I'm curious how knowledgeable people on this site are about religion. I read an article a while back how atheist were in the 90 or 95 percentile in knowledge about religion. I took the test and came up in that range as well. I'm sure this question has probably already been asked, but I couldn't find it. Sorry about the repeat if that is true.
Depends on what you mean. Themes, concepts, abstractions, and moral directives? Pretty knowledgeable. But if it comes to minutia, like who begat who, very little. because I don't care haha
Same.
Meant overall
Not knowledgeable or interested in the least. Still an atheist.
Quite well educated in Judaism, Christianity (several sects). Islam, not so much, but enough. Others, I have a general understanding of several and reasonably aware of many other world religions.
The only real difference between religion and myth is that people actually think religion is true.
I know all the mythology classes I've taken have included modern religions
@Fulishsage Glad to hear that. Religion shoudl be taught as myth.
Many attheists started out as believers thus they have knowledge about religion.
Most Christians no far less about the Bible than their atheist friends who leave religion behind. I have read many in the Clergy turn non believers when they go through Seminary and the more advanced classes convince them God is a myth and yet they are stuck with going through with their educations and subsequent jobs as Men of the Cloth and many want out. So now we have the Clergy Project with thousands of members.
I know myself personally and believe it of many atheist, that I was looking for truth. In the process I realized what I was taught was not true.
"Martin Luther said there are no atheists," a man said triumphantly, as if that settled the matter. Through online dating, he had taken me to lunch to try to convert me.
"I don't CARE what a Catholic monk said 500 years ago," I replied, standing up. "Thank you for lunch. I'm leaving."
I have enough knowledge and willpower to shut down Christians trying to convert me. That's good enough for me.
I read that wrong to begin with I thought you dated a man named Martin Luther who was trying to convert you. I was thinking whoa that is truly ironic.
A lot of us are atheists because of our knowledge of religion. I took a test and my results were in that range too.
I think we score so highly because that tested incorporated questions from a wide range of religions. Most theists only have a cursory knowledge of one denomination or sect.
I grew up the son of a very conservative Presbyterian minister. I tried religion, even becoming an elder. I drifted away, and now I am much happier as a non-believer.
I've always been interested in it. One of my favorite classes HS was "Comparative Religions." Didn't have time to pursue this interest in college so I've learned on my own throughout my life. Fascinating how beliefs differ. Similarities are interesting too.
I know a fair bit. I'm willing to bet I know more about the history of christianity and the bible than most christians do.
Which is pretty typical. If christians knew more about the history of their religion and their "holy" book, there would probably be a lot fewer christians.
That's sad but true.
Always score significantly above average on every test I take. Christians have the tendency to score the worst out of any group lol.
Religion, what? Religious history, religious doctrine, religious practise, religious diversity..?
Well, I like to think that while I defer to others who are specialists in these various aspects, usually people with Phds after their names and recognised published works, my knowledge is certainly better, in my opinion, than the majority of so-called religious believers, many of whom have never read a serious book about the subject of their so-called 'faith' in their lives. I have been impressed by the high number of similarly well-informed people on this site.
As with most subjects, I admit that I’m more ignorant than knowledgeable.
I was raise in a Ukrainian Orthodox family and went to and graduated from Catholic school. I've done my fair share of bible studies, although I've never read the bible front to back.
I became an atheist as a teenager when I started asking questions and religion in general just stopped making sense.
I understand why religion came to be, and the importance of community that we received from it over the years. It's a powerful tool. However, I do not believe it still has a place in today's society. It would almost seem that the people who still believe are only those who refuse to ask questions.
I have not heard it asked here before either. I have studied comparative religion, since before I knew there was such a discipline. Aged 10 or so. It still fascinates, though i do not pursue it so much as before.
It really is an interesting question. My personal knowledge of Christianity is very close to being zero. Living in a Christian Nation , however, has exposed me to a great deal of Christianity and Christians.so I would say I see the type of people Christianity produces. Needless to say I'm not too impressed.
Don't worry most of the Christians I know, there knowledge about their religion is about zero too.
@AncientNight well, let's say I live in a country where over 80% to 90% of the people identify as Christians
@AncientNight splitting hairs, my point remains the same.
I study them for fun. Eastern ones, mostly.
I find the Eastern religions fascinating. I actually follow the Dali Lama because I like the thought process.
Someone once said "God IS Dead". I know enough about religion to say that will never be true until we all stop talking about him/her.
Hard for something that was never alive to be dead.? I agree though the idea of God may never die.
My knowledge is on a need to know basis. i.e. ~when religions change I need to know just how long we have to put up with them. Trouble is they are always changing and they were not set up to change.