Knowing your religion?

red_panda · #21 28th September 2010, 07:29 PM

I got 10 out of 10. I really struggled with the last question though and just guessed and got lucky.

I'm not surprised that atheists often know more about Christianity than Christians do. Some atheists really, really want to discredit Christianity. They learn as much as they can about Christianity so that they attempt to discredit it.

Conversely, if you ask some people why they're Christians, they will say "I don't know." Perhaps they have grandparents who go to church, and so they go with the flow and call themselves Christians. These people wouldn't be able to have an answer for the atheist who wants to argue.

razeontherock · #22 28th September 2010, 08:35 PM

Originally Posted by red_panda

Conversely, if you ask some people why they're Christians, they will say "I don't know."

They will be held accountable for those idle words!

"But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy [are ye]: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; 1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and [be] ready always to [give] an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. For [it is] better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing."

Most posters here know me pretty well by now, and I think they should tell you I'm guilty of doing exactly what this says. Now I need to define "meek" as the Bible uses it. It does not mean weak, nor does it mean to be humble before a false god or an unbeliever. It means to put G-d's ideas and ways above my own, whether I like it or not. Some things are easy, some are still a struggle. So if my answers are sometimes testy, realize the struggle on my side of the screen!

Qman · #23 28th September 2010, 08:44 PM

Originally Posted by Delphiki

9/10 - I actually didn't know the Jewish Sabbath... Thought it was Saturday.

Same happened to me

Did not know it started sundown on Friday. The test would be more interesting if it was open response. Multiple choice allows guessing. And those questions do not have a sufficient number of choices to mitigate that nor a penalty for wrong answers beyond the obvious loss of a point.

Booko · #24 28th September 2010, 09:48 PM

Here's a longer version of the test:

http://features.pewforum.org/quiz/us...edge/index.php

I got 100%. I should, considering how many years I've been pursuing this "hobby" LOL

Originally Posted by Jane_the_Bane

It's also quite telling that literacy seems to be inversely proportional to the degree of religious conviction - at least in the US.

Homeschooling, anyone?

I do homeschool. That's why my daughter knows far more than her peers on just about any subject.

Parents don't all homeschool just to keep the kiddies from learning facts that conflict with odd religious ideas. That's a stereotype that might've been accurate decades ago but hasn't been for quite a while.

The first book we assigned for the daughter's reading: Religious Literacy.

It contains a good overview on the influence of religion on U.S. history and honestly, if you want to understand history here or English lit, you do need to know something about the Bible and Christianity.

seashale76 · #25 28th September 2010, 09:52 PM

n/m

Booko · #26 28th September 2010, 09:53 PM

Originally Posted by red_panda

I'm not surprised that atheists often know more about Christianity than Christians do. Some atheists really, really want to discredit Christianity. They learn as much as they can about Christianity so that they attempt to discredit it.

I don't think it's that, Red Panda. Many atheists were raised in a religion, and part of the process of leaving that religion was to really look at it and see if they believed it well enough or not. Some people who do that retain their faith and others decide "ah no that is not what I believe" and they leave and become atheists and agnostics.

I was an atheist for years. I didn't learn about Christianity in order to discredit it. I spent years studying trying not to leave.

Booko · #27 28th September 2010, 09:59 PM

Originally Posted by seashale76

Atheists tend to know more about forms of Western Christianity- but they tend to not be as knowledgeable about Eastern Christianity (unless they had been such at one time), I've found.

That's been my experience as well, Seashale. It wasn't until years later I met some Orthodox Christians online and learned things by talking to them and from the reading recommendations they gave me. I still recommend Timothy Ware's "The Orthodox Way" to interested people, simply because it's a manageable length for an introduction and is well written. I've since met Orthodox Christians IRL, but still, not so much as online.

Seriously- MOST people are right there. You're probably related to people who are more like this than regular church-goers. Their children are even worse- if you think for a minute that they have had ANY basic religious instruction in the religion they've been told they are- think again.

My brother, if asked, would call himself a Christian if you asked. He never does anything remotely Christians, not even the C&E Christian routine. His kids call themselves Christian more as a cultural thing, but if you ask them anything at all about Christ or Christianity they know ZIP. I know because my Mom gave them a little impromptu quiz when they were younger. She gave the same quiz to my kids (Baha'is) and they could answer all her questions. DH and I promised as part of our RCC wedding ceremony to teach the kids about Christianity. We would've done that anyway, but hey, a promise is a promise and we did make one.

As far as homeschooling goes: Those kids I know who are (or have been) usually are quite a bit more knowledgeable about a number of topics. Don't believe the red-neck crazy/ ignorant fundamentalist stereotype. Many people from a variety of backgrounds and beliefs choose to homeschool.

Thanks!

oldwiseguy · #28 28th September 2010, 10:15 PM

Originally Posted by Booko

I do homeschool. That's why my daughter knows far more than her peers on just about any subject.

Homeschooling is the perfect way. Teacher and pupil get 100 per cent attention. It's actually like having/being a private tutor.

Booko · #29 28th September 2010, 10:33 PM

Originally Posted by oldwiseguy

Homeschooling is the perfect way. Teacher and pupil get 100 per cent attention. It's actually like having/being a private tutor.

Not necessarily! It depends on the relationship between the parent and child. Sometimes children develop parent-deafness and then it's tough to teach them anything.

Fortunately, I have not had that problem.

red_panda · #30 28th September 2010, 11:31 PM

I think that homeschooling is a good idea. If I were to ever get married and start a family, I'd want to homeschool the kids. When they're old enough, they can decide if they want homeschool or regular public school. And yes, the whole redneck fundamentalist thing is a stereotype.

Now I need to define "meek" as the Bible uses it. It does not mean weak, nor does it mean to be humble before a false god or an unbeliever. It means to put G-d's ideas and ways above my own, whether I like it or not. Some things are easy, some are still a struggle. So if my answers are sometimes testy, realize the struggle on my side of the screen!

Exactly, razeontherock! Some people seem to think that Christians should be pushovers and not take a stand for anything. But we should stand up for what's right and listen to what God tells us.

I often procrastinate before clicking on "submit reply" because I'm afraid of being perceived as angry or testy or something along those lines. Tone of voice, facial expressions (except for emoticons), and body language cannot be revealed through a post on a message board.

I don't think it's that, Red Panda. Many atheists were raised in a religion, and part of the process of leaving that religion was to really look at it and see if they believed it well enough or not. Some people who do that retain their faith and others decide "ah no that is not what I believe" and they leave and become atheists and agnostics.

You bring up a good point, Booko. Thank you for mentioning that. Not every atheist is some angry anti-theist who is out to persecute Christians and threaten a lawsuit over something trivial like a Nativity scene or someone silently praying. I myself once went through a time when I questioned my faith. I guess sometimes I'm too suspicious of people and shouldn't be too quick to expect the worst.