Americans: "In the Thrall of Talking Heads"

This article confirms what I've often suspected. It poignantly points out that Americans are "in the thrall of talking heads", which is certainly true since far too often they uncritically accept the hate-mongering rhetoric that is spoon-fed to them by the media, their pastors or so-called "experts" on Islam.

A Nation of Faith and Religious Illiterates
by Stephen Prothero
Los Angeles Times - January 12, 2004

"The Dutch are four times less likely than Americans to believe in miracles, hell and biblical inerrancy. The euro does not trust in God. But here is the paradox: Although Americans are far more religious than Europeans, they know far less about religion."

"But, according to a 1997 poll, only one out of three U.S. citizens is able to name the most basic of Christian texts, the four Gospels, and 12% think Noah's wife was Joan of Arc. That paints a picture of a nation that believes God speaks in Scripture but that can't be bothered to read what he has to say."

"Americans...know virtually nothing about Islam. Such ignorance imperils our public life, putting citizens in the thrall of talking heads."

"...the Sermon on the Mount (which was delivered, as only one in three Americans can tell you, by Jesus)."

The full text of this article can also be found here.

Stephen Prothero is author of American Jesus: How the Son of God Became a National Icon.