Religion scholar stephen prothero makes the provocative case that to remedy this problem, religion should be taught in public school. Stephen prothero is a professor in the department of religion at boston university and the author of numerous books, most recently religious literacy. We have a major civic problem on our hands, says religion scholar stephen prothero. As for the sacred scriptures, or bibles of mankind, who in this town can tell me even their titles. An introduction to god is not one, by stephen prothero. This quiz is reprinted from the book religious literacy. Here, then, are some notes about the introduction to the book, and my. Jan 20, 2005 the christian science monitor is an international news organization that delivers thoughtful, global coverage via its website, weekly magazine, online daily edition, and email newsletters. There were, hirsch contended, certain things we should know to be an educated citizen, things too many americans didnt know. Russell professor of religion at boston university and the author of the new york times bestseller religious literacy. Choose from 4 different sets of religious literacy what prothero flashcards on quizlet. Complete with a dictionary of the key beliefs, characters, and stories of christianity, islam, and other religions, religious literacy reveals what every american needs to know in order to. His work has been featured on the cover of time magazine, the oprah winfrey show, the daily show with jon stewart, the colbert report, npr, and other top national media outlets.
Match the bible characters with the stories in which they appear by drawing a line from one to the other. Download religious literacy audiobook by stephen prothero. Religious literacy by stephen prothero meet noah and joan of arc stephen prothero plumbs the depths of religious illiteracy. Jun 10, 2007 the second half of the book is a glossary of religious terms that americans need to know. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Building religious literacy through the greatest stories ever told, religion matters. Many believe that americas descent into religious illiteracy was the doing of activist judges and secularists hellbent on banishing religion from the public square. My goal, he writes, is to help citizens participate fully in social, political, and economic life in a nation and a world in which religion counts p. Learn religious literacy what prothero with free interactive flashcards. Prothero made the case that secularism in american education was converting the citizens of our country into religious illiterates at just the time we need to be more aware of the role of religion in society. What every american needs to know and doesnt by prothero, stephen a religious primer serves as an argument for why religion should become a mandatory subject in american public schools, contending that most americans are not able to identify basic tenets of their faith and that key political challenges can be better met. Prothero reveals that this is a profound misunderstanding. Listen to religious literacy audiobook by stephen prothero.
Religious literacy by stephen prothero houston chronicle. What every american needs to knowand doesnt stephen r. Read religious literacy online by stephen prothero books free. Religious literacy reveals what every american needs to know in order to confront the domestic and foreign challenges facing this country today. The eight rival religions that run the world and why their differences matter harper 2010 and why liberals win the. Protheros judicious selection includes descriptions of the major world religions, the largest. His work has been featured on the cover of time magazine, the oprah winfrey show, the daily show with jon stewart, national public radio, and other top. Prothero recognizes this as the beginning, not the end goal.
Stephen prothero, chair of the religion department at the college of arts and sciences, speaks about his new book, the new york times best seller. But judaism, christianity and islamthe religions of the bookare the most contentious and they all share a belief in one god. What every american needs to knowand doesnt harper 2007. Stephen prothero is the new york times bestselling author of religious literacy and god is not one and a professor of religion at boston university. The second half of the book is a glossary of religious terms that americans need to know. The eight rival religions that run the worldand why their differences matterharperone, 2010, and the new york times bestseller religious literacy. Learn about the diverse, dynamic nature of religion in context. Read religious literacy what every american needs to knowand doesnt by stephen prothero available from rakuten kobo. Prothero avoids the trap of religious relativism by addressing both the core tenets of the worlds major religions and the real differences among them. A good starting point is taking a religious literacy selfassessment quiz and then proceeding to selfstudy with a. Nearly twothirds of americans believe that the bible holds the answers. In america, religion is miles wide and a quarter inch deep, pollster george.
The united states is one of the most religious places on earth, but it is also a nation of shocking religious illiteracy. Download it once and read it on your kindle device. Stephen protheros religious literacy makes a strong case that minimal religious literacy is an essential requirement for contemporary u. It has been proposed that including religious literacy as an aspect of public education would improve social cohesion. Alongside reading, writing, and arithmetic, religion ought to become the fourth r of american education. The christian science monitor is an international news organization that delivers thoughtful, global coverage via its website, weekly magazine, online daily edition, and email newsletters. Religious literacy ebook 9780061856211 by stephen prothero. Resources and tools for religious literacy and competency. Apr 26, 2015 in the introduction to god is not one, stephen prothero tells us that hinduism has many gods and buddhism has no god. Author stephen prothero, who chairs the religion department at boston university, believes it does. The importance of being religiously literate is increasing as globalisation has created greater links and migration between societies of different faiths and cultures.
Delving into the different problems and solutions that islam, christianity. Religious literacy, which will be published by harpersanfrancisco on march 1, 2007, explores this problem, pinpointing key moments in u. Religious literacy stephen prothero digital audiobook. What every american needs to knowand doesnt, published by harpersanfrancisco. Why its vital to understand religious diversity in america thursday, october 16th, 7. What every american needs to knowand doesnt and american jesus. Stephen prothero is the new york times bestselling author of religious. Oct 07, 2010 in 2007, stephen prothero professor of religion at boston university wrote a book called religious literacy. What every american needs to knowand doesnt, by stephen prothero, published this year 2007. The author also dedicates 85 pages of his book to a useful. Available on kindle ebook and can be read on any device with the free kindle. Stephen prothero is chair of the department of religion at boston university and the author of numerous books including why liberals win the culture wars harperone, 2016, god is not one.
