Okrahomer Posted January 31, 2014 Posted January 31, 2014 According to this article, Salt Lake City is the least Bible-literate city in the U.S. One wonders why Time thought this "study" worthy of its attention, since it’s merely a population-weighted analysis of the number of visits to a particular website. It certainly makes no attempt to account for other websites (such as LDS.org); nor does it jibe very well with more robust studies--such as this one from PEW--which indicates rather greater knowledge about the Bible among the LDS as opposed to any other group. From the Pew Study: "Mormons outperform Jews as well as atheists and agnostics on questions about the Bible but do not perform as well as the other two groups on questions having to do with world religions such as Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism."
Buzzard Posted January 31, 2014 Posted January 31, 2014 It's about as valid as the study a few years ago that said Utah rated the highest in Pornography subscriptions based on the stats from one website and less than a dozen zip codes. In other words, I'm guessing that the website is promoted in certain churches that for some strange reason are in the highest ranking cities.
Robert F. Smith Posted January 31, 2014 Posted January 31, 2014 According to this article, Salt Lake City is the least Bible-literate city in the U.S. One wonders why Time thought this "study" worthy of its attention, since it’s merely a population-weighted analysis of the number of visits to a particular website. It certainly makes no attempt to account for other websites (such as LDS.org); nor does it jibe very well with more robust studies--such as this one from PEW--which indicates rather greater knowledge about the Bible among the LDS as opposed to any other group. From the Pew Study: "Mormons outperform Jews as well as atheists and agnostics on questions about the Bible but do not perform as well as the other two groups on questions having to do with world religions such as Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism."I love the on point responses by Daniel Dinnell and "averagejoe". Time mag has always had a severe problem with factual reportage, going back to the days when owners Claire Booth and Henry Luce used to use it as their own political football.
The Nehor Posted January 31, 2014 Posted January 31, 2014 Using this same methodology i have just proved that I am the smartest man alive. Hooray for biased surveys!
Damien the Leper Posted January 31, 2014 Posted January 31, 2014 I read about this a few days ago and wanted to bash my head against the wall. Just from the article there are so many problems with the study.
ksfisher Posted January 31, 2014 Posted January 31, 2014 "The LDS Church's blog post also questioned the methodology of the rankings produced by BibleGateway.com, which had Salt Lake City 100th on its list — dead last. Time.com inferred that made Salt Lake America's "Most Godless City." But BibleGateway's rankings were based solely on how often people in a region used its own Bible-searching software." http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865595278/Salt-Lake-last-in-Bible-study-No-way-LDS-Church-says.html
strappinglad Posted February 1, 2014 Posted February 1, 2014 " There are lies, d$% lies, and Statistics." This article just affirmed the quote.
rpn Posted February 1, 2014 Posted February 1, 2014 If you read the survey questions, you would know that there is a good reason why Mormons, who other surveys have found to be the most bible knowledgeable, were 87th in this survey. It asked if they had read it during the previous week (last year, when we were studying church history), and they asked if the participant believe it to be inerrant (which we don't). The other survey results reported was for those who used a certain type of bible software ---- when most church members use the church versions of the scriptures if they are doing it online. If you just go to the source, it is easier to understand what the research is and is not saying.
Tacenda Posted February 1, 2014 Posted February 1, 2014 "The LDS Church's blog post also questioned the methodology of the rankings produced by BibleGateway.com, which had Salt Lake City 100th on its list — dead last. Time.com inferred that made Salt Lake America's "Most Godless City." But BibleGateway's rankings were based solely on how often people in a region used its own Bible-searching software."http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865595278/Salt-Lake-last-in-Bible-study-No-way-LDS-Church-says.htmlYeah but dead last? That's telling, no matter their methodology was. Something I've observed is that most LDS enjoy their Book of Mormon the most, maybe not all, but the majority.
