Bible Illiteracy

St_Hereticus · 15th August 2005, 07:45 PM

Crisis in America's Churches: Bible Knowledge at All-Time Low

Now we know why atheists know so much more about "holy scripture" than do the Christians: it's too boring for them to read it!

St_Hereticus · 15th August 2005, 08:03 PM

I also came across this, that may be related:

Most Adults Feel Accepted by God, But Lack a Biblical Worldview

CplFerro · 15th August 2005, 08:17 PM

"The survey also revealed that most Americans say they are â€œdeeply spiritual,â€ feel â€œaccepted by God,â€ and believe they have a clear personal understanding of the meaning and purpose of their life. "

Has there ever been a time, anywhere, where most of the population /didn't/ feel that way?

It's the type of questioning that strikes me as being like how everyone apologises for foreign places as having "rich" cultures. Well, what culture isn't "rich"?

pmurray · 15th August 2005, 08:57 PM

Halelujah! More and nore "christians" are rejecting the barbaraous docrines of their religion!

"Of Baptists (any type) in America, only 34% believe Satan is real."

Fantastic! Belief in the reality of Satan alone has cause more sufferrng than a library of biographies could adequately document.

Brown · 15th August 2005, 09:27 PM

From the link:

Quote:

...half did not know that the Christmas story was in Matthew...

Ahem. The book of Luke contains a Christmas story as well, and Luke's story is far more detailed than the one in Matthew. Goin' to Bethelehem as part of census, no room in the inn, birth in a stable, laying the babe in a manger, adoration by the shepherds, that's all Luke, not in Matthew.

The Matthew story is different. It does not mention that the baby was born away from home or in a stable. The book does tell the story of the three wise men, however, which Luke omits. Contrary to popular portrayal in various nativity scenes, the wise men do not pay a visit to a stable. Mt. 2:11 says they came "into the house." By the way, the number of wise men is not specified, either, and different cultures traditionally recognize different numbers of wise men. In the USA, there are traditionally three wise men, one wise man per each kind of gift.

15th August 2005, 07:45 PM	#1
St_Hereticus Critical Thinker Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: No. Cal. Posts: 270	Bible Illiteracy Crisis in America's Churches: Bible Knowledge at All-Time Low Now we know why atheists know so much more about "holy scripture" than do the Christians: it's too boring for them to read it!
	__________________ Science is the lighthouse, Faith is the rocks below. God Not Found

15th August 2005, 08:03 PM	#2
St_Hereticus Critical Thinker Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: No. Cal. Posts: 270	I also came across this, that may be related: Most Adults Feel Accepted by God, But Lack a Biblical Worldview
	__________________ Science is the lighthouse, Faith is the rocks below. God Not Found

15th August 2005, 08:57 PM	#4
pmurray Thinker Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Canberra Posts: 198	Halelujah! More and nore "christians" are rejecting the barbaraous docrines of their religion! "Of Baptists (any type) in America, only 34% believe Satan is real." Fantastic! Belief in the reality of Satan alone has cause more sufferrng than a library of biographies could adequately document.
	__________________ ..., but the sincerity of his conviction can in no wise help him, because he had no right to believe on such evidence as was before him. - William K Clifford, "The Ethics of Belief" My Tree of Life applet (Java) My Age of Worms campaign.

15th August 2005, 08:17 PM	#3
CplFerro Graduate Poster Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,383	"The survey also revealed that most Americans say they are â€œdeeply spiritual,â€ feel â€œaccepted by God,â€ and believe they have a clear personal understanding of the meaning and purpose of their life. " Has there ever been a time, anywhere, where most of the population /didn't/ feel that way? It's the type of questioning that strikes me as being like how everyone apologises for foreign places as having "rich" cultures. Well, what culture isn't "rich"?

15th August 2005, 09:27 PM	#5
Brown Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Twin Cities, Canada Posts: 12,145	From the link: Quote: ...half did not know that the Christmas story was in Matthew... Ahem. The book of Luke contains a Christmas story as well, and Luke's story is far more detailed than the one in Matthew. Goin' to Bethelehem as part of census, no room in the inn, birth in a stable, laying the babe in a manger, adoration by the shepherds, that's all Luke, not in Matthew. The Matthew story is different. It does not mention that the baby was born away from home or in a stable. The book does tell the story of the three wise men, however, which Luke omits. Contrary to popular portrayal in various nativity scenes, the wise men do not pay a visit to a stable. Mt. 2:11 says they came "into the house." By the way, the number of wise men is not specified, either, and different cultures traditionally recognize different numbers of wise men. In the USA, there are traditionally three wise men, one wise man per each kind of gift.