The bottom line: People who hold strong beliefs about faith — positive or negative beliefs — seem to know more about religion than those who are less committed. Passion, not apathy, is what leads to knowledge.
Consider, for example, this crucial Catholic question. In one of the Pew survey’s most surprising findings, 45 percent of Catholics polled did not know that their church teaches that the bread and wine consecrated during the Mass are not merely symbols, but are believed to truly become the body and blood of Jesus Christ. However, nearly 70 percent of white Catholics who attended Mass once a week answered that question correctly.
“We already knew that Catholics who attend Mass every week act differently and even vote differently than other Catholics,” said Smith. “What this survey shows is that Catholics who are more active in their faith think differently than other Catholics, too. … Of course, it isn’t surprising that people who enthusiastically practice their faith also know more about their faith, and even religion in general, than those who do not.”
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Terry Mattingly: Passion and Participation Leads to Knowledge
The bottom line: People who hold strong beliefs about faith — positive or negative beliefs — seem to know more about religion than those who are less committed. Passion, not apathy, is what leads to knowledge.
Consider, for example, this crucial Catholic question. In one of the Pew survey’s most surprising findings, 45 percent of Catholics polled did not know that their church teaches that the bread and wine consecrated during the Mass are not merely symbols, but are believed to truly become the body and blood of Jesus Christ. However, nearly 70 percent of white Catholics who attended Mass once a week answered that question correctly.
“We already knew that Catholics who attend Mass every week act differently and even vote differently than other Catholics,” said Smith. “What this survey shows is that Catholics who are more active in their faith think differently than other Catholics, too. … Of course, it isn’t surprising that people who enthusiastically practice their faith also know more about their faith, and even religion in general, than those who do not.”
Read it all.