Monday, March 26, 2007

Alabama knows Bible

Well it has been reported that most Alabama residents say they have a religious faith and a majority in a new poll showed they have a basic knowledge of the Bible.

For example, nearly 70 percent of respondents to last week's Press-Register/University of South Alabama survey correctly named all four Gospels.

"They don't call it the Bible Belt for nothing," said Keith Nicholls, a political scientist and director of the USA Polling Group, which conducted the poll.

The poll showed Alabama residents know more about the Bible than other Americans.

Most Americans can't identify even one of the four Gospels, according to polls cited by Boston University professor Stephen Prothero, who has received national acclaim for his recent book titled "Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know - and Doesn't."

More than 70 percent of the Alabama respondents knew the location that the Bible identifies as Jesus' birthplace — Bethlehem.

Only 16 percent, however, knew that President Bush was making a reference to the biblical parable of the good Samaritan when he cited the Jericho Road in his first inaugural address.

Hey can you top that? At least we Alabamians are good for something and know a thing or two about the Bible, we just not sure about it when it is used in political speeches.

Still, he said, he was troubled that 30 percent of respondents attributed Benjamin Franklin's adage "God helps those who help themselves" to the Bible.

What's wrong with you people, of course its in the Bible. Franklin just borrowed it from the Bible. I am going to look it up my King James as soon as I can find it under all that dust and stuff. You can read the rest of the article here.And don't be messing with my Bible or my religion or my Football.

5 comments:

gavin richardson said...

so the bible, religion, and football are completely seperate passions? hmmm...

Terri said...

What an interesting survey...:-)

zorra said...

They aren't always separate in Alabama! Roll, Tide!

(ONLY 30% thought that saying was from the Bible? Sounds low to me.)

(word verification: ezulazy.
Tonight I ez.)

Sally said...

fascinating stuff- strange survey but fascinating!

Theresa Coleman said...

Personally, I'm always shocked by these types of surveys.

There was one recently where Mickey Mouse was shown to have a greater recognizability factor that that picture of Sallman's Jesus. People know Mickey but not Jesus????