Comments about ‘Stephen Prothero's religious literacy quiz’

Congratulations to Prof. Stephen Prothero! He has stated many ideas and ideals that have long been neglected in education and pilitical society, especially in our country as it travels on the road of secularism. Let us pray that our citizens will return to the Christianity of our founding Documents. I must admit -I missed the question on Hinduism and the setails on the varioius numbering of the Ten Commandments.

I think Prof Prothero would disagree with you. Fundamentalist Christianity was not the religion of founding fathers like Jefferson and Franklin. These documents you speak of require a seperation of church and state. And Prof. Prothero himself urges education and understanding of all world religions, especially in the American context, not a "return to the Christianity of our founding documents." For further understanding of Prothero's views please read "Religious Literacy" or "American Jesus" before you support a false claim.

Our founding documents do not require separation of church and state. They require that the federal government stay out of religion, which our founders viewed as a state issue. That might not be Prof Prothero's view, but it was the founders'.

The Constitution calls for Congress to neither support nor hinder the establishment of religion or free practice thereof. That, in effect, equals complete non-involvement and separation of church and state.

Kudos to Modesto, CA schools for emphasizing understanding in religion and here's hoping that young people will grow up in love and respect of ALL people and themselves.

I heard professor Prothero on NPR yesterday. I missed only #5, thinking Joshua fit in there somewhere (get it?) I teach arts and humanities at a middle school and find any reason I can to talk about
what people believe. The kids seem interested; so few know anything at all. I think the study of religion is fascinating; forbidden fruit from my early days as a Catholic! i wish the professor all the best and I would like him to know I am doing my part. I will end by saying how much I loved the quote about knowing only one religion is knowing none.

His quiz is interesting, but is very skewed towards Christianity and Judaisim. If you look at the number of pooints awarded for knowledge of each of the 5 major religions, they come out as:
Christianity=42
Judaism=25
Hindu=4
Islam=6
Buddhism=7

And that's including 2 points for everyone knowing the 1st amendment.

I think Professor Prothero's quiz is a commentary on religious literacy in America, ergo he geared it towards Christianity. It's important to realize that the US is one of the most Religious countries in the world, yet know next to nothing about religion(s). Politicians have been focusing campaigns on what is 'morally just' and using (some may even say abusing) religion as a basis for promoting political ideals. It was, like, astonishing when the "debate" about Islam or the Qur'an occurred. It went something like "Islam is a religion of peace." "No, Islam is a religion of war." And, why isn't it required that a US foreign ambassador be educated or advised on the dominant religion of the region they are going to? It's so weirdly ironic because people don't understand politicians biblical allusions, yet it's hinged on the very fact that people don't understand! Clearly something needs to be addressed, sooner rather than later.