Want to know stuff about Religion? ask an atheist or an agnostic it seem.

**Beskar** · 10-02-2010, 20:25

His idea is something I advocate, only teach religion in the context of the facts and don't endorse any of them. True religious freedom and secularism in the education system.

**CountArach** · 10-03-2010, 05:10

I'm not that surprised by the results, especially given that it was about more religions than just one's own. Given the relatively low proportion of Atheism/Agnosticism in America it is largely confined to an educated minority. These people are far more likely to be exposed to other cultures and the concomitant religions. This in turn leads to a greater awareness thereof and thus the higher scores. Nor am I surprised by the high score of Jews as they are also exposed daily to a largely Christianised culture.

**Brenus** · 10-03-2010, 09:34

The reason why atheists are generally more knowledgeable in Religions than true believers is in fact by definition.
Believers just don’t need to know. They believed, and then let others “doctors/guardians of the faith” to tell them what and how.

Atheists have to be more inquisitive in order to answer/question believers.
It starts in the early age.
As part of an atheist family I never heard of the word (God) as an entity. I clearly remember my grandfather favourite swearing (rough translation would be useless god, or twenty gods as in French Vain Dieu or Vingt Dieux would sound the same) but it was hardly an awareness of the Presence of The Divine.
It took me to reach the age of 12 before I’ve got my first glimpse of a Creator and it was when some of my classroom mates when in some Premiere Communion and got a watch as present.
But because I’ve got one as well, so I didn’t really went in a theological debate on my the followers (which I will separate from the Believers) of a faith would receive a preferential treatment.
Then in College you started to have others conversations than the usual “what did you watch on TV last night” or “can you give me the Homework we had to do for today” (before the hormones/pheromones kick in and subject of conversation change again) and you confronted with pupils having a different view on the subject.
So, puzzle by the assurance of your interlocutor, you ask how, and proof and others. Of course, as they can’t answer, you are in a deadlock. And then hormones and pheromones come in so you change subjects.

Army was not really a place where intellectual debates and controversies took place. But when volunteers were asked to go in some Religious Ceremonies I never raised a hand, or step forward as it is common practice in the Army. Raising your hand is definitively a CIVILIAN thing.
Then I went in University and part of the Curriculum is Studying Religions. Not the faith, but the tools of Religions, and all the Schisms, Heresies and Interpretations not only for one Religion, but also for lot of them. So the debates with your colleagues are now based on knowledge. And more you learn more you want to learn to beat them up into submission.
Most of the believers are aware of the unstable basis of their Faith. The most intellectual ones are either not discussing it with me, or are obliged to intellectual contortions to claim their Christianity but without referring the Dogma and Rules set-up during the different Councils and Schisms.
The less intellectual who still believe in the Flat earth and Noah Big Boat are so lost for any debates that I don’t bother any more. No need to speak of Lilith, and ask them why no Egyptian Monument commemorates the Death of Pharaoh when Pursuing a tribe of Slaves. Don’t even try to explain that for certain Jews Cain can’t be a murderer as Death was not know in these times so he can’t be guilty for something he did without intention etc…
But, if the pursuit of Intellectual and Nice Debates with friends Atheists have to back-up their position with fact and interpretations of Fact, as the Believers only need Faith.

**ICantSpellDawg** · 10-03-2010, 15:48

After years of learning about life, religion and Christianity - And knowing more about it than most people I've met - I have abandoned my agnosticism. It started by recognizing that most of our understanding of secular or religious history itself is based on faith, especially the more ancient aspects. In doing this, I began to look at the origins of the modern Church and I cultivated a tremendous respect for it. I've had the opportunity to see faith in action and I don't want it to die out with my parents and my local community. I view faith in a different way than I did before. Faith drives most of what makes us successful as humans. Science is a tool of that faith and cannot be discounted. I like the Catholic Church because of its tradition and its intellectual bulwark against modern ethical fallacy, in addition to its insistence that science can help us understand God's will.

Religion is a choice, strengthened by the hammer of knowledge. What tempers one sword will break another, so if the sword is valuable to you, make sure you take the care not to break it. Don't adhere merely to the superficial or feel good aspects of Religion. Some of those aspects might be components, but they fuel your base passions rather than a larger superlative understanding of truth. If you use it purely as a crutch, you are in trouble.

Abandoning "knowledge" to non-believers dismisses the truth that knowledge brings. I'm obsessively learning, testing myself - and I like the new me much better than the old me.

**Sasaki Kojiro** · 10-03-2010, 16:05

I think it was Kierkegaard who said that men who believe without having doubts are merely credulous, that doubt was required for faith to be possible.

**Rhyfelwyr** · 10-03-2010, 16:16

Regarding Brenus' anecdotal evidence, I have found the exact opposite in my experience. The more committed Christians I know are very knowledgeable with regards to all the major religions as well as philosophical/theological issues.

On the other hand, the 'Sunday' Christians and everyone else tend to be pretty clueless, probably because they simply are not interested in these things, which is fair enough.

Originally Posted by TuffStuffMcGruff

Don't adhere merely to the superficial or feel good aspects of Religion. Some of those aspects might be components, but they fuel your base passions rather than a larger superlative understanding of truth. If you use it purely as a crutch, you are in trouble.

This has been the single biggest problem in Christianity ever since it sprang up. People have been desiring to return to these crutches and "beggarly elements" as Paul calls them ever since the Judaizers appeared on the scene.