David Lott's Page

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Another week, another religion survey. Last week, the Pew Forum's survey on American religious knowledge garnered widespread media coverage and discussion, primarily for its unequivocal demonstration that atheists and agnostics are generally more knowledgeable about religion than adherents. This week, to less fanfare, but perhaps more significance, the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) released its biennial American Values… Continue

When survey results of U.S. religious beliefs, knowledge, and practices are released, they inevitably cause buzz in religious circles, particularly if they point to trends that either point to decreasing influence of religion or to more syncretist or evangelical styles. But the results are usually soon forgotten, and we go back to our usual habits, quickly losing whatever sense of urgency or determination to act that the survey initially provoked in us. In other words, the information is… Continue

One would not think that the ninth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks would draw special attention in the media and culture at large. In regard to momentous events like this, we usually reserve our special focus for dates that seem like more of a landmark--one year, five years, ten years, twenty-five years, and so forth. But 9/11 has this year asserted itself into our consciousness unexpectedly, primarily, though not entirely, when the Reverend Terry Jones, pastor of a tiny Florida church,… Continue