Books are one of our greatest resources, but many times in history books have been written which are misleading or untrue. In some cases this has lead to widescale death and destruction and evil governmental regimes.
This is a list of ten of the worst books of this type – books that have done more harm than good. The common thread in all of these books is deception – invariably not intentional, but the consequences are the same regardless.
I have intentionally left off some of the more obvious choices – as they will almost certainly come up in the comments. This list is in no particular order.
On the list because: It inflamed witch hunts across Europe
Malleus Maleficarum (The Hammer of Witchraft) was a manual for witch hunters and judges to catch witches and stamp them out. It came out just prior to the protestant reformation and it was one of the most popular books amongst the reformers who were wanting to smash “evil” out of their countries. Between 1487 and 1520, twenty editions of the Malleus were published, and another sixteen editions were published between 1574 to 1669. This book single-handedly launched centuries of witch hunts.
On the list because: it turned out to be a creation of her own sexual confusions and aspirations
Margaret Mead was an American cultural anthropologist who traveled to Samoa to answer the questions on sexuality posed in America in the 1920s (particularly with reference to women). Unfortunately for Mead, the youths she interviewed in Samoa told her wild tales of sexual promiscuity and Mead reported it all as fact. One of the girls later said: “She must have taken it seriously, but I was only joking. As you know, Samoan girls are terrific liars when it comes to joking. But Margaret accepted our trumped up stories as though they were true.” If challenged by Mead, the girls would not have hesitated to tell the truth, but Mead never questioned their stories. According to Wikipedia: “The use of cross-cultural comparison to highlight issues within Western society was highly influential, and contributed greatly to the heightened awareness of Anthropology and Ethnographic study in the USA.” Interestingly, Mead was a highly regarded academic and had a large part in the formulation of the 1979 American Book of Common Prayer (Church of England).
On the list because: it was the inspiration for a long list of tyrannies (Stalin had it on his nightstand)
The Prince is a treatise meant for rulers who had shed all scruples – to a point that they might see evil as potentially more beneficial to society than good. Machiavelli hoped to start a revolution in the hearts of his readers, and he certainly achieved that. He proudly stated things that others before him had only dared to whisper, and he whispered things that had not even been considered. According to Machiavelli “it is not necessary for a prince to have all the above-mentioned qualities [merciful, faithful, humane, honest, and religious], but it is indeed necessary to appear to have them. Nay, I dare say this, that by having them and always observing them, they are harmful; and by appearing to have them they are useful.” Some of the people inspired by this book are Stalin, Hitler, Mussolini, and Napoleon I of France.
On the list because: it helped spread Hitler’s genocidal anti-Semitism
In Mein Kampf, Hitler outlined his racist plan for a new Germany which included mass murder of Jews, and a war against France and Russia to make living space for Germans. At the time of publication the book was largely ignored, but once Hitler rose to power that changed. It is believed that over 10 million copies were in circulation in 1945. The book is largely influenced by The Crowd: A Study of the Popular Mind by Gustave Le Bon (1895) which suggested propaganda as a means to controlling the irrational behavior of crowds. In addition, Hitler drew on the fabricated Protocols of the Elders of Zion to give support for the need for his anti-semitic plans. Hitler speaks of “The Jewish Peril” which he believed was a conspiracy by Jews to take over the world. The book outlines the racial worldview in which people are classified by race as superior or inferior. In 2003 the sequel to Mein Kampf, Zweites Buch, was published in English for the first time. Zweites Buch (Second Book) expands on the original ideas of Mein Kampf and outlines further plans for a war with the United States and the British Empire for entire world domination by Germany.
On the list because: it preaches eugenics
Margaret Sanger is the mother of modern contraception and the founder of Planned Parenthood. In her 1922 book, The Pivot of Civilization, she outlined her theories of eugenics (control of the human race by selective breeding) and racial purity (3 years before Hitler did the same in Mein Kampf). The basis of her support of contraception was entirely due to her belief that inferior humans should be killed to enable a superior race to appear over time. Sanger did not just entertain popular ideas of her time – she was the champion of the cause. In her book she says: “the most urgent problem of to-day is how to limit and discourage the over-fertility of the mentally and physically defective.” She goes on to say: “possibly drastic and Spartan methods may be forced upon American society if it continues complacently to encourage the chance and chaotic breeding that has resulted from our stupid, cruel sentimentalism.” Birth control was, in her mind, “the greatest and most truly eugenic method.” Needless to say, Planned Parenthood today have tried very hard to distance themselves from their founder.
