If you are like me, you read this article about the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life Survey, and really wanted to know what the questions were that us Jewish atheists (and the Mormons) did so well on. Anyways, here they are: (NB the survey doesn't include the answers, so the answers are whatever I think is correct. Unless you are a Jewish Mormon Atheist, chances are I got more right than you, but I could still be mistaken.).
1. When does the Jewish Sabbath begin? Does it begin on Friday, Saturday, Sunday?
2. Is Ramadan: The Hindu festival of lights? A Jewish day? of atonement? The Islamic holy month?
3. Do you happen to know which of these is the king of gods in ancient Greek mythology? Zeus? Mars? Apollo?
4. Do you happen to know the name of the holy book of Islam? What is it?
5. Which of these religions aims at nirvana, the state of being free from suffering? Islam? Buddhism? Hinduism?
6. In which religion are Vishnu and Shiva central figures? Islam? Hinduism? Taoism?
7. Is an athist someone who believes in God, someone who does NOT believe in God, or someone who is unsure whether God exists? And is an agnostic someone who believes in God, someone who does NOT believe in God, or someone who is unsure whether God exists?
8. What is the first book of the Bible?
9. Will you tell me the names of the first four books of the New Testament of the Bible, that is the Four Gospels?
10. Where, according to the Bible, was Jesus born? Jericho? Bethlehem? Jerusalem? Nazareth?
11. When was the Mormon religion founded? Before the year 1200 A.D.? Between 1200 and 1800? Sometime after 1800?
12. The Book of Mormon tells the story of Jesus Christ appearing to people in what area of the world? The Americas? The Middle East? Asia?
13. Which of the following best describes Catholic teaching about the bread and wine used for Communion? The bread and wine actually become the body and blood of Jesus Christ? The bread and wine are symbols of the body and blood?
14. Which of these religious groups traditionally teaches that salvation comes through faith alone? Only Protestants? Only Catholics? Both? Neither?
15. Please tell me which of the following is NOT one of the Ten Commandments? Do not commit adultery? Do unto others as you would have them do unto you? Do not steal? Keep the Sabbath holy? All are in the Ten Commandments?
16. Which Bible figure is most closely associated with remaining obedient to God despite suffering? Job? Elijah? Moses? Abraham?
17. Which Bible figure is most closely associated with leading the exodus from Egypt? Job? Elijah? Moses? Abraham?
18. Which Bible figure is most closely associated with willingness to sacrifice his son for God? Job? Elijah? Moses? Abraham?
19. Would you tell me if Mother Teresa was Catholic? Jewish? Buddhist? Mormon? Hindu?
20. Would you tell me if the Dalai Lama is Catholic? Jewish? Buddhist? Mormon? Hindu?
21. Would you tell me if Joseph Smith was Catholic? Jewish? Buddhist? Mormon? Hindu?
22. Would you tell me if Maimonides was Catholic? Jewish? Buddhist? Mormon? Hindu?
23. Which of the following statements best describes what the U.S. Constitution says about religion? Christianity should be given special emphasis by the government? The government shall neither establish a religion nor interfere with the practice of religion? The Constitution does not say anything one way or the other about religion?
24. According to rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court, is a public school teacher permitted to lead a class in prayer?
25. According to rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court, is a public school teacher permitted to read from the Bible as an example of literature?
26. According to rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court, is a public school teacher permitted tooffer a class comparing the world's religions?
27. Do you happen to know what religion most people in India consider themselves?
28. Do you happen to know what religion most people in Indonesia consider themselves?
29. Do you happen to know what religion most people in Pakistan consider themselves?
30. What was the name of the person whose writings and actions inspired the Protestant Reformation? Martin Luther? Thomas Aquinas? John Wesley?
31. Which of these people developed the theory of evolution by natural selection? Sigmund Freud? Charles Darwin? Clarence Darrow?
32. And which of these court trials focused on whether evolution could be taught in public schools? The Salem witch trials? Brown vs. Board of Education? The Scopes trial?
33. Which one of these preachers participated in the period of religious activity known as the First Great
Awakening? Jonathan Edwards? Charles Finney? Billy Graham?
1. Friday 2. Islamic Holy Month 3. Zeus 4. Koran 5. Buddhism 6. Hinduism 7. Does not beleive, isn't sure 8. Genesis or Bereshit 9. Matthew, Mark Luke and John 10. Bethlehem 11. After 1800 12. The Americas 13. Actually become body and blood of Christ. 14. Protestants 15. Do unto others 16. Job 17. Moses 18. Abraham 19. Catholic 20. Buddhist 21. Mormon 22. Jewish 23. Neither establish nor interfere 24. No 25. Yes 26. Yes 27. Hindu 28. Muslim 29. Muslim 30. Martin Luther 31. Charles Darwin 32. The Scopes Trial 33. Jonathan Edwards
