Mostly Harmful: 1001 Things Everyone Should Know About Religion

Questions and answers about religious rituals, belief in deities, Christianity, the harm done by religion, peaceful religions of the world, witch burning, slavery, the Bible and its evolution and corruption, the Ten Commandments (and why they are mostly immoral), Jesus, Christmas and theology. Some good, some benign, but MOSTLY HARMFUL.PRAISE FORMOSTLY HARMFULHow could anyone outdo the feat of writingBeyond the Crusades? Only its author could do that, as we see in Michael Paulkovich'sMostly Harmful: 1001 Things Everyone Should Know about Religion. This is a wonderfully readable reference book needed by everyone trying to lead a life of reason...-- Frank R. Zindler, Editor, American Atheist PressMichael Paulkovich's new book,Mostly Harmful, with its vibrant melding of intellectual rigor and pungent, satirical humor, is the best possible antidote to the dogmatism, obscurantism, and plain foolishness of most religious creeds. With this book, along with his previous works, Paulkovich deserves to be placed with Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, and Sam Harris as a modern titan of atheism.-- S. T. Joshi,The Unbelievers: The Evolution of Modern AtheismContentsIntroductionWhat Are Religious Rituals For?What Is Kosher Food?What’s Wrong with the 10 Commandments?Are There Any Peaceful Religions?Why Is Christmas December 25?Were Any Humans Claimed as Gods?What Is Wrong with Believing in God?Who Are These JW Door-Knockers?Why Did Christianity Catch On Like a Bonfire?How Harmful Is Religion?Did Christians Really Burn People Alive?What's So Great About Christianity?Is the Bible True?Who Wrote the Bible?What Are Non-Canonical Books?What Are Interpolations?Which Bible Is the Right One?Is God Love?Was Jesus Tortured and Executed?What Is Christianity?What Are the End Times?Do Biblical Prophecies Come True?What About Modern Theology?Is the World 6000 Years Old?Does Hell Exist?Is Jesus God?Why Question the Jesus of History?How Many Gods Are in the Bible?Do Christians Still Kill for God or Heaven?What Is Manifest Destiny?Did Jesu