On the list because: it convinced the world that education is not about facts
In Democracy and Education, Dewey disparages schooling that focuses on traditional character development and endowing children with hard knowledge, and encourages the teaching of thinking “skills” instead. His views have had great influence on the direction of American education–particularly in public schools. This book could be considered to be the anti-classical education manifesto. And the consequence? A generation of youths with an inferior education which lacks a founding in solid facts and knowledge. Dewey was one of the three founders of the philosophical school of Pragmatism – a school of thought which proposes that “truth” is made and can change. The current curriculum in New Zealand is one which would please Dewey immensely as it is largely founded on his principles.
On the list because: it caused deaths through bad advice
Regardless of whether you agree with the methodology of Spock, no one can deny that many children probably died of cot death as a result of his advice to put babies to sleep on their stomachs. This advice was extremely influential on health-care providers, with nearly unanimous support through to the 1990s. Spock believed that babies on their back can choke on their own vomit – leading to death. Scientists eventually found that Spock’s advice actually lead to more deaths by suffocation. Estimates of the number of deaths caused by this bad advice are as many as 50,000. Spock also advocated a method of child raring that moved away from discipline based methods. Previously, experts had told parents that babies needed to learn to sleep on a regular schedule, and that picking them up and holding them whenever they cried would only teach them to cry more and not to sleep through the night. Spock taught the exact opposite.
On the list because: it was a propaganda book designed to incite racial hatred
The Protocols of the Elders of Zion is a booklet that purports to describe a plot by world Jewry and Masonry to take over the world. Despite the fact that the booklet is a hoax, it was spread wide and far and believed by most Europeans to be true. Many people today still consider it be factual. It was instrumental to Hitler’s anti-Jewish efforts in Germany and it was used after the Russian Revolution to perpetrate hatred and violence against Jews. The booklet continues to be published and disseminated in many Middle Eastern states which are political enemies of Israel.
On the list because: it could win the award for the most malicious book ever written
This book has inspired some of the most brutal regimes in man’s history. Regardless of whether there has been a state which is a true Marxist state, this book has inspired so many evil actions that it can not be left off a list of this nature. Some of the principles found in the manifesto are the abolition of private ownership of land, confiscation of property of emigrants, heavy taxes, and the abolition of inheritance.
On the list because: It fuels fundamentalist attacks on Science
By arguing against aspects of Darwin’s theories, this book has given fuel to the fundamentalists who argue that a literal interpretation of the Book of Genesis is the only possible manner in which the earth was created. Despite much refutation from the Scientific community, many fundamentalists still use this as a “source” for proof that evolution is not true. The book itself was not peer reviewed as Behe claimed under oath, and the Science community has overwhelming rejected it. It should be noted that Behe himself is not a fundamentalist and does not believe in a literal interpretation of the Bible.
To all those ‘geniuses’ pointing out for the umpteenth time that the Bible or the Quran is missing on this list, please read what Jamie put on the intro to the list:
“I have intentionally left off some of the more obvious choices – as they will almost certainly come up in the comments.”
In other words, HE KNOWS. He knew you would ramble on and on about the Bible and the Quran long before he posted this list. That’s why he decided to not be as obvious and predictable as his lists’ commenters, and instead provide new insights on some OTHER reasons why the world is screwed up. For that we should all be thankful.
Pardon the interruption. You may now continue your otiose and numbingly tedious religious comment war.
Kreachure – Agreed, the comments are always full of geniuses pointing out the obvious
religion this, quaran that…….get a life…….
if the bible is responsible for killing YOU – then take it up with god when you meet him…….
ill be sure to say gday to satan for you all
I do not get why Darwin’s Black Box is on the first list. I understand why it’s there by stating that creationlism is how the world was made and it rejects evolution, however, isn’t evolution just a theory like creationlism?
