Survey: Americans don't know much about religion

[TeyshaBlue]

I'll make this easy for you.

I prefer Mountain Dew over Coca-Cola, so I purchase Mountain Dew instead. Is that decision "logical"?

I believe Mountain Dew tastes better than Coca-Cola. Is that belief "logical"?

No, cause Mountain Dew put the NAS in nasty.

[LnGrrrR]

No, cause Mountain Dew put the NAS in nasty.

Heathen! Do not blaspheme the Soda God of Yore, or He will come down from Mount Dew and strike you down!

[Blake]

No, cause Mountain Dew put the NAS in nasty.

as long as it's not NaF...

-p2112

[Homeland Security]

There comes a point where one becomes so intelligent that theism simply becomes untenable. I reached that point. It literally is a function of intelligence and self-awareness. There is a reason why every study that has been done on the subject reveals that stupid excess humanity is overwhelmingly religious while the tiny minority of useful people are disproportionately atheist.

If you believe in God you are stupid. There is no way around it.

I also am so intelligent that I realize humanism is untenable. This is where so many secularists and atheists fail to close the loop. Why in the world should other people matter? What is the purpose of charity, compassion, caring about suffering, etc.? There is no purpose in assigning any value to human life outside of how it makes you feel. The reason you feel probably has something to do with some evolutionary advantage socialization once conferred, but no longer does. Once you free yourself of silly sentimentality and understand that other humans only have value in terms of what they can do for you, it is very freeing.

Of course, in person you have to pretend to care, otherwise you can't manipulate them. This is another area where being so much more intelligent than the rest of them comes in handy.

[Winehole23]

Ladies and gentlemen, put your hands together for Hi-Skool Security... a very funny man!

[fyatuk]

This survey is a good example of why I don't claim a religion. In my opinion, you cannot claim a religion unless you've studied other religions. It's not faith if you are not knowledgeable of other options.

The only major difference in religions is the rituals used to build a connection with the divine.

[101A]

This survey is a good example of why I don't claim a religion. In my opinion, you cannot claim a religion unless you've studied other religions. It's not faith if you are not knowledgeable of other options.

The only major difference in religions is the rituals used to build a connection with the divine.

...and you know this because you have, or haven't studied them?

and, you atheists/agnostics [begin edit] except for Manny who is neither agonostic or atheist, but probably should be considered agnostic but only in the sense that he is very noncommittal to any particular religion he's come across [end edit] sure are a sensitive bunch.

[Blake]

Many of them have developed a religion that is, essentially, mocking, ridiculing and deriding the faith and beliefs of others. Can't do that effectively without study (and being on the right mailing lists).

and, you atheists/agnostics sure are a sensitive bunch.

If one reads between the lines of your original post, the same thing could be said about you.

[101A]

If one reads between the lines of your original post, the same thing could be said about you.

My original post:

Most Americans can't name the Vice President, but somehow the author thinks it is news that they don't know who Vishnu is?

I'd like to see the survey results - rather than this interpretation.

Doesn't surprise me about Catholics. I was raised RC.

Seriously for FAR too late in my life, when the Priest or reader would announce a reading:

"A reading from the 1st letter of Paul to the Thessalonians."

I thought there must be a stack of letters in the Vatican that they were copying from.

Had a real "oh no " moment after I started dating a Protestant and actually READ a Bible. (Not slamming all Catholics; just pointing out personal experience)

Doesn't surprise me about Atheists being able to answer the most questions. Many of them have developed a religion that is, essentially, mocking, ridiculing and deriding the faith and beliefs of others. Can't do that effectively without study (and being on the right mailing lists).

Where, exactly?

[MannyIsGod]

...and you know this because you have, or haven't studied them?

and, you atheists/agnostics sure are a sensitive bunch.

I'm nether atheist or agnostic but I am a non believer of Christianity.

Actually I probably should be considered agnostic but only in the sense that I am very noncommittal to any particular religion I've come across.

[101A]

I'm nether atheist or agnostic but I am a non believer of Christianity.

Actually I probably should be considered agnostic but only in the sense that I am very noncommittal to any particular religion I've come across.

Fair enough (I will edit my original post)

[101A]

Just funnin.

[MannyIsGod]

Well done.

[fyatuk]

...and you know this because you have, or haven't studied them?

and, you atheists/agnostics [begin edit] except for Manny who is neither agonostic or atheist, but probably should be considered agnostic but only in the sense that he is very noncommittal to any particular religion he's come across [end edit] sure are a sensitive bunch.

I've studied Christianity, Hinduism, Bhuddism, Islam, and Wiccan, as well as a few dead pagan religions. If you ignore the rituals, etc, used to develop the connection to the divine, most have different interpretations of the same myths and legends, and many of the same rules for living within society. There are also a lot of similarities in how the highest divine being is viewed.

