So, if the US is 82% Christian, how come a mere 50% of Americans can name at least *ONE* of the 4 Gospels?

Question

82% of the US consider themselves Christian.

"Fewer than half of [Americans] can identify Genesis as the first book of the Bible, and only one third know that Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount....

More than 10 percent think that Noah's wife was Joan of Arc. Only half can name even one of the four Gospels, and -- a finding that will surprise many -- evangelical Christians are only slightly more knowledgeable than their non-evangelical counterparts."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/01/AR2007030102073.html

Do these stats skew your vision of the Christianity of the US? Does this reinforce any sereotypes?

Sources on America's Christianity:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_the_United_States

Shihan1: You're right, my sources are the Washington Post, CBS News, The CIA, The Pew Research Center, and A Boston University Ph.D. who authored the book in the article. So, yeah. People can pull whatever "beliefs" they want out of thin air, they can say certain people aren't "real Christians", but it doesn't change the real world the rest of usl live in.

Thanks, Shihan1, for the thoughtful comment.

Answer 1

You are going to think this is a tad strange coming from a Christian, but I think that is a GOOD thing for the nonevangelical Christians. This means to me that they are not ruled by the Bible alone, and hopefully at some level they own their truth based strictly upon a personal relationship with Source. I personally cannot STAND when someone quotes the bible to me. Read it. Study it. Own what you need to own as far as your truth is concerned. THEN share it in your OWN WORDS. Do not tell me what someone else wrote thousands of years ago, which has been edited to death, and expect me to listen to what you have to say.

Now, if they are claiming to be traditional dogmatic or fundamental Christians with full awareness of the evangelical teachings, then, uh, hey, you have one HECK of a point.

(And anyone who does not believe what James has written, what is YOUR source? He has the Washington Post to back HIM up!)

Answer 2

I thought it was 84%...
But actually, this does not surprise me, one bit.
I actually attended a service where the pastor, from behind his pulpit, taught that Jesus once "got lost" when He was 12...in the house of a carpenter...
And that was in a pentecostal-type church in Alabama.

What this tells me is something I was pretty certain of, anyhow...Christianity in America...as in the rest of the world...is dying.
We knew this had to happen...there has to be a "falling away" first, there has to come a time when the beast makes war with the saints and overcomes them...judgment must begin in the House of the Lord...
So, instead of 82% (I still say I saw a web site recently that said it was 84%)...I'd estimate that Christians...that is people who know and follow Jesus Christ...are probably less than 10% of the population of the U.S. ...and that is probably an optimistic estimate, at that.
It doesn't surprise me, although, in a way, it does sadden me.
But, at the same time, it uplifts me and brings me great hope...because, in these declining numbers, I see the time of His return coming closer!!

Answer 3

It always utterly amazes me when a so called Christian is arguing with me and I end up knowing far, far more about their religion then they do. I ask them if they have even read the Bible and 9 out of 10 times they say not personally! What the heck?! I have read the Bible and I don't even believe in the thing!! Why haven't the people that actually follow the religion read the book?! Really whats the point of considering yourself something when you know absolutely nothing about it?

Answer 4

For the same reason that a Republican, "Christian" senator from Georgia (who was lobbying to get the 10 commandments placed in all federal buildings) couldn't give Stephen Colbert more than 3 of the 10 commandments.

Most "Christians" aren't really Christians at all; it's more of a social thing for them. They think that because they love Jesus and they believe, that's enough. They can't be bothered with actually reading the bible, that's what the preacher is for.

If they did actually read the bible and what Jesus said, the religious right wouldn't exist.

Answer 5

If the actual % could be ascertained it would be far less than 82%.....far more claim, or actualy think, they are "Christian" than actualy are.... If The Rapture occures on a Sunday there will be many pews and pulpits still full afterwards.... make that perhaps 2-5%

Answer 6

Consider that the last time I looked, there was still the separation of church and state, which means the Bible is not in a school curriculum and ignorance of the Bible is nothing to fear.

However, there is a lot to fear with the fact that most Americans know more about Paris Hilton than about Ben Franklin.

Answer 7

One of the 4 what?

Answer 8

Sad, but I beleive much of this....Maybe not 82%, but a considerable amount.

Yes, it does reinforce the stereotype of those who pack the church on Christmas and Easter ONLY, but call themselves Christians. Dressing up twice a year and trying to catch up in the Bible wont' save you.

Answer 9

The reason the 50% can't remember Mathew Mark Luke and John is because Christians don't educate their young from the time they were born like Islamics do, and it is a crying shame.

Answer 10

I've never said that christians read the bible. I've always held that they don't. They simply get their weekly belief update from their favorite religious leader. This isn't news to me. News to me would be christians actually knowing which prophecies were actually prophecies about the Messiah and what he was actually supposed to be and do on Earth.