What about the Anarchist Cookbook? I guess there’s a reason that it’s illegal…
how about “Satanic Verses” by Salman Rushdie, it insighted hate and Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini put out a fatwa for Rushdie to be killed.
Theres no such thing as religion versus science. Theres religion versus atheism. Theres nothing more ignorant than saying religion attacks science or vice versa. Nowhere in the bible, koran, whatever does it say “FORSAKE ALL SCIENCE AND LIVE IN A HUT TECHNOLOGY IS EVIL BURN SOME WITCHES”.
110. Alejandro
Actually plagarised in places.
Check out the background of the author and you’ll see there’s a bit of agenda behind the list.
RE The influence of Dewey on Education, James, I’m with your brother.
You do New Zealand a huge disservice in your grossly sentimentalized assessment of the education system. Perhaps you are out of touch or too blinded with a Classicist education to see how the world must move on!
____________________________________________________________
“Nicowarrior: the problem is rejecting fact based education – some things are objectively true and to deny that is seriously wrong. The results in New Zealand from 10 years of this type of education system (where there are no tests because everyone passes) has given rise to a generation of uneducated people. Even reading abilities are dropping massively.”
______________________________________________________
The FACTS are these: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/story.cfm?c_id=329&objectid=10482412
http://stats.oecd.org/wbos/viewhtml.aspx?queryname=475&querytype=view&lang=en
From the OECD PISA 2006 Study across 57 countries and 20 million students:
* science third equal.
* reading we’re fourth equal (much the same as in PISA 2000)
* maths sixth equal.
Of course this buys into the anti Dewey notion that tests and scores are the best determinate of success in an education system.
Surely the best indicator is what people DO with that education. New Zealand is well represented in all endeavours of knowledge and ability application. We hit way above our weight as a very small out-of-the-way nation in sports, business, science and the arts. We have one of the lowest unemployment rates in the world in spite of exporting our talented workers and losing thousands of jobs a year to exporting our manufacturing facilities overseas. Even Oxford University England is run by a New Zealander (who struggles to drag it out of debt and into the 21C). Many other countries including the USA use our text books to teach reading. Our methodology was recently voted best by a visiting country’s teachers.
Because we can do educating the masses on our head, we a developed enough country to wonder what we can do for those who can not/will not pass tests. We have many for whom English is a second language. We have many Polynesian and Maori who need different teaching. One in 5 kids are supposedly attention deficient! The measure of a country is how it caters for everyone (democracy).
science and atheism doesn’t really pay attention to religion any way fo the reaon that is fairytales and fiction. sometimes us athiests (vainly) try and help religious people see that beleiving in something that doesn’t exist is silly.
“isn’t evolution just a theory like creationlism?” FYI creationism isn’t a theory it’s a story. But really think about it people. say for example creationsim and evolution was placed on trial to evidence used to prove/disprove either one, which would win. “OTHER reasons why the world is screwed up.” unfortunately religion has done the most damage.
Oh, people. The list ain’t budging: he’s not including The Bible, the Koran, OR any scientology books. Just stop, it’s entirely too silly. And now for something completely different: (not really though)
I agree with Jamie keeping the above-mentioned off the list. The Bible does not cause people to do evil things, it’s the belief that it is the word of God that makes them do wrong (or right, you know, depending on your perspective). People read Mein Kampf and said, after some time and political upheaval later, “Oh, you know, maybe he is right”, not, “Hey! God wrote this and that’s what the Big Guy in the Sky wants, so, yeah…tithe my fields and sell my sister for donkeys”. Besides the fact that, while the Bible, the Koran, and …ugh, dare I say it, I already feel filthy…scientology books are filled with evil, they also give people faith, which in turn makes them happy.
Ew, I just supported Scientology. Can someone give me my thetans back?
