Survay:Atheists, agnostics most knowledgeable about religion

[notself]

I read the Bible when I was 11-12 (NIV), then again when I lost my religion (NKJ). Fortunately, other religious texts seem to be much shorter than the Bible.

The full Buddhist Canon is about the size of 5-6 bibles.  The Dhammapada is just a small section.

[Tommo]

When I told my mother about this she replied that she'd rather actually know god personally than know "about" religion and the bible...

[Will]

I read the Bible when I was 11-12 (NIV), then again when I lost my religion (NKJ). Fortunately, other religious texts seem to be much shorter than the Bible.

The full Buddhist Canon is about the size of 5-6 bibles.  The Dhammapada is just a small section.

Yeah, I've not had a chance to read the whole thing yet. I asked a Buddhist what I should read to get an idea of what Buddhism is and he recommended the Dhammapada.

[Asmodean]

Yeah, I've not had a chance to read the whole thing yet. I asked a Buddhist what I should read to get an idea of what Buddhism is and he recommended the Dhammapada.

I can barely LIFT the whole thing  

(No, not really, but I did acquire it and am contemplating starting on it)

[notself]

It is really slow reading.  There is a tremendous amount of repetition because sections are often chanted.  When all of the repetitions are included, the canon is around 70 volumes.    I would recommend putting the books aside and using the index from Access to Insight.  One can look up a topic and read several suttas pertaining to the topic.  Under Author one can read essays by very well known monks on various topics.  The clearest are by Thanissaro Bhikkhu who is an American monk, abbot of a monastery in San Diego.  

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/index-subject.html

If you want to read the Dhammapada with traditional stories, here's a link.  http://www.vipassana.info/a.htm#Cakkhupala

[Thumpalumpacus]

Yeah, I've not had a chance to read the whole thing yet. I asked a Buddhist what I should read to get an idea of what Buddhism is and he recommended the Dhammapada.

I can barely LIFT the whole thing  

(No, not really, but I did acquire it and am contemplating starting on it)

Well, you've got a leg up, from what I understand; Buddhism is all about comtemplation.

[PoopShoot]

Buddhism is all about comtemplation.

And often about putting a mystical slant on mundane subjects.

[navvelline]

It's called transubstantiation. Person I know who is Catholic is gluten intolerant so can't eat the communion wafers, so she pockets them and gives them to her dog when she gets home  

On another note, I find it funny that both Mormons and Jews scored better on the test than the Catholics. The ones I know are always bragging about them being in the "one true church".  

[KebertX]

So there was a nation wide survey in America, to gauge the level of Religious knowledge among Americans Apparently, atheists scored highest out of any demographic.

I thought this would be a nice place to preform a little social experiment.  Take this test, post your score, converse.  I'm just interested by the prospect that we know more about religion than the religious.

http://features.pewforum.org/quiz/us-religious-knowledge/index.php

I got an 87%, btw.

[Velma]

So there was a nation wide survey in America, to gauge the level of Religious knowledge among Americans Apparently, atheists scored highest out of any demographic.

I thought this would be a nice place to preform a little social experiment.  Take this test, post your score, converse.  I'm just interested by the prospect that we know more about religion than the religious.

http://features.pewforum.org/quiz/us-religious-knowledge/index.php

I got an 87%, btw.

Think there's a thread about this already.

Anyway, I made 100%.

[KDbeads]

100%

[KebertX]

Buddhism is all about comtemplation.

And often about putting a mystical slant on mundane subjects.

Yes. I consider that to be a good thing though  

[Tank]

Buddhism is all about comtemplation.

And often about putting a mystical slant on mundane subjects.

Yes. I consider that to be a good thing though  

That's an interesting comment. If you have the time and inclination I would like to try to understand my.

[KebertX]

Buddhism is all about comtemplation.

And often about putting a mystical slant on mundane subjects.

Yes. I consider that to be a good thing though  

~

Completely unrelated note to the OP: "Survay?!?" Really?  I'm sorry, but I need to point out this spelling FAIL.  For future reference: S - U - R - V - E - Y!

[Thumpalumpacus]

"Why not" is not a decent reason for me to rearrange my neurons, thanks.  I'm looking for the world the way it is.  Because "why not" carries no burden of proof, it rarely satisfies my curiosity, because rather than "why not?", I ask "why?"