A recent survey showed how successful our educational system has been in passing on one of the central cultural texts of European culture.
So many of our schools, despite the legal requirement to supply some religious education, actually actively promote a secularist agenda. The result is not only ignorance of Christianity and Judaism but an inability to understand their cultural roots.
Fewer than one in 20 are able to name all Ten Commandments, while 62% did not know the parable of the Prodigal Son and 60% could not name anything about the Good Samaritan.
The initial research findings from The National Biblical Literacy Survey 2009 also revealed that 40% did not know that among Christians the tradition of giving Christmas gifts came from the story of the Wise Men bringing gold, frankincense and myrrh to the infant Jesus.
While only 5% of people could name all the Ten Commandments, 16% could not name any.
So many of our schools, despite the legal requirement to supply some religious education, actually actively promote a secularist agenda. The result is not only ignorance of Christianity and Judaism but an inability to understand their cultural roots.
9 comments:
'Fewer than one in 20 are able to name all Ten Commandments, while 62% did not know the parable of the Prodigal Son and 60% could not name anything about the Good Samaritan'.....
And that's just the Catholic Schools Fr Ray! :-)
... think I'm joking?
Trouble is they are terrified of offending people of other Faiths.
The Atheists have virtually won,it may backfire on them as they will eventually be branded INFIDEL and we all know what that means.
I do like this post..will use it soon..
The problem here as I see it is that not only is Britain a secular society, but Christianity is definetly in retreat.
Society is gradually but surely becoming intolerant of Christians.
So I suppose the ball is in our (the Christians) court. What do we do about it?
I'm not surprised at these statistics. Britain is not only a secular country but Christianity is itself in retreat.
People are becoming increasingly less tolerant of Christians.
The ball is in our court? What do we do about it?
These are some interesting numbers. I have to agree with the second comment on here, people are way too scared to offend people. It is very hard to teach basic parts of our faith to people anymore, still isn't any excuse for those numbers though they are just outrageous.
The statistics make an eloquent case for Home Education!
Are they any better on secular knowledge? A recent survey of young people showed that a majority thought that Winston Churchill was "that dog on tele".
On TV quiz shows people who have shown themselves to be knowledgeable on other subjects frequently fall down when it comes to religion or sacred scripture.
Example from 'The Weakest Link' recently:
Anne Robinson: In the New Testament which prophet baptised Jesus in the River Jordan?
Contestant (the eventual winner): Errr, Moses?
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