1. Religious Literacy
Dan Mages

2. Americans are both deeply religious and profoundly ignorant about religion
9 out of 10 believe in God
8 out of 10 say that religion is important to them personally
More than 7 out of 10 report praying daily
Annual giving to religious institutions exceeds $88 billion

3. Religious cont…
Even the 14% who report that they have no religion often consider themselves spiritual.
Fewer than 1 out of 5 reject the possibility of life after death.
9 out of 10 “no religion” respondent’s say they pray

4. Religious Ignorance Gospels Sacraments Pentateuch
Faith is almost entirely devoid of content.
One of the most religious countries on earth is also a nation of religious illiterates.

5. Religious Ignorance Can Be Deadly
Balbir Singh Sodhi
Madeleine Albright
George W. Bush

6. Religion Has Always Played A Major Factor in US Politics and International Affairs
Civil Rights
Environmentalism
Everything from the American Revolution to the Civil War
Social Reform Movements
Abolitionism
Temperance
Woman’s Rights

7. Religion in Contemporary Debates
Abortion
Stem Cell Research
Captial Punishment
Animal Rights
Global Warming
Intelligent Design
Ten Commandments on public property
“God” in the Pledge of Allegiance
State Lotteries
Birth Control
Euthanasia
Gay Marriage
Welfare Policy
Military Policy
Foreign Policy

8. The US is not only one of the most religiously diverse places on earth but also the world’s most Christian country
There are some 250 million Christians
More than any country in the history of the world
50% of Americans consider themselves Protestant
25% of Americans consider themselves Roman Catholic
10% consider themselves Christians of some other stripe.
The US population is more Christian than Israel is Jewish or Utah is Mormon!

9. The World’s Most Christian Country cont…
2/3rds of Americans are church members
2/5ths attend a religious congregation either weekly or almost every week
Virtually every home has at least one Bible
34% believe the Bible is the literal word of God
Christian music sales exceeds a billion dollars annually

10. Christianity Dominates the Corridors of Power
92% of the 109th Congress were Christians
100% of the 50 governors
Among both state and national politicians there were zero Muslims, zero Buddhists, and

11. A Nation of Religions
L.A.is the most religiously diverse city in the country
Flushing, NY
YOGA
Martial Arts
Mosques