129. Rusty
Well said
Admitting that many atrocities committed in the supposed spirit of communism are horrid and unconscionable, I still can’t agree with the argument that you levy against it. I do believe that it is a very flawed system and that the unilateral abolition of personal wealth will only tip the scale more greatly. But aside from the confiscation of an immigrant’s property over that of national citizens, I don’t see how any of your criticisms couldn’t be redirected as a potential positive. Private ownership of land, especially related to the contemporaneous legislation for enclosures in parliament, was an issue which caused great strife for the working class and literally split them into squabbling gangs. The perpetuation of inheritance is what kept aristocratic control from ever succumbing to the consequences of personal agency (or lack thereof). And as for heavy taxes, it is precisely when a populous recognizes itself as a group worth supporting that it earns its place as such. That being said, I don’t support communism or its tenets and only ask for a more rigorous argument against it from an author I’ve come to respect. That’d be you. Keep on fighting and, please, for the sake of basic rigor, build your opponents out of bricks not straw.
trojan_man:
Israel.
The situation with the Danish drawings.
Almost any war we’ve had, has had a bace in religion.
fart breath:
No it isn’t ID (intelligent design) is considered as a failed attempt by creationists to make a theory that is equal to the theory of evolution.
The theory of evolution is the most complete and reasonable explanation we have.
And besides, creationist don’t claim that ID is a theory they state that it is the only way the world could have been made, making it not valid as a scientific theory. Because though the theory of evolution has been worked at it is only a theory that could be proven wrong, but that’s most unlikely because scientists constantly find proof to back it up. They don’t claim to have all the answers only religion does.
Kris: I don’t know if the Quran does but I read that the Bible does so I have no doubt the Quran does too.
Davo- Congratulations…you’re an ass. The only reason we have any form of society (or humanity, for that matter) is because of religion.
With that said, can a poorly written book about evolution really be the most detrimental book EVER? Does that suggest that the acceptance of evolution is is the most substantial issue in the world? I would have probably moved it from #1 down to…off the list in the first place. Thats like putting Dave Chappelle at the top of the Most Evil People list because his show led to the creation of Mind of Mencia. To some…bad. To others, really bad. In the end, does it really matter to anyone?
jfrater-Great list…until #1
Ok hold up…..
2 concerns
first, why isint “The anarchist cookbook” ever mentioned, it has been cited in numerous school shootings in American Highschools. Along with having ties to the O.C. Bombings.
second, was whoever wrote this list aware of a popular publication called “the bible”….nothing in history has screwed up societies more than religious differences..
the bible > religious differences have a history of causing problems…….
the anarchist cookbook > school shootings
interesting list, they have been getting a little dry lately so I’m happy to see this one.
I do enjoy the controversy brought up in the comments, people bringing up the bible, some one saying the quran tells it’s followers to kills infidels (which is an unbelievably uninformed comment brought on by recent issues).
In my opinion I don’t think democracy and education should have made it on. It isn’t really a true statement to say anymore that there are solid facts. The same school of thought said that the world was flat once. We say it’s round now, I think to say that might change as we come to understand more in the world and more about metaphysics and the state of nature, that may change as well, I’m not terrible informed on the issue to be honest but that came to mind, I’ll admit that I too might be wrong about the topic. I was happy to see the first book. I think that it is a serious threat to undermine science in the name of any religion. Belief structures have had many benefits in the past but they no longer in our contemporary society hold much ground and only serve as retroactive and anti-productive activity. I have a feeling that dianetics is not on the list because you did not want to deal with the possible politics that would arise out of the situation, I’ve heard many times that that particular community is not very friendly with any commentary about their society (which only makes the book more belonging on the list).
the bible > religious differences have never produced a good situation
the anarchist cookbook > O.K. City bombings, numerous school shootings, curruption of youth.
come on
Jay – read the intro – I even put it in bold for those who would eventually complain without reading
The Da Vinci Code.
Saying that Christ was just a special person, and not the son of God. Anti-Christianity.
Alejandro (#110): I didn’t base it on the book – which I have not read – but I did use some of the single line blurbs from the editorial bit you posted.
Matt (#128): are you saying I have plagiarised this list and have an agenda or are you saying the author of the book mentioned by Alejandro has an agenda? I certainly don’t, I can assure you.
