The Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion & Public Life has released a new survey and there is nothing surprising about the results:
While previous surveys by the Pew Research Center have shown that America is among the most religious of the world's developed nations, this survey shows that large numbers of Americans are not well informed about the tenets, practices, history and leading figures of major faith traditions—including their own. Many people also think that the constitutional restrictions on religion in public schools are stricter than they really are.
These are among the key findings of the "U.S. Religious Knowledge Survey," a nationwide poll conducted from May 19 through June 6, 2010, among 3,412 adults.
Additional findings include:
• More than four-in-ten Catholics (45%) do not know that their church teaches that the bread and wine used in Communion do not merely symbolize, but actually become, the body and blood of Christ
• About half of Protestants (53%) cannot correctly identify Martin Luther as the person whose writings and actions inspired the Protestant Reformation, which made their religion a separate branch of Christianity
• Roughly four-in-ten Jews (43%) do not recognize that Maimonides, one of the most venerated rabbis in history, was Jewish
• Fewer than half of Americans (47%) know that the Dalai Lama is Buddhist; fewer than four-in-ten (38%) correctly identify Vishnu and Shiva with Hinduism; and only about a quarter of all Americans (27%) know that most people in Indonesia are Muslims
• There is widespread confusion over the line between teaching and preaching in public schools. Nine-in-ten Americans (89%) know that U.S. Supreme Court rulings do not allow teachers to lead public school classes in prayer. However two-thirds of people surveyed incorrectly say that Supreme Court rulings prevent public school teachers from reading from the Bible as an example of literature, and only 36% know that comparative religion classes may be taught in public schools.
• Most Americans are able to correctly answer at least half of the survey's questions about the Bible. Roughly seven-in-ten (71%) know that, according to the Bible, Jesus was born in Bethlehem. More than six-in-ten (63%) can correctly name Genesis as the first book of the Bible.
Data from the survey indicate that educational attainment—how much schooling an individual has completed—is the single best predictor of religious knowledge. On average, college graduates answered nearly eight more questions correctly than those with a high school education or less. Religious knowledge is also higher among those who have taken a religion course in college. Other factors linked with religious knowledge include reading Scripture at least once a week and talking about religion with friends and family.
As a pastor, I've found that Biblical literacy is very low among parishioners. There are, I believe, two general reasons: First, our Christian education programs for youth are often absurdly inaccurate and don't reflect the same theology being preached from the pulpit. Second, besides Bible study most churches offer few meaningful adult education programs. As the survey notes, most Americans also have little understanding of traditions beyond their own faith.
Let me offer two educational resources that I have found helpful:
Remedial Christianity views Christianity from both within and without. With a wide angle, it views Christianity as one of the world's major religions and contrasts and compares its doctrine and practice with those of other great religions. In narrower focus, it examines not only the distinctively Christian beliefs, but the breadth of Christianities within Christianity. Written clearly and with humor, Remedial Christianity provides a valuable tool for everyone seeking to understand Christianity and to forge a viable and sustainable personal faith. Illustrated and includes "Discussion Questions and Exercises" and a "Recommended Reading" list for each chapter.
I've used this book now in two churches and frankly think it ought to be required reading for all members.
Living the Questions is a source of curriculum and media for both seekers and "church alumni/ae" convinced that Christianity still has relevance in the 21st Century. Providing a variety of flexible resources, Living the Questions can help people explore the future of Christianity and what a meaningful faith can look like in today's world.
This series of interactive DVDs - with accompanied readings - is a great tool for a more in-depth exploration of the Christian faith. It helps church members develop critical thinking skills that are much needed in the church today. But you need some basic understanding of what Christianity is to participate. Thus, I'd recommend a book group using Remedial Christianity as a first step.
There is clearly a hunger for knowledge out there. Whenever I've put together a book group for Remedial Christianity or used one of the several Living the Questions DVD series there has been high interest and involvement. People want to know more about their faith. I'm convinced of that.
I'd be interested in learning of other good resources out there.
