Pew report: Christians lack knowledge about world religions

Atheists, agnostics, Mormons and Jews appear to have a better understanding of world religions than Christians, according to a recent nationwide Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life survey.

If that’s the case, Texas Baptist leaders believe a lack of knowledge could impede efforts to share the gospel.

In a poll that questioned people about their knowledge of various religions, religious figures and religious history, atheists and agnostics scored highest, correctly answering an average of 20.9 out of 32 questions. Jews and Mormons followed closely behind, correctly answering 20.3 and 20.5 questions respectively.

Protestants averaged 16 correct answers per quiz, and Catholics fared even worse, netting an average of 14.9 correct responses.

Agnostics and atheists scored higher on questions about religions other than Christianity, while Mormons and Christians correctly answered a higher percentage of questions about Christianity. The more people were involved in religious activities, the better they did on the survey.

Baptist leaders across Texas found Christians’ apparent lack of knowledge about other faiths particularly troubling, noting that knowledge of other people’s beliefs helps create and facilitate relationships, which are the key to evangelism ef-forts.

“A Christian should absolutely know about other beliefs,” said Sandy Wisdom-Martin, executive director-treasurer of Woman’s Missionary Union of Texas.

“We are called to take the gospel to the nations. To be an effective witness, we must engage peoples of other faiths. How can we hope to do that without a basic understanding of other beliefs? Having an informed discussion with a Muslim regarding the five pillars of Islam would enable an honest dialogue that communicates respect and will open doors for future discussions.”

Jim Denison, Baptist General Convention of Texas theologian-in-residence and president of the Center for Informed Faith, agreed. Denison noted even the earliest Christians used their knowledge of other faiths as a path to sharing the hope of Christ.

“Paul studied the religions he found in Athens, then used what he discovered as a bridge to the gospel,” he said.

“Early Christian leaders explained Greek philosophy in equipping believers to fulfill the Great Commission. Jesus called us the ‘light of the world’ and the ‘salt of the earth,’ change agents who are called to take our faith into public life. The more we know about the be-liefs of others, the more effective we will be in showing them why Christianity is relevant to their lives.”

Phil Miller, director of the BGCT Bible Study/discipleship team, said one of the reasons for Christians’ seeming lack of knowledge about world religions has been their reluctance to engage those around them in recent years.

By talking with people of other faiths, Miller said, Christians have the opportunity to learn about other religions. And by listening, Christians gain their respect and earn the right to share the gospel.

“We need to know what we believe well enough that we can share it with someone else,” Miller said. “We have come to a day in society where even if we are diametrically opposed to what they believe, we have to be able to sit down with someone and ask them what they believe. Then be quiet long enough to listen. Afterward, we will have the opportunity to tell our story.”

Discussions about faith not only help Christians understand the beliefs of others and open avenues through which the gospel can be shared, they also aid believers in better understanding their own faith, said Keith Lowry, BGCT single adult/family ministry/ senior adult specialist.

“The best way to get to know the faith of your neighbor is get to know your neighbor,” Lowry said. “Best way to learn about your faith is to share it with your neighbor. If more Baptists are willing to do that, I think we could change the world.”