I am neither atheist or agnostic. I am certain (i'm not saying everyone else is wrong, I just know I'm right for myself) in my understanding of the divine and have built my personal connection with it. I am a religious person, I just chose not to be associated with a specific religion because of my studies.

[101A]

I've studied Christianity, Hinduism, Bhuddism, Islam, and Wiccan, as well as a few dead pagan religions. If you ignore the rituals, etc, used to develop the connection to the divine, most have different interpretations of the same myths and legends, and many of the same rules for living within society. There are also a lot of similarities in how the highest divine being is viewed.

I am neither atheist or agnostic. I am certain (i'm not saying everyone else is wrong, I just know I'm right for myself) in my understanding of the divine and have built my personal connection with it. I am a religious person, I just chose not to be associated with a specific religion because of my studies.

Thanks.

I wasn't sure from your original post: I thought you were suggesting you did not follow a specific faith specifically because you did not know enough about enough of them. I, obviously, misread, or misunderstood, your post.

[Blake]

Where, exactly?

Many of them have developed a religion that is, essentially, mocking, ridiculing and deriding the faith and beliefs of others. Can't do that effectively without study (and being on the right mailing lists).

My thinking is one verb would have been adequate to state your point.

Three verbs in this manner reeks of sensitivity, imo.

[fyatuk]

Thanks.

I wasn't sure from your original post: I thought you were suggesting you did not follow a specific faith specifically because you did not know enough about enough of them. I, obviously, misread, or misunderstood, your post.

No problem. I can see how you could take my statement that way.

[101A]

My thinking is one verb would have been adequate to state your point.

Three verbs in this manner reeks of sensitivity, imo.

I didn't think one verb conveyed the amount of active dislike many atheists seem to have toward religious people. But I take your point.

[101A]

BTW - I mentioned this last year, and it bears repeating.

As much as I may have believed in a higher power before, I had a true "defining moment" recently.

My wife is a professor - I was behind the science building waiting to pick her up last year, when emerged from the building: A SIGN.

A long-legged, shapely, brunette coed wearing the following:

A man's Oxford, button collared dress shirt. And a Belt.

Every man/boy/Y chromosome possessing organism in the vicinity stopped, stared, paused, and mouthed "Oh...My...God" nearly in unison.

Fortunately, that God gave me enough time to collect myself before my wife got in the car.

[rjv]

BTW - I mentioned this last year, and it bears repeating.

As much as I may have believed in a higher power before, I had a true "defining moment" recently.

My wife is a professor - I was behind the science building waiting to pick her up last year, when emerged from the building: A SIGN.

A long-legged, shapely, brunette coed wearing the following:

A man's Oxford, button collared dress shirt. And a Belt.

Every man/boy/Y chromosome possessing organism in the vicinity stopped, stared, paused, and mouthed "Oh...My...God" nearly in unison.

Fortunately, that God gave me enough time to collect myself before my wife got in the car.

from this description i can only assume she had nothing else on. in that case, i vote this as the new version of the ontological argument.

[LnGrrrR]

...and you know this because you have, or haven't studied them?

and, you atheists/agnostics [begin edit] except for Manny who is neither agonostic or atheist, but probably should be considered agnostic but only in the sense that he is very noncommittal to any particular religion he's come across [end edit] sure are a sensitive bunch.

I don't see how I'm sensitive. Care to explain? You seem to be the one getting your panties in a twist here.

[LnGrrrR]

I've studied Christianity, Hinduism, Bhuddism, Islam, and Wiccan, as well as a few dead pagan religions. If you ignore the rituals, etc, used to develop the connection to the divine, most have different interpretations of the same myths and legends, and many of the same rules for living within society. There are also a lot of similarities in how the highest divine being is viewed.

I am neither atheist or agnostic. I am certain (i'm not saying everyone else is wrong, I just know I'm right for myself) in my understanding of the divine and have built my personal connection with it. I am a religious person, I just chose not to be associated with a specific religion because of my studies.

So you're a gnostic theist. Cool.

[LnGrrrR]

I didn't think one verb conveyed the amount of active dislike many atheists seem to have toward religious people. But I take your point.

Most atheists don't care. It's just that the ones who do care are usually the loudest. That pretty much goes for all walks of life... the extremists tend to be the ones yelling.

[Crookshanks]

I took the mini quiz on the Pew website - and I got 14 out of 15 correct.

[101A]

Most atheists don't care. It's just that the ones who do care are usually the loudest. That pretty much goes for all walks of life... the extremists tend to be the ones yelling.

Good point - I will try not to generalize so much.