Robert F. Smith Posted February 1, 2014 Posted February 1, 2014 Yeah but dead last? That's telling, no matter their methodology was. Something I've observed is that most LDS enjoy their Book of Mormon the most, maybe not all, but the majority.Yeh, well then, Tacenda, how do you explain that the Mormons score first in the legitimate (non-Mormon) Pew Research study. How is it that Mormons score highest in Bible knowledge on an unbiased and objective test? You don't think that the evangelicals would do that deliberately, do you? No, they would never do something underhanded like that . . .
Calm Posted February 1, 2014 Posted February 1, 2014 " That's telling, no matter their methodology was"Please think about this a bit more critically and don't assume something like if there's smoke, there must be fire...especially since there isn't even smoke in this case just fog.Have you read what the method was? It was measuring how many times people visited a website that posted scriptures. LDS use the lds.org scriptures for the identical purpose. There may be others who use it as well. It is likely that in SLC, lds.org is better known than bible gateway. All one should conclude from the study is that particular website isn't as popular in SLC as in other cities.It is like claiming a city is the smelliest because they buy the least amount of a certain deodorant....ignoring the fact that there are plenty of others to choose from and there are other studies based on a wider range of variables that demonstrate the state where the city exists is the cleanest one (peoplewise) in the country. Flags should be going up right and left.Having another similar product, the scriptures at lds.org, likely in higher usage in Utah due not only to greater concentration of members, but just the website likely being better known due to mentions in the media, and not including at least them in the study renders the study pretty worthless save as a suggestion to the company where they may want to spend some advertisement dollars...and even that probably isn't so because the higher visibility of lds.org may have so well established it in SLC that advertising there would be throwing money away.
Garden Girl Posted February 1, 2014 Posted February 1, 2014 Yeah but dead last? That's telling, no matter their methodology was. Something I've observed is that most LDS enjoy their Book of Mormon the most, maybe not all, but the majority. Hello Tacenda...Did you even read what the methodology was... totally skewed... BibleGateways rankings were based "solely on how often people in a region used its own Bible-searching software." No wonder Salt Lake was last... why would regional (SLC) LDS use their Bible-searching software... That BibleGateways would rank regions in that manner...That's what's telling!! But then, you don't seem to care about the methodology as long as it is critical of anything LDS-related such as Salt Lake City... GG
Tacenda Posted February 1, 2014 Posted February 1, 2014 I'm just going by my own experience. I can't believe you three haven't seen the BoM favored over the bible, I have. There's nothing wrong with it I guess, but to an outsider, or main body of evangelicals, it is. But it would make sense that LDS download our specific apps, and it would make sense if people were asked how often they read the bible in the last week if it were a church history year, I agree with that. But the year we studied the bible a few years back, our bishop had, "Read the BoM" at the top of a "ward council" agenda.
Garden Girl Posted February 1, 2014 Posted February 1, 2014 I'm just going by my own experience. I can't believe you three haven't seen the BoM favored over the bible, I have. There's nothing wrong with it I guess, but to an outsider, or main body of evangelicals, it is. But it would make sense that LDS download our specific apps, and it would make sense if people were asked how often they read the bible in the last week if it were a church history year, I agree with that. But the year we studied the bible a few years back, our bishop had, "Read the BoM" at the top of a "ward council" agenda. Why should we be all that concerned about what "outsiders" or the "main body of evangelicals" think about our reading of the Book of Mormon... something that we consider a part of our faith... a second witness of the Christ... and a special gift received by revelation and the power of God for us (everyone actually)... in this last dispensation of times... why shouldn't we read something that enriches our lives and should be very much a part of our daily study... along with the Bible... as previously cited, LDS score high when it comes to knowledge of the Bible... So, again, why should we care, really, what anyone else thinks. We have the Bible and the Book of Mormon, to use together... GG
Okrahomer Posted February 1, 2014 Author Posted February 1, 2014 I'm just going by my own experience. I can't believe you three haven't seen the BoM favored over the bible, I have. There's nothing wrong with it I guess, but to an outsider, or main body of evangelicals, it is. But it would make sense that LDS download our specific apps, and it would make sense if people were asked how often they read the bible in the last week if it were a church history year, I agree with that. But the year we studied the bible a few years back, our bishop had, "Read the BoM" at the top of a "ward council" agenda.If the LDS are so Bible-neglectful, how is it then that the LDS are actually the most Bible-literate group in the country?
