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Biblical Ignorance

Young people were asked the names of the four New Testament Gospels, the number of disciples that Jesus had and what religious event or happening was celebrated at Easter.

Nineteen percent of those polled could not answer any of the questions. Thirty percent were able to answer all three questions.

Among the young people who indicated that they attended church regularly, only 43% answered the three simple questions correctly. Gallup Poll reported in National Layman's Digest,

High School Students and a Bible Test

According to the January issue of the American Bible Society Record, a high school teacher in Newton, Massachusetts gave an exam to his junior and senior students. The quiz was quite simple, consisting of questions about some of the familiar names found in the Bible. The results were dismaying. Some of the answers given were —

Sodom and Gomorrah were lovers.

Jesus was baptized by Moses.

The Gospels were written by Matthew, Mark, Luther and John.

The Epistles were the wives of the Apostles.

These same high school students were also asked to complete the following sentences:

Many are called, but few are___

The love of money is the root of

all___________________________

The truth shall make you   _____

Seventy-nine per cent could not com­plete the first quotation, 84 per cent muffed the second and 95 per cent struck out on the third. Those examined were wholesome American high school students in one of America's most affluent com­munities, and some were about to enter college. The results are depressing. Even though the Bible is the best known book in the world, there are few people who are truly familiar with it.