All Comments (11)

cruz reverse mortgage

cruz reverse mortgage

I applaud Professor Prothero's book and his effort to point out that while many Americans indeed wear the badge of religion, they have, for a variety of reasons, not interiorized their faith enough to seek knowledge, to plumb the depths of spiritual truth, to explore within themselves what Rudolph Otto referred to as the "mysterium tremendum et fascinans" (the mystery that at once inspires awe yet draws us to itself). A lack of knowledge ABOUT one's religious faith, whatever it may be, may betray the fact that one has not made that faith an existential part of one's living. Rather, it may indicate a mere sense of social or communal belonging that is dispatched readily when one requires a "religious identity" -- such as is often required on hospital admission forms. A living, lived, faith would compel the heart to seek knowledge, to learn the path, to take in as much of one's core belief as is possible. Religiosity is not faith.

The religious illiteracy that bothers me most isn't the widespread and promiscuous misquoting of texts, it's the lack of knowledge we have of the faiths we've chosen and how they differ from the other choices available. I get tired of the loud trumpeting of "My sect is the only true one" without the speaker having any idea at all how their sect differs from the others and what made them decide it was true. Charisma of the chief clergyman -- whether it's John Paul II, Billy Graham, Ayatollah Khomeini or the latest Eastern guru -- is not sufficient. And here's a news flash: not all Muslims are the same, not all Jews are the same, not all Protestants are the same...(you see where I'm going here I'm sure.)

I'm baffled by how religious illiterates make any sense of Western history, culture, philosophy, science, medicine, or, for that matter, art (the Sistine chapel, Mozart, the Merchant of Venice). "Manna," "land of milk and honey," "eye for an eye," "the good Samaritan," "the prodigal son," "doubting Thomas," "the beast" "Love endures all things," "no room at the inn" ... It would be interesting to do a "Religion And..." course, n pretty much anything in grammar or high school: Religion and the American Reolution; Religion and Slavery; Religion and World War II; Religion and the History of Science; Religion and Psychology; Religion and Architecture; Religion and the Criminal Code; Religion of the Founding Fathers; Religious Orders and the Making of the American Hospital; Religion and the Ku Klux Klan. You wouldn't even have to explain a particular religion, just talk about how its followers were persecuted/got to the top of the heap.

I am not that impressed by the interpretation I see here in "Another Amen For Religious Literacy", nor in the rest of Stephen's blog, of the meaning of America's "Religious Illiteracy". The fundamental contradiction, for example, that Stephen has _still_ neither resolved nor explained, is: why is it that Americans insist on _describing_ themselves as so religious, yet know so little about their own faiths? Could it be that they are all hypocrites, and that therefore the _real_ reason for the ignorance is that we Americans are really just as irreligious as the Europeans we exalt ourselves over?

Unpleasant though that conclusion is, I find it _much_ easier to believe than the conclusion that we really are the more religious, yet know so little about the religions we _say_ we profess.

But this is not the only reason I find myself propelled to this unpleasant conclusion: I also find my experience of traveling abroad reinforces is VERY strongly.

Why? Because even among the very people we Americans called 'godless' for so many years, I have found remarkable _actions_ that testify to their very strong religious faith. So strong, I am put to shame and humbled by it; but so wonderful, that I welcome the humbling despite the shame.

I have _never_ experienced anything like this among the 'religious' among my own countrymen. On the contrary: I find that Hawthorn's dark portrait of American Puritanism, so brilliantly described in "The Scarlet Letter", is all too accurate for a much wider swath of "American Christianity" than just Puritanism, and has only grown worse today.

And that alone, says something extremely pessimistic about the state of our country.

reverse mortgage counselor

Steve there s a vast difference between teaching faith and teaching about a religious view point.

One teaches a religion by pointing out the basic tenets such as they are of what ever faith one is instructing others about. You aren't trying to make converts just pass along basic information so that people can be at least somewhat informed of what they are talking about.

And in this world it is drastically needed. The level of knowlege about the various religions followed by the people inhabiting this planet is often so rediculously vague that we are often making
judgemnets about peoples attitudes and actions in a vacuum.

This is to say nothing of the fact that without some understanding of various religions history makes almost no sense at all.

I would absolutely disagree with 'religious instruction'. Practically, who would teach it? How would you decide on a canon? At best, it would look like some university-level 'bible as literature' classes. I suggest classes in critical thinking, debating skills and some civics would do better. Teaching people to reason together would work far better than teaching the popultion the minutia of religious belief. Frankly, I *do not care* what the basis of an opinion is, religious or not. I'll listen with open mind to their position and discuss it with them. I find, however, that religiously-inspired 'discussion' doesn't last long.

'Teaching faith' as described gives religious belief a status equal to well-reasoned argument, making the concept of 'public debate' impossible - you can't argue with a belief based on nothing more than religious faith.

Hello, I am looking for a book called: Religion and Literacy" and the author is: Steven Pr...not sure of the last name. Any help would be highly appreciated. Thank you so very much. from: Joan Lynch....maw_barker@hotmail.com OR Sarahlovesearth44@yahoo.com

I'll see if there is s discussion here