But judaism, christianity and islam the religions of the book are the most contentious and they all share a belief in one god. As ive mentioned previously, my motivation for starting this blog was a book i read called religious literacy. In the introduction to god is not one, stephen prothero tells us that hinduism has many gods and buddhism has no god. Stephen prothero, chairman of the religion department of boston university, has written a new book titled religious literacy. Prothero likens his book to one that appeared like e. A good starting point is taking a religious literacy selfassessment quiz and then proceeding to. Harper san francisco, 2007 gives a past and present look at religious literacy in america.
What every american should know and doesnt, a widely discussed book by stephen prothero, the chair of the religion department at boston university, religious literacy is defined as the ability to understand and use the religious terms, symbols, images, beliefs, practices, scriptures, heroes, themes, and stories. The eight rival religions that run the world, new york times bestselling author of religious literacy and religion scholar stephen prothero argues that persistent attempts to portray all religions as different paths to the same god overlook the distinct problem that each tradition seeks to. Prothero spends the majority of the book explaining the history of religious education in america, from the puritans through the scopes monkey trial. Stephen prothero is the new york times bestselling author of religious literacy and god is not one, a professor of religion at boston university, and a senior fellow at the smithsonians national museum of american history in washington d. Hirschs cultural literacy 1987, which warned of a serious deficiency in our cultural iq. The nondevotional study of religion asserts that religions are internally diverse, evolve and change over time, and are embedded in culture. He is a professor of religion at boston university and the author of eight books on religion in america, including the new york times bestseller religious literacy.
Religious literacy prothero, stephen 9780060846701 hpb. In one of the great ironies of american religious history, prothero writes, it was. Download or stream religious literacy by stephen prothero. Resources and tools for religious literacy and competency building religious literacy and competency is an ongoing process, with a wealth of selfdirected study resources as well as classroom training available. Oct 24, 2014 stephen prothero presents religious literacy. What every american needs to knowand doesnt by stephen prothero.
What every american needs to knowand doesnt kindle edition by prothero, stephen. One of the tasks ive set for myself here in the blog is to record some notes from this book and my response to it. Stephen prothero, the chair of boston universitys religion department, proposes not religious instruction, but religious literacy for school students. For me, the most valuable part of the book is the 100page dictionary of religious literacy, which offers concise yet illuminating definitions on such topics as shiite islam vs. The most controversial part of the controversial legislation now derided by republicans as obamacarethe mandate that individuals buy health insurancewas originally proposed by republican economists, championed by the conservative heritage foundation, introduced in congress by republican politicians, and enacted in massachusetts under republican governor mitt romney. The eight rival religions that run the world, new york times bestselling author of religious literacy and religion scholar stephen prothero argues that persistent attempts to portray all religions as different paths to the same god overlook the distinct problem that each tradition seeks to solve. Jun 04, 2014 at the end of his book religious literacy, boston university professor stephen prothero offers a short religious literacy quiz covering major world religions in proportion to their presence in the united states. What every american needs to know and doesnt by stephen prothero. Prothero should be applauded for undertaking the task of inserting religious literacy into public debate, and his book would make a good beginning as a text for teaching religious literacy. Religious literacy ebook by stephen prothero rakuten kobo. His work has been featured on the cover of time magazine, the oprah winfrey show, the daily show w. Religious literacy is the knowledge of, and ability to understand, religion. The problem of religious illiteracy dorothy day center.
Stephen protheros religious literacy quiz part ii adapted from stephen prothero, religious literacy n. Do all of the worlds great religions share a belief in one god, or even one central idea. In 2007, stephen prothero professor of religion at boston university wrote a book called religious literacy. Only 10 percent of american teenagers can name all five major world religions and 15 percent cannot name any. Stephen protheros religious literacy quiz part i adapted. It is a diagnostic assessment of familiarity with the basic tenets of major world religions. God is not one by stephen prothero overdrive rakuten. At the end of his book religious literacy, boston university professor stephen prothero offers a short religious literacy quiz covering major world religions in proportion to their presence in the united states. Religious literacy ebook by stephen prothero 9780061856211. Mar 11, 2007 prothero should be applauded for undertaking the task of inserting religious literacy into public debate, and his book would make a good beginning as a text for teaching religious literacy. This is part 1 of a 2part series on stephen protheros religious literacy.
Mar 25, 2007 religious literacy by stephen prothero meet noah and joan of arc stephen prothero plumbs the depths of religious illiteracy. His goal is to show how important it is for americans to have a better education in religion and in the bible and ways to achieve this. Get 50% off this audiobook at the audiobooksnow online audio book store and download or stream it right to your computer, smartphone or tablet. Religious literacy by stephen prothero overdrive rakuten. Get 50% off this audiobook at the audiobooksnow online audio book store and download or stream. Mar 31, 2010 stephen prothero, chair of the religion department at the college of arts and sciences, speaks about his new book, the new york times best seller religious literacy. Professor prothero was interviewed about his book, religious literacy.
1485 854 87 1506 146 856 300 1268 1089 564 1517 1464 1319 1394 435 1161 1190 410 504 1314 896 386 354 1396 1225 1236 1077 363 1076