The Bible is full of many fascinating tales - many good, and some bizarre - here are the top 10 bizarre tales from the Bible.

10. A lesson for those who dare mock male pattern baldness

Found in: 4 Kings 2:23-24

One of the more inspirational passages in the Bible tells the story of Elijah, a wise man, yet one cursed with male pattern baldness. One day he was minding his own business, making the long walk to Bethel, when he is attacked by a roving band of children who tease him with names like “bald head.” But Elijah was having none of this, he turns round and curses them in the name of the Lord, and instantly two female bears emerge from a nearby wood and maul all 42 children to death.

The moral of this story? Don’t make fun of bald people. Frankly, why this story isn’t included along with the Ten Commandments is anybody’s guess, but I think it would serve as an excellent lesson for children who think baldness is something to be made fun of.

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This list is a combination of other lists I have already written about scientology but with more of a focus on the deaths caused by the organization. Be sure to read the afterword for details on the up coming protests against the group.

“I have taken what 1 consider to be the most expedient way out of my present predicament. I harbor no resentment against anyone, except the Church of Scientology. They have a great deal to do with my demise. To play with people’s defense mechanisms in the manner that they do is a criminal thing at best. l hope they can be outlawed.” — Suicide note by James Hester

10. Scientology is a Secret Organization

The swift and calculated responses from the group have managed to do what no other organisation or government has done - censor certain information from the internet. You can find out how to make a bomb on the internet, but you can not find out what you have to do to pass the top levels in the Church of Scientology. Ironically, considering they are so secretive, it does not stop them using information taken from people they audit against them if they turn on the group. This would be the same as a person confessing to a priest, leaving the Church, and having the priest publish their confession on the internet.

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Saint Nicholas, the model for the modern Santa Claus was not only a real person (and a Saint), but he was also known for many wonderful deeds that we all associate with the