The United States is arguably the most religious nation in the developed world, yet it is also the most religiously ignorant. Here are several statistics cited in a recent survey:
- 10% of Americans polled believe that Joan of Arc was Noah’s wife
- Only one-half could name even one of the four Gospels
- 1 in 3 knew who delivered the Sermon on the Mount
- Less than half could identify the first book of the Bible
- 75% believe the bible teaches “God helps those who help themselves.” (Ben Franklin said it.)
One wonders how Catholic Christians might fare up against such statistics … ?
(Excerpted from a review of the book titled, Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know -- and Doesn’t, by Stephen Prothero. The review appeared in Biblical Archaeology Review, Sept/Oct 2007. The excerpt was shamelessly lifted from the St. Nicholas Orthodox Church [Shrewsbury, MA] e-bulletin.)
