How Much Do YOU Know About Religion? Take The Quiz

Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life:

And how do you compare with the average American? Here's your chance to find out.

Take this short, 15-question quiz, and see how you do in comparison with 3,412 randomly sampled adults who were asked these and other questions in the U.S. Religious Knowledge Survey, conducted by the Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion & Public Life.

Take the quiz by clicking the link below!

Read the whole story: Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life

Comments

[Passerineblue]

03:32 PM on 11/15/2010

The questions were so easy that I see the test and the truly lousy results as a reflection of the horrible state of general education in this country. Educated people should know that Martin Luther is the "founder" of Protestantism as a matter of european cultural history, just as they should know when Buddha was born.

Remember, this is the country where most people can't find China on a map. I read one poll where 40% of the respondents didn't know who the Vice President was and couldn't identify George Washington.

[Passerineblue]

03:19 PM on 11/15/2010

I thought some of the questions were so lowball it was ridiculous. Then I asked two catholic friends whether they knew about "transubstantiation" and neither of them knew the term or under underlying doctrine. These are not stupid people.

I agree that this test is more a reflection of general knowledge. It's not surprising that the most knowlegeable people are atheists/agnostics.

[Ohbeewun]

01:06 PM on 11/06/2010

That was the easiest quiz I've ever taken! I'm a Buddhist and I still got the questions on Judaism, Christianity and Islam correct. It has to do more with a general cultural knowledge than deep religious experience or education. The fact that on average Americans have done so poorly on this highlights our faulty educational system more than anything! How can we lead the world, vote for our leaders, when by and large our understanding of history, religion, economics, and politics is so poor? It's truly scary! In Buddhism it's called active ignorance: you think you know the truth so you don't seek it out and remain confused and lost in an inexplicable world.

[Vern58]

03:22 AM on 10/10/2010

I got 100 Percent. Hmmmmmmmm

[axt113]

10:47 PM on 10/06/2010

Hindu, perfect score

[Vikingdave]

01:39 PM on 10/06/2010

I got 13 out of 15.Even Druids do better that fundies.

[talkingheads]

10:47 AM on 10/06/2010

Nirvana is an Hinduism concept, Agora practice Nirvana. It was later adopted by Buddha.

[axt113]

10:46 PM on 10/06/2010

True, but the preferred term in Hinduism is Moksha

[talkingheads]

09:36 AM on 10/07/2010

Moksha means salvation and used by all the sects. Nirvana is a shivite concept and used only by the sages and saints who are ardent devotees of lord Shiva like agoras found in Kasi and other places and siddhars found in Thiruvanna malai and palani Tamil Nadu.

[Box Head Man]

12:45 AM on 10/06/2010

I'm an Atheist and knew I'd score higher than the indoctrinated born agains but not that much higher. My opinion of them is now lower than I thought it could go. I just bought my first scarlet A lapel pin today and I'm proud to wear it.

[Perry Clease]

06:18 PM on 10/04/2010

14 out of 15. I knew nothing about "The Great Awakening" so I guess I need to get up to speed on that.

[Perry Clease]

06:22 PM on 10/04/2010

I need to add that I was born into the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, but from age 5 to 15 years old I went to a Roman Catholic Church. These days I consider myself a Taoist with some Wiccan leanings.

[LynnW49]

05:59 PM on 10/04/2010

This atheist: 15 of 15. Top 1% of Amurricans. Something tells me that the Christian Right is not up there with me.

[Mountaingrl]

06:14 PM on 10/04/2010

I think that "Amurkans" is the more accurate pronunciation. ;)

[rcampbell]

06:45 PM on 10/04/2010

This atheist 14/15. I missed the nirvana question. I picked Hinduism.

[LynnW49]

07:30 PM on 10/04/2010

I had to think about that one, too.

In any case, it's iteresting that atheists know more about religions plural. . .

[Kiri the Unicorn]

12:28 PM on 10/04/2010

The Buddhist/Atheist/Scientist talking unicorn got 13 out of 15!

I find that hilarious!

[Ionakr]

05:32 PM on 10/04/2010

I'm a devote African/American Baptist and I also got 13 out of 15.

[Kiri the Unicorn]

07:43 PM on 10/04/2010

My sincere compliments!

[AbstractImp]

08:31 AM on 10/03/2010

This isn't a matter of taking a quiz,
but watching behavior.

How much you 'know' about religion should show up in how you speak and act.

Of course, if you just rage against everyone 'not like you' . . .

[Imokyrok]

06:47 AM on 10/03/2010

I scored 100%. This is what comes of force fed daily religion in a country where most schools are Catholic. The amount of useless information taking up space in my brain is ridiculous.

[funkyou2]

09:17 PM on 10/03/2010

Seriously..14 out of 15 for me....how do I even know this stuff that I NEVER think about?

[Passerineblue]

03:22 PM on 11/15/2010

Where do you live? Most schools in this country are not Catholic.

[William D Simpson]

12:23 AM on 10/03/2010

The question that needs to be asked is:

Does GOD have knowledge of you?

http://wsimpson.wordpress.com/2010/10/02/hey-read-the-directions/

[myjoyy]

12:35 PM on 10/01/2010

I took the test and scored 80% - 87% better than public 7% below.

As a Christian, hopefully I correctly answered the few Christian-oriented questions. But knowing my main purpose is to live the life of Christ and do my best to accomplish that purpose is my greatest desire. I could score 100% on a religion test and fail as an example of Christ to others.

I realize having a decent overall score's mostly because I have an interest in other religions and decided to learn about those religions not just the one I practice. And I believe this is a big part of what's left me less prejudice and more to tolerant towards other relgions.

In my experience, learning about the faiths and religion of others has not wavered my faith in what I truly believe. In fact it's stenghtened it. We're instructed that in all we try to get out of life, it's important tp get understanding. Because the lack of knowledge will destroy us. I realize often we condemn and fear what we don't know or understand which can result in h8tred and bigotry. So by my faith in Christ, I know I don't have that spirit of fear that's trying to take control of this country.

When we all make real efforts to learn and understand not only people's religions, but the people behind the religion or non-religion, we become more knowledgeable, less fearful, and more tolerable towards each other. And that's the real test