Ask a silly question...

[icewolf]

It occurs to me to ask, since I'm realizing that I have a skewed view of religion. (Pause for the universal "Well, DUH.") For example, I thought everyone knew about Thomas Aquinas. Apparently not. So I'm posting this poll...

[Poll #1418777]

Comments

[icewolf010.livejournal.com]

Well, having grown up primarily in the midatlantic, and living in Maryland (which was founded as a colony for Catholics), not to mention that my father is an ordained priest who received his dispensation from active service in 1973, I am realizing that, as far as certain theological ideas go, I'm like the fish who doesn't think anything of water. My default is to think that everybody knows who Thomas Aquinas was, that they know why Thomas Becket was such a big deal even before they made a really awesome movie about him, and that Vatican II wasn't just about translating the Mass into English.

What brought it to mind has been a series of exchanges with a friend. This friend is not Christian, and was raised in the US South. As a result, I frequently come out with things that make him tilt his head and say, "What, now? That's not how the Christians I knew did/thought/said things."

So I've posted this poll to try to figure out how deep in the pond I've gotten, i.e., how badly I've been assuming.

[blue-estro.livejournal.com]

My default is to think that everybody knows who Thomas Aquinas was, that they know why Thomas Becket was such a big deal even before they made a really awesome movie about him, and that Vatican II wasn't just about translating the Mass into English.

Wait, so is the above very aware or somewhat aware? I almost put "no clue" just because I don't know how much I don't know. I was raised lax Presbyterian but most of my knowledge of Catholic theology comes from high school history, college philosophy classes, and a bit of own dilettante religious studies. I doubt I could pass a confirmation class, so I have no idea how complete my understanding of the differences are.