New Poll Shows Athiests Know Most About Religion
A recent PEW research poll was just released that tested people on their knowledge of religion.
The poll, which was only 32 questions, covered a broad range of religious topics and covered questions about the birthday of Jesus, what Ramadan was, and what religion the Dali Llama was. The highest average scores were from those who are not religious.
Atheist/Agnostics answered about 20% of the questions correctly. Following behind in 2nd and 3rd were those of the Jewish faith and Mormons.
The researchers polled over 3200 people of all different backgrounds, and took many variables into consideration. The fact that atheists got the highest scorers will be a shock to most, but not to some within religious communities. Dave Silverman, head of the American Atheist said in regards to the poll: “I have heard many times that atheists know more about religion than religious people. Atheism is an effect of that knowledge, not a lack of knowledge. I gave a Bible to my daughter. That’s how you make atheists.”
The most stunning figures to me had to do with when people were asked about their own religion. For instance, 53% of Protestants asked could not identify Martin Luther as the man who started the Protestant Reformation, the basis of their whole religion.
And 45% of Catholics did not know that their church teaches that the consecrated bread and wine in holy communion are not just symbols, but actually become the body and blood of Christ, which this writer, someone who is not religious, finds astonishing.
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