I don’t really agree with #5. America’s education system isn’t weak because it isn’t based on facts and data. In fact, the entire system is based on facts and data, hence standardized testing, which in turn reduces the necessity for students to actually try to think for themselves. Most public schools are teaching facts, and very few are teaching otherwise. That doesn’t mean that all the facts are true though, but with the facts changing all the time it’s really hard for every teacher to keep up with it. The introduction of creationism in school science classes is not a widespread thing, nor is a lot of other attempts to misrepresent the truth through means that are not based in fact.
,
I think, if anything, the author was right that our education system doesn’t work. Teaching them about the data and not encouraging them to have “thinking skills” has resulted in an entire generation that calls tech support instead of fixing things on their own.
But that’s my take on it, seeing how I’m a part of that youth culture…we have an entire nation filled with people that don’t think anymore. Just look at the last two elections
Whenever I read a list like this, out of nowhere and Very well researched, I think to myself. How the Hell do you think of these lists?
The best I can do when it comes to some sort of off-the-wall-why-didn’t-I-think-of-that-and-what-other-social-ramifications-are-there-to-this-subject-Eureka moment is when I’m standing there staring at the picture above my toilet! You never cease to amaze.
Seriously how do you think of these things!?
Rusty: from the article you linked: ” In science we came seventh, in reading fifth and mathematics 11th out of 57 countries” 5th place, 7th place, and 11th is not exactly brilliant
What is most interesting is that the country that comes out on top (Finland) has a very different educational system to New Zealand (which was beaten by 6, 4, and 10 other countries). In Finland children don’t start school until they are 7. In the first nine years of school they get “Basic School”.
The article also says: “The Ministry refused to supply a list of what schools participated in the Pisa. Nor could it tell us how many schools that offer Cambridge examinations as well as NCEA were in the survey.” That doesn’t give me much hope in the quality of the scores to show how the new system is working (NCEA).
Having said that – thanks for giving the links – they were certainly an interesting read (though the numbers on the OECD site are extremely poorly presented!)
Put the bible and the koran in shared first place and you will have a true list! Or maybe the bible first, because this book has had the longest and worst influence on the world.
Wow… Reading through the comments, i’m sure i counted upwards of 30 people demanding the Quran or bible get placed on the list. Even after the disclaimer at the top, and numerous posts throughout calling for it to stop. Really, don’t people read the comments before they post?
For the record, I Believe in God, but not religion. Religion is essentially a man made ideal, and thus, is imperfect.
mklong – the Anarchists’ Cookbook ? You are, in my view, totally mistaken to imply that it could have any meaningful influence on the crimes you mention (let alone “screw up the world”).
Does it not strike you that somebody who has the mindset to commit these atrocities might be likely to own a copy due to his very nature/personality? Not to mention any normal, curious, 16 year old boy; anybody with an internet connection can download themselves a free copy. I used to have a copy myself…but that didn’t make me an actual or potential terrorist.
Anyhow…that book is so lame (as is the easily available downloadable version).
jfrater – actually, I found the educational study quite compelling. And consensus as to the success determinant seems to be the quality of the teachers as opposed to the system.
Methinks you might be a diehard traditionalist
@buclism: the answer is, of course: “More witches.”
@BishopWhiteT: “Bread! Apples! Very small rocks!…Churches!”
@Bob: were not Monty Python lessons included in your school curricilum? or you skipped the classes where they taught them…
kiwiboi: methinks you might be right
I even did a top 10 list on how to give yourself a classical education!
even before i read the list, i have to say absolutely brilliant title. now that’s the kind of thing that makes you want to read the list even if your boss is standing behind you
I don’t think either the Bible nor the Quran had anything to do with “screwing”. I believe the people who wrote both did not mean to screw the world. The people who read it screwed themselves and religious difference could very well be their fault anyways.
