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seeking Christ

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I don't agree with all the propaganda it was used for but the information this Poll gathered does imply that atheists and agnostics know more about Christianity and Religion in general than most believers do. That is exactly what it said.

The questionairre itself was very poorly designed, and regardless of content trying to come up with a meaningful sample to poll is near impossible. Those numbers are still individuals, education doesn't necessarily correlate, and any number of distractions from proper rest to daily stress can skew results dramatically on this type of test.
(Which I got all right btw - meh)
 
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seeking Christ

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Well this is interesting. they claim that when this survey was done, atheists and agnostics combined make up 4% of the adult population in the US. Over 2,500 Christians were polled, and about 212 each of atheists, Jews and Mormons. They simply couldn't get enough of those groups.

Not sure what that means for the results of this 15 question test.
 
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Verv

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Ahem...

What I posted was a link directly to the pew forum itself, not any blog and I posted it first...

I posted this
U.S. Religious Knowledge Survey - Executive Summary - Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life

The other person later (6 posts later) posted this
Survey: Atheists, Agnostics Know More About Religion Than Religious : The Two-Way : NPR

and what you said didn't address the entire poll and what you said in your latest post to me didn't make any sense.

It made perfect sense.

We are discussing Christianity and Evangelical Christians (in addition to I think it was Mormons) know more about the Bible and Christendom which seems to be the topic at hand.

The idea that atheists are more knowledgable on Christianity than 'Christians' is rather foolish as the most charismatic groups of Christians (and the most likely to be active believers) are more knowledgable.

There is only a correlation between the more inactive Christians knowing less than atheists.

What you are contending makes only sense in a world where someone who was raised Catholic and never goes to Church, etc. or learned very passively gets connected to you.

The Poll concluded that atheists and agnostics know more about religion in general which does not contradict your own statement seen here

and that is exactly what the poll concluded to be true. The poll also concluded that out of seven different types of Christians, only 2 of those 7 types even know their own set of beliefs better than atheists and agnostics. It said that out of 12 bible specific questions the the best at answering were Mormons with 7.9 questions correct, the next were white evangelical protestants with 7.3 questions correct and the next were atheists and agnostics 6.9 (less than a single question difference) none of the other 5 types of Christians got above 5.9 correct and concerning religion in general Atheists and Agnostics easily won compared to the evangelicals.

And I am in one of those two groups... And I do not think particularly highly of "Christians" who are "Christians" because their mom & dad were Catholic or Episcopalian and never actually attend the Church, etc.

I remember when this poll came out, it was quite the buzz. I don't agree with all the propaganda it was used for but the information this Poll gathered does imply that atheists and agnostics know more about Christianity and Religion in general than most believers do. That is exactly what it said.

You know what, though...

I highly doubt you know more than me. And we can settle that right here, over the upcoming months.

Apparently, at least as suggested by a Poll that you posted, there is a statistical likelihood that you know, what? 5-10% less than me about Christianity?

Perhaps you should ask me questions so I can help correct your views on Christianity -- as your poll may suggest.

Perhaps the poll's actual conclusion: Evangelicals and Mormons should re-educate you less-high-speed fellows.
 
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Catherineanne

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From the Church of the East:

There is a good test to see if one is truly desirous of unity. Is it worth letting go of some of our non salvation based doctrine and methodology to attain said unity?

That comment is irrelevant to the discussion. The Nicene Creed is not negotiable in either Orthodoxy or Roman Catholicism; it most certainly falls into the category of salvation based doctrine. Same with Anglicanism, for that matter. I can compromise on many things, but the Nicene Creed is not one of them.
 
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Lee M

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Verv

It made perfect sense.
I said your latest post to me made no sense, you said it made perfect sense... haha... maybe you should read what you wrote. I was mainly speaking of why you think atheists have little reason to object. I answered this and you did not respond to my answers.