BlueDreams Posted February 1, 2014 Posted February 1, 2014 I'm just going by my own experience. I can't believe you three haven't seen the BoM favored over the bible, I have. There's nothing wrong with it I guess, but to an outsider, or main body of evangelicals, it is. But it would make sense that LDS download our specific apps, and it would make sense if people were asked how often they read the bible in the last week if it were a church history year, I agree with that. But the year we studied the bible a few years back, our bishop had, "Read the BoM" at the top of a "ward council" agenda. It's not about favoritism. I have seen a preference for the BoM, but for the most part LDS still read and know the bible fairly well. It's about being "godless" because someone doesn't use a specific search engine. For example, I read the Bible just last night.....I can't even tell you if or when I might have used bible gateway...ever. According to this, I should be labeled Goddless or less Biblically versed. Ya seeing the problem with that? This is a correlation. Not causal. And it can't assume that where you stand on this actually indicates how much you read the book. And I could care less what the main body of evangelicals think of my faith. This isn't a popularity contest. With luv,BD
Tacenda Posted February 1, 2014 Posted February 1, 2014 Yes, pretty interesting that LDS are at the top in knowledge of the bible. I wonder how they surveyed/tested that out. Great to know. ETA: I think I read somewhere that LDS are at the top for living their religion. And definitely not Godless!
Okrahomer Posted February 1, 2014 Author Posted February 1, 2014 I wonder how they surveyed/tested that out. Great to know. The survey methods are detailed in Apendix A. ETA: I think I read somewhere that LDS are at the top for living their religion. Perhaps you are referring to this.
BCSpace Posted February 2, 2014 Posted February 2, 2014 Salt Lake City: Most Godless City In America...??? Sure. Opposition in all things and the fact that atheism is really the only reasonable way out of the LDS Church seeing as how we are already at the pinnacle of Christianity.
Tacenda Posted February 2, 2014 Posted February 2, 2014 The survey methods are detailed in Apendix A.Perhaps you are referring to this.Thankyou, very interesting.
Okrahomer Posted February 3, 2014 Author Posted February 3, 2014 Sure. Opposition in all things and the fact that atheism is really the only reasonable way out of the LDS Church seeing as how we are already at the pinnacle of Christianity.And yet all of the most reliable evidence points to a much more believing and Bible-literate populace than this so-called "study" describes. The editors of Time have apparently given valuable print space over to someone's wishful thinking rather than reporting some actual news.
Garden Girl Posted February 3, 2014 Posted February 3, 2014 I've thought recently that Brigham would be appalled at what SLC has become, and St Geo on a little lesser scale... but wasn't there some type of prophecy or opinion expressed way back that SLC would become wicked?? GG
Okrahomer Posted February 3, 2014 Author Posted February 3, 2014 I've thought recently that Brigham would be appalled at what SLC has become, and St Geo on a little lesser scale... but wasn't there some type of prophecy or opinion expressed way back that SLC would become wicked?? GG You may be thinking of Heber C. Kimball? Elder J. Golden Kimball quoted his grandfather at a General Conference in 1930. Heber seems to have been referring mostly to events leading up to the dedication of the Salt Lake Temple:"After a while the gentiles will gather in Salt Lake City by the thousands, and this will be among the wicked cities of the world...When the Temple roof is on, the persecution will lessen, but when the Temple is completed the power of the Evil One will be shut out."
Damien the Leper Posted February 3, 2014 Posted February 3, 2014 Sure. Opposition in all things and the fact that atheism is really the only reasonable way out of the LDS Church seeing as how we are already at the pinnacle of Christianity. Wrong. Many make it out of the LDS church with their faith intact. There are other former LDS in my parish. One good friend was baptised LDS in 2003, left in 2008, and converted with rational reasoning to the Orthodox faith. Unfortunately, there are some who go Reformed/Calvinist too. I'd rather be an atheist than a Calvinist.
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.