SlickWilly: A try to answer some questions
First off, I know that there in Belgium a hospital where parents that are both bearers of the disease could let embryo’s from IVF screen for genetic disorders like cystic fibrosis. So on a small scale for parents with a high risk it is certainly possible. But a doubt it is a good method for filtering out those bad genes. This is because there are always new mutations that will happen, a normal mutation frequency is 1 in a million genes. There will be always people with the disease. In my opinion, a better solution is to find a good treatment based on gene therapy or stem cell therapy that counter effects the symptoms of the disease, so that we can help people with disorders coming forth of new mutations. Another method is to mix races a human population. Lots of genetic disorders come forth from inbreeding. The mutation frequency stays of course the same but in isolated communities the chance is much bigger that two recessive genes come together in a child. Therefore mixing of populations will not change the amount of mutated alleles but there will be less homozygotic genes and therefore the number of disorders will decline. It is always better to have a heterozygotic population, I think. There will be less recessive diseases and a greater number of individuals will be adapted to a changed environment (like a new virus or so). Therefore I think that human eugenics is not only almost impossible but maybe also counter effective.
P.S. I hope this makes any sense, my native language is dutch and I had a hard time finding the right English words.
You forgot to list “Under the Bleachers” by Seymour Butts.
I can’t think of a more malicious book, people have killed, maimed, tortured, pillaged, wedgied, sucker punched, pointed to a stain on your shirt and when you look they jam their finger in your face, licked their finger and put it in peoples ears, and squirted water in the face of Tom Cruise during an interview, all in the name of Mr. Butts’ book.
Kiwiboi:
Thanks pal. I know you think I’m wrong. But that’s okay. I appreciate your gentlemanly manner in handling my argument, such as it was.
bucslim… the site’s resident expert on all humor adolescent and/or scatological in nature.
Jfrater: Are not going to answear the question?
I should think you have a good reason for not putting the Bible (or the Quran here).
Wow, this is a really interesting list! To be honest, for a while I haven’t been interested in the lists as much, but I really liked this one!
you forgot to include the bible
warningdontreadthis: see my closing paragraph at the top of the list – I said I was intentionally leaving some books off because I knew that people would raise them in the comments – the Bible was one of those books
And you all didn’t disappoint.
Stop notifying me of followup comments
Thanks pal. I know you think I’m wrong.
Randall – think nothing of it.
But it wasn’t easy…this is soooo me :
http://www.excel.me.uk/cartoon.html
warningdontreadthis: you say the Bible, Quran, and other religious books have CAUSED bloodshed and violence all over the world, therefore:
Gun manufacturers have caused all of the gun deaths;
Knife manufacturers have caused all of the knifing deaths;
Car manufacturers have caused all of the vehicle accident deaths;
Alcohol manufacturers have caused all of the DUI manslaughter deaths;
Cow farmers caused all the the obesity issues;
Sugar producers caused all of the dental problems.
The books do not screw up the world, the humans screw up the world.
jfrater: maybe “10 Books that People can use as an Excuse to Screw up the World” would have been a better title. Then you could have included religous texts and the whiners would be happy.
Kiwiboi:
HA HA. Me too, man. That’s me too.
HA HA. Me too, man. That’s me too
LOL…ain’t it a killer being like that
None of Scientologist’s text? Really?
I just do not understand some people’s obsession with typing out the phrase:
“You forgot to include the Bible”
I haven’t gone back to count it out, but it’s as if the person gets a cookie every time they repeat that sentence. I think it’s been established that – whether you agree with it or not – that Jamie didn’t include the Bible. He sort of said that in the introductory comments. Screw that, I’m going to make sure that everyone who read this thinks I’m a smarty pants know it all by repeating it over and over again that the Bible is evil and I’m saving the human race despite it being mentioned 500 times here and on other lists.
Is your computer equipped with some sort of pleasure device that delivers you a dose of heroin every time you repeat something some other jagov has pointed out ad nauseum?
Will you people please leave and go back to your coloring books or Bob the Builder cartoons or at least make your moronic notations at some place like e-baums?
trojan_man:
I have never said that humans aren’t at fault!
So in that way we dont disagree cause humans wrote the Bible.
The Bible screwed us up in the same ways these books have, if not more.
Sorry Jfrater I must have missed that
Wow bucslim. I don’t tihnk by them saying the Bible makes them ebaums fodder. I do wish someone would back it up with why they feel the Bible screwed up the world and not just keep saying the Bible. It is funny that when it comes to those that we don’t agree with we start name calling. I keep seeing people get very offended by people who say the Bible and defend it by saying it is full of good things. There are some other things that can be interpreted to mean some not so good things. And when certain people have gotten a hold of it some not so good things have happened. But there is the thing, it is about the person and what they do with the knowledge.