We are discussing Christianity and Evangelical Christians (in addition to I think it was Mormons) know more about the Bible and Christendom which seems to be the topic at hand.


The idea that atheists are more knowledgable on Christianity than 'Christians' is rather foolish as the most charismatic groups of Christians (and the most likely to be active believers) are more knowledgable.

There is only a correlation between the more inactive Christians knowing less than atheists.

What you are contending makes only sense in a world where someone who was raised Catholic and never goes to Church, etc. or learned very passively gets connected to you.



And I am in one of those two groups... And I do not think particularly highly of "Christians" who are "Christians" because their mom & dad were Catholic or Episcopalian and never actually attend the Church, etc.



You know what, though...

I highly doubt you know more than me. And we can settle that right here, over the upcoming months.

Apparently, at least as suggested by a Poll that you posted, there is a statistical likelihood that you know, what? 5-10% less than me about Christianity?

Perhaps you should ask me questions so I can help correct your views on Christianity -- as your poll may suggest.

Perhaps the poll's actual conclusion: Evangelicals and Mormons should re-educate you less-high-speed fellows.
You can disagree with the Poll all you want but that's all you're doing. It did conclude that on average atheists and agnostics know more about religion and Christianity :)

I am not an Atheist and Agnostic is not a word I think fits a belief system and me challenging you would not settle anything. We are talking about averages. Though I'm definitely not a chump when it comes to Christianity. I was one for most of my life and I have a bible college degree. Though I don't intend to try to best you in something like that. Especially not when this conversation is as problematic as it is. You can't even identify who said what correctly, much less make good points.
 
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Lee M

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Well this is interesting. they claim that when this survey was done, atheists and agnostics combined make up 4% of the adult population in the US. Over 2,500 Christians were polled, and about 212 each of atheists, Jews and Mormons. They simply couldn't get enough of those groups.

Not sure what that means for the results of this 15 question test.

It seems that as the link states, it was a 32 question test at the time Poll was active.
 
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Verv

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Evangelicals acting like know-it-alls?

Hardly new ^_^

I know, right?

Verv

I said your latest post to me made no sense, you said it made perfect sense... haha... maybe you should read what you wrote. I was mainly speaking of why you think atheists have little reason to object. I answered this and you did not respond to my answers.

I am not sure what you are referencing.

You can disagree with the Poll all you want but that's all you're doing. It did conclude that on average atheists and agnostics know more about religion and Christianity :)

On average compared to certain sects... But not my sect.

If you want to cite your precious poll perhaps you should be inquiring to me for concerns about your Christianity so I can educate you.

I am not an Atheist and Agnostic is not a word I think fits a belief system and me challenging you would not settle anything. We are talking about averages. Though I'm definitely not a chump when it comes to Christianity. I was one for most of my life and I have a bible college degree. Though I don't intend to try to best you in something like that. Especially not when this conversation is as problematic as it is. You can't even identify who said what correctly, much less make good points.

You have a Bible college degree? Prove it.

I am chuckling at your ridiculous poll that doesn't even act as the trump card which you want it to be.

Verv

So how do you feel about being beaten hands down by the Mormons? pppppppppppppp

Well, let us be frank:

I think no one cares about a poll. It is literally, not even figuratively, a logical fallacy to appeal to some poll as some sign of truth.

Truth about what? Well, we do not even know of the legitimacy of the poll and it is only measuring a dynamic, minority group vs. a static majority group. The minority group always wins because a large amount of the minority group consciously opposes something.

For very similar reasons you will hear vegans & vegetarians be more informed on dietary issues because they give a crap.

The majority of Christians (and other 'theists') live in a very static bubble of their religion and hardly care to study it at length.

The poll essentially measures this.

But... Again...

We all know that this debate is not decided about who is more knowledgable (or arrogant) per capita. It is decided by what the truth is.

And you atheists have been continuously underwhelming and unimpressive since the 7th grade lunch table sessions but I will still hear you out.
 
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