You have probably noticed that I have made some changes to the blog. It's a work in progress.

I am the library today, working on my Theology mid-term. The great thing about being at the library on Fridays is that, since there are no classes all day, the library is a ghost-town. Library etiquette has completely gone away (at least in my own experience), so trying to get any work done during the week can be an exercise in futility. But, on Fridays, it is joyfully silent.

Michelle is baby-sitting the younger boy that she used to nanny for. I am going to meet them around lunch time; it will be neat to see him.

I read an article in USA Today yesterday about a new book titled Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know--and Doesn't by Stephen Prothero. Prothero is the chair of the religion department at Boston University. In his book, Prothero points out that the vast majority of Americans hold a stunningly low level of knowledge about the world's religions. He reminds us that being ignorant of these matters prevents us from truly understanding many of the world's events, and argues that a religiously knowledgeable society is a better one.

Included in the book is a 15-question quiz, which he says his students fail every year. Michelle and I took it, and we did "OK". Which is to say that we passed.

If you like, take it and see how you do. Check your answers here. Add up your total points, then multiply by two for your final score (as a percentage of 100).

1 point each: Name the Four Christian Gospels.



1 point: Name a sacred text of Hinduism



1 point: What is the name of the holy book of Islam?



1 point: Where according to the Bible was Jesus born?



1 point: President George W. Bush spoke in his first inaugural address of the Jericho road. What Bible story was he invoking?



1 point each: What are the first five books of the Hebrew Bible or the Christian Old Testament?



1 point: What is the Golden Rule?



2 points: "God helps those who help themselves." Is this in the Bible? If so, where?



2 points: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God." Does this appear in the Bible?



10 points: Name the Ten Commandments.


4 points: Name the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism.



7 points: What are the Seven Sacraments of Catholicism?



1 point each: The First Amendment says two things about religion, each in its own "clause." What are its two religion clauses?



2 points: What is Ramadan? In what religion is it celebrated?



7 points: Match the Bible characters with the stories in which they appear. Some characters may be matched with more than one story or vice versa.

CHARACTERS:

Adam and Eve

Noah

Paul

Moses

Jesus

Abraham

Serpent


STORIES:

Exodus

Binding of Isaac

Olive Branch

Garden of Eden

Parting of the Red Sea

Road to Damascus

Garden of Gethsemane