I used to be a big fan of Hitler’s work. Now you’re telling me that he called his second book; Second Book? Bah, I wash my hands of him!
warningdontreadthis: I don’t want to offend anyone, but Christians believe that the Bible was ispired by God. So, yes, it was written by humans, but not inpired by humans. I don’t think Adolph Hitler would have said the same thing.
By the way, you gave the examples of the Bible causing bloodshed by saying: Israel and The Danish Drawings. I guess you are talking about Israel vs. Palestine and the Mohammed cartoons? If that is the case, do you think that these “fights” would still be going on if there had been no Bible or Quran? What if they were just spoken stories passed down for generations? My point: people use these books on the list (and others) as an excuse to commit heinous acts. The book itself does not cause the act. If it were that easy, you and I could co-author a book that tells everyone in the world to send us a $1 bill (or its’ equivalent) and we would end up with $6 billion.
Since there’s Bible slagging and Koran slagging, how about that wacky ol’ Book of Mormon? I’ve seen plenty of lives screwed up by that one.
Brian: Please, please, please listen! I’ve got one or two things to say.
Crowd: Tell us! Tell us both of them!
Brian: Look, you’ve got it all wrong! You don’t NEED to follow ME, You don’t NEED to follow ANYBODY! You’ve got to think for your selves! You’re ALL individuals!
The Crowd: Yes! We’re all individuals!
–
I asked my high school English teacher to autograph my “Life of Brian” script. He wrote: “To QDV…you are an intelligent reader. Now, you just have to find something intelligent to read.”
sorry, inspired should have been the word…both times
JwJwBean – just tired of the brain-dead one trick rubberneckers showing up, scratching their ass, picking their nose and proceeding to repeat the same tired horse potato lines. They can’t be funny or original, so they barf up something someone already wrote 10 times.
I don’t give a ***** if you’re Anton LaVey and you want to burn Christians at the stake, at the very least write something that makes me laugh or moves the conversation along.
I get so angry it makes me want to take my family on a vacation to South Dakota.
I strongly disagree with the communist manifest thing. This manifest has inspired thousand of organizations to fight for the rights of the workers all over the world. The ideas have been corrupted and exploited by way too powerful men, but i still think the manifest was needed to start a left wing movement in the world.
I also find inspiration in many of the books by Stalin, Lenin and Mao, even tho they did horrible things that i don’t support at all.
In reply to:
“ChrisM: let us not forget that the rejection of evolution as a possibility based solely on a fundamentalist interpretation of the Bible has lead many people to try to have discussion of it removed from school curricula – it is pretty bad when any group tries to suppress open debate.”
I honestly don’t see why either side cares so deeply about trivial facts such as how old the earth is. If someone wants to believe that Evolution is bullocks why does it matter?
If it angers people from both sides and neither wants the others point of view discussed in public schools than get rid of the discussion all together.
There are more than enough subjects and discussions that actually will apply to a persons day to day life than that of the theories of creation anyways.
trojan_man:
I don’t quite understand you. I mean what are you saying that differs from me?
We’re both saying that humans are at fault. You say that they use these books (and the bible) as an excuse for violence and bloodshed. And I agree that they do.
And as an atheist I don’t believe that the Bible is the word of God. Correct me if I am wrong but the gospels were written a long time after Jesus lived. But as we have the Bible, people are able to constantly bring up stories from it and claim that it is the word of God and because some really evil people got their hands on it and forced others to believe in it, we haven’t managed to get rid of it. Even though it’s a book full of contradictions:
it says don’t kill but I believe I read somewhere on listverse that it encourages parents to kill their disobedient children.
We would have thought just as little of people believing in Jesus and Marie as we do people who believe in Aphrodite and Zeus if the bible didn’t exist and the stories of their lives where just that.
So are we actually disagreeing or articulating our opinion that is basically the same thing in different ways?
QDV: I agree I did a presentation about Mormonism and they are pretty *****ed up as well.
Magic underwear much?
bucslim:I don’t know if that comment was directed at people like me. But not all of us have the gift of comedy like you do