A Nation of Faith and Religious Illiterates

I've been in enough battles with zealots over the past few months to know that some people are just spit shining their pastors shoes. I've been subjected to random biblical quotes to address basic questions (which have logical and historical answers). I've been called a Pharisee when I was able to document historic facts that relate to Jesus and the leaders of other major religions. I've been told "because it's the word" when asking for more than an irrelevant scripture reference. Sorry, "because it is in the bible" is no more of an answer from a believer than "because I said so" is from a frustrated mother. But, I certainly find this to be the case as I have experienced it, too much lately, quite recently.

"The sociologist Peter Berger once remarked that if India is the most religious country in the world and Sweden the least, then the United States is a nation of Indians ruled by Swedes. Not anymore. With a Jesus lover in the Oval Office and a faith-based party in control of both houses of Congress, the United States is undeniably a nation of believers ruled by the same.

Things are different in Europe, and not just in Sweden. The Dutch are four times less likely than Americans to believe in miracles, hell and biblical inerrancy. The euro does not trust in God. But here is the paradox: Although Americans are far more religious than Europeans, they know far less about religion.

In Europe, religious education is the rule from the elementary grades on. So Austrians, Norwegians and the Irish can tell you about the Seven Deadly Sins or the Five Pillars of Islam. But, according to a 1997 poll, only one out of three U.S. citizens is able to name the most basic of Christian texts, the four Gospels, and 12% think Noah's wife was Joan of Arc. That paints a picture of a nation that believes God speaks in Scripture but that can't be bothered to read what he has to say."

Not only is that scary, but this is even scarier:

"But you do have to be careful about one thing," he said more quietly, coming closer and speaking in hushed tones, "My professor-I have this great professor-told me that you have to be careful not to get too much education, because you could lose your foundation, your core values."

The neophyte nodded solemnly, his eyebrows raised with worry.

"If you get a bachelors," the seasoned student reassured, "you'll probably be okay. But my professor said that when you get a master's, and definitely if you go beyond that, you can lose your values. He said that college students have to be watchful because if you get too much education, you could turn LIBERAL. He's seen it happen to a lot of good Christians."

Well, damn! Perhaps that is what happened to me. I don't have my master's but probably have read and research various subject matter more than people who do. Moreover, the crazy Jesuits who provided my B.A. probably heightened and corrupted my sense of curiosity more than anyone but my parents.