questions were out there

[ladyozma]

Many Catholics attend Catholic schools. I'm not Catholic nor have I ever been Catholic and I attended a Catholic school. A school where I did not learn about transubstantiation I might add. Catholics also require classes to prepare for first communion and for confirmation. And a good deal of Jews are converts? That's the first time I have heard that. The only Jewish converts I know are those who married someone who was Jewish. However, like the Catholics, the Jewish people have their own educational system and requirements. I will give you that Mormons have a high conversion rate, however Mormons also require a lot of education of their membership. All high school students attend a 4 year seminary program and college students attend another 4 year educational program called Institute. While serving a two year mission, Mormons are required to study each and every day. Right now we are gearing up for a worldwide semin-annual conference that will involve 10 hours of sermons between Saturday and Sunday. Feel free to watch some of it. So that shows that even non-converts study. In case you want to know, we have all but one of the teenagers in our congregation attending the Seminary class. The one does it via home study. Both of our exchange students, one Buddhist and one Muslim, attended Seminary by their own free will. We gave them the option and they wanted to attend since all of their friends attended. Schada really enjoyed it because she was here for the Old Testament and being Muslim that pertained to her faith. Som liked it because she gained a further understanding of what we believed in because she was here for The Book of Mormon. Every one of our teens attending were born to parents that are Mormon, and a good half are from families that are several generations Mormon. And I'd like to point out I live in VA, not Utah. In my area there's about 400,000 residents and only 4,700 of us are Mormon. There are many in my congregation that are several generations Mormon, not first generation. I am a convert myself, but my husband grew up in the Church.

Re: I don't think the questions were out there

[swampfaye]

Right, but let me point out that if you did this survey in a deaf branch, or a Spanish Branch, you'd get a completely different outcome for Mormons 'knowing' their religion - because you don't know the information THEY think is general doesn't mean you don't know your religion (this should be especially true for anyone who bases their religion so wholly on PERSONAL REVELATION. Faith and what God requires from a person in their relationship with him can not be measured on paper). There are all sorts of problems I have with this survey, and that is just one of them.

Wine, drinking, beer, ale IS a part of culture - does that make Utah Mormons less informed about 'general culture" because they don't know ale from mead? You see what I mean?

Re: I don't think the questions were out there

[ladyozma]

Actually the one thing about our church is it is the same no matter where you go. I've been a deaf interpreter before. I also have a friend who married a man from Hondurus so now they attend a Spanish branch and it is set up exactly the same as an English branch, they use the same manuals just in Spanish, and they attend the same meetings with us as a stake. For instance this weekend is our semi annual general conference which is open to all 14 million members worldwide. There is live translating into dozens of languages as the conference airs.

Our schedule is the same where ever you go. Sometimes a particular Sunday School lesson might be off a week or two depending on local conference schedules, but otherwise it is the same. I know that if I go to Church here or in Chile or in Germany that the first Sunday of the month is set aside for fast and testimony meeting, that we're going to be somewhere around lesson #x in Sunday School and what the third hour lesson is on based on the week. This past Sunday was the fourth Sunday so it was "Teachings for our Times" and is based off several addresses from the last semi-annual worldwide conference. Everywhere in the Church has seminary and institute kids learning about Church History. It's why we don't really worry when we move. There's no need to congregation hop. We just log onto LDS.org and look up the nearest meetinghouse and show up and wait for our records to show up.

Maybe you knew this, maybe not. A lot of people don't realize that. If you get bored this weekend check out the conference that is being sent out to the entire world via satellite, cable, radio, and internet.

Re: I don't think the questions were out there

[swampfaye]

Not in my branch (deaf). THey only recently started teaching Gospel Doctrine. Until last year they were teaching out of the Gospel Essentials manual. And only recently from the Presidents manual in RS and PH - I know because I'm teaching now. ANd I'm sure that's the same in many small branches around the church (Which is why I gave the example of beer, because of my experience with branches in Ireland).

I know the 'ideal' is that we all teach the same, but it really isn't what happens 'everywhere' - not even in the US.

Re: I don't think the questions were out there

[ladyozma]

Um, why are you off? I've been in small branches and they were with everyone else. That is really strange and should be brought up to your stake president. I've known people who went to/are currently in branches and wards inside and outside of the US and they were also with the rest of the Church. This year you should be studying the Old Testament in Sunday School and Gospel Principles in Relief Society/Priesthood on the second and third Sunday. The Presidents Manuals were from I believe 1998 until last year. Are a lot of your members converts and that is why they were teaching Gospel Principles in Sunday School?

I'm really looking forward to studying the history of the Relief Society as announced in the meeting last week. I'm super excited! I love history and I love reading about faithful women!

Re: I don't think the questions were out there

[swampfaye]

Stake Presidencies are in charge of branches, this is under their direction...