would you agree that american atheists know more about christianity and atheism than american christians?

Question

(on average)

and what is your religion(if you have one)?

take note i said "christianity and atheism"

maurice, you mean christians are wiser? hah!

i cant choose best answer because i myself am not a hundret percent convinced that we know more about both worlds...

it's a two way street.

voters help :)

Answer 1

More knowledge?Maybe

More wisdom and understanding?Definitely not

Answer 2

No, not necessarily. I'd say it's just about equal. Some atheists seem to know things about Christianity that some Christians don't and vice versa. Facts about the bible and the history of Christianity are so debatable in the first place that it's really difficult to say who has knowledge and who doesn't.

Answer 3

This American atheist doesn't.

I only know what I've picked up from living in a primarily Christian culture, and from some study of history and such.

There are some atheists who know a lot about Christianity; there are also some Christians who know a lot about Christianity, too.

Answer 4

It does seem to me that I have more knowledge of Christianity that some Christians on this site, maybe not the word for word naming of the gospel numbers and what not, but the under laying foundations, yes, as well as the physical history of Christianity, seems to me that Atheists are the ones to remember the Inquisition, so then yes. One of my teachers once called me, and I quote, "Wise in the ways of Human Nature." So I guess that means I'm more wise that the Christians in that room at least...So...I believe that I (since I can only vouch for me) have more knowledge of the underpinnings of the religion, the physical history of the religion, and more wisdom than most Christians, maybe, maybe not, but those are my experiences.

Answer 5

I think it unlikely. I believe that American atheists certainly have convinced themselves that they are knowledgeable on the topic of religion.

But if atheists at YA are typical, I think the questions and answers given here betray a much weaker knowledge of religion than they are likely aware that they have. YA atheists have only a dim awareness of the superb (whether you agree with them or not) apologetics of the medieval scholastics such as Thomas Aquinas, the Jewish scholar Maimonides, and Thomas Moore; they show little knowledge or awareness of classical theologians like Augustine, Athanasius or Ambrose, and ask questions that appear to be copy pasted out of the (also poorly informed) writings of Christopher Hitchens, Sam harris, or Richard Dawkins.

Few of the YA atheists that I've seen have much first hand depth in their knowledge of Christianity. They are well acquainted with some of the surface details of American evangelicalism... but don't seem to know much where the deeper depths of Christian theology go.

With respect, your own apparent lack of awareness in an earlier question that there are Christians who accept evolution is the most recent example of this phenomenon that I have encountered.

As for me, my knowledge of atheism extends beyond the limits of the pop atheism writers of today, and I'm actually somewhat familiar with Nietzsche's writings, and atheism's epicurean fore-bearers. That actually takes me beyond many of this board's atheists in terms of my knowledge of their heritage. But then, I have the advantage of having once been an agnostic, so that's perhaps not fair of me. :)

Answer 6

What a bunch of poo. I've heard that ever since I came on here several months ago. Most Christians are very well versed on the bible and our faith. What"s to know about atheism? ooooooh, it's so complicated.

Answer 7

That is one of the most idiotic propositions I've ever heard,particularly to go by what I have seen on R&S. Your average atheist couldn't tell a fundie from a Roman Catholic,knows absolutely nothing of theology or canon law,has never even heard of the Eastern Orthodox Church and has no idea how it relates to Christian history. That's the whole problem with R&S. I don't actually mind the domination by atheists; it's the sheer ignorance that is galling. I can think of perhaps ten,maybe twelve regulars - atheists that is - who exhibit a reasonable level of knowledge on the subject. The rest of you speak only from the standpoint of ignorance and religious bigotry. Wait,don't tell me - when you say "Christians" you are thinking of fundies? Am I right?
They are about 5% of all Christians,most of whom don't consider them Christians at all.
As far as knowing anything about atheism,it's a fundamentally negative concept - definition based not on what-is but what-is-not,so there isn't much to know,since it's an anti-concept. So on that point,you're question is merely silly,unless you are referring to organized atheism,i.e. the Bertrand Russell Society,etc. yes,we know of it. I'm a Catholic.

Answer 8

of course not. Thats completely absurd.

Experience tells me that most athiests dont know anything about religion and dont care to. They find it absurd and think they are better than that so there is no point learning.

There may be a few athiests who understand Christianity better than some Christians. but those arent as frequent as the athiests like to believe and usually involve the Christians who flagrantly ignore the Christian ideal to educate oneself.

Answer 9

Not American, so i guess i can't say if that's true or not, still here on R&S many atheists know much less about christianity than they think they do. Many Christians also don't know very much about Christianity.

I'm a Christian who knows he dosen't know as much about Christianity as he should. But I'm learning

Paz de Cristo

Answer 10

Yes.

Most Christians (in general) have a major misconception of what atheism is, or are afraid to learn anything about it.

They often associate atheism with satanism or some doctrine depicting a sort of 'evil'.

I am atheist.

Answer 11

On average yup, but my opinion is going to be dismissed cause i am an atheist anyway. ^_^

When i was a theist i read the bible cover to cover some 10 times, and was in active bible study for a couple of years.