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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.
311 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 1, 2020
6 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
About the author
Michael Paulkovich
4 books7 followersMichael B. Paulkovich is a columnist for American Atheist Magazine, a print and online resource for atheism, religion, and politics. He is also a frequent contributor to Free Inquiry and contributing editor for The American Rationalist. Paulkovich is an inventor, editor, and space systems engineer for NASA.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 13, 2023
Subtitled ‘1001 Things Everyone Should Know About RELIGION’, this is a piece of work, as the subtitle says, everyone should read.
That it is a scholarly work is indicated by the comprehensive bibliography, index and accompanying notes, which take up around 28% of the publication. The author lightens a heavy subject by being occasionally a little playful in his descriptions of the way past Biblical scholars have attempted to justify some of the worst excesses revealed in this otherwise serious book. That lightness of touch is a welcome factor in a work dealing with material that is both divisive and deeply disturbing.
As an author in search of truth, I have actually read the Bible (and its brother religious tome, the Qur’an) from cover to cover. Doing so set me on the path to becoming an atheist after having been raised a Christian.
The author points out, with many samples and quotes, the sheer nonsense, the hypocrisy, the multiple internal contradictions, the morally indefensible commands to followers, and the utter fantasy of the whole idea behind them.
The simple fact is that the Jesus described in the Bible is totally absent from contemporary historians’ accounts of the times.
Michael Polkovich is concerned about the way our children continue to be subjected to the contents of these religious texts at school, regardless of the true nature of dreadful messages that perpetuate misogyny, encourage slavery, murder, rape, and the mass killing of any who fail to accept them as truth. And his book, introduced as part of the educational curriculum in every school, could quickly remove the curse of the superstition and false claims currently fed to the accepting minds of developing children condemned to receive the same set of irrational fears forced upon their parents during their own childhood.
It is a well-written, comprehensive, and honest exposure of the lies and hypocrisy underlying the teaching of religion over the past two millennia. It could help bring an end to systems of belief that have encouraged and caused mass-murder, enslavement, injustice, misogyny, rape, child abuse, and war. Concern for truth may persuade many to take what they will perceive as a risk as they work through this book, but could turn into a force for real good and a saviour of generations to come.
That it is a scholarly work is indicated by the comprehensive bibliography, index and accompanying notes, which take up around 28% of the publication. The author lightens a heavy subject by being occasionally a little playful in his descriptions of the way past Biblical scholars have attempted to justify some of the worst excesses revealed in this otherwise serious book. That lightness of touch is a welcome factor in a work dealing with material that is both divisive and deeply disturbing.
As an author in search of truth, I have actually read the Bible (and its brother religious tome, the Qur’an) from cover to cover. Doing so set me on the path to becoming an atheist after having been raised a Christian.
The author points out, with many samples and quotes, the sheer nonsense, the hypocrisy, the multiple internal contradictions, the morally indefensible commands to followers, and the utter fantasy of the whole idea behind them.
The simple fact is that the Jesus described in the Bible is totally absent from contemporary historians’ accounts of the times.
Michael Polkovich is concerned about the way our children continue to be subjected to the contents of these religious texts at school, regardless of the true nature of dreadful messages that perpetuate misogyny, encourage slavery, murder, rape, and the mass killing of any who fail to accept them as truth. And his book, introduced as part of the educational curriculum in every school, could quickly remove the curse of the superstition and false claims currently fed to the accepting minds of developing children condemned to receive the same set of irrational fears forced upon their parents during their own childhood.
It is a well-written, comprehensive, and honest exposure of the lies and hypocrisy underlying the teaching of religion over the past two millennia. It could help bring an end to systems of belief that have encouraged and caused mass-murder, enslavement, injustice, misogyny, rape, child abuse, and war. Concern for truth may persuade many to take what they will perceive as a risk as they work through this book, but could turn into a force for real good and a saviour of generations to come.
October 29, 2020
I'm currently reading Mostly Harmful for a second time - thoroughly enjoyable, a nice balance between scholarly information and just a fun read (with, of course, some harrowing details), and a good reference. Another MUST READ by Paulkovich.
May 27, 2024
Best educational discection of Christianity
Amazingly well researched. The verification of random citings were spot on. A must read if you are doubting your belief in religion. If you are a Christian, prepare to have your world turned upside down ! Welcome to the 21st century
Amazingly well researched. The verification of random citings were spot on. A must read if you are doubting your belief in religion. If you are a Christian, prepare to have your world turned upside down ! Welcome to the 21st century
January 17, 2024
Everyone should read this book.
I've read other work by this author, and as ever this one is well researched.
Anyone who reads this and doesn't question their beliefs might just be deluding themselves.
I've read other work by this author, and as ever this one is well researched.
Anyone who reads this and doesn't question their beliefs might just be deluding themselves.
September 3, 2025
This book is an eloquent exposition of the harmful and destructive influence of religion; Christianity in particular. Paulkovich has a somewhat sarcastic and humorous tone but explains with minute details and references why religion is mostly (I would say entirely) harmful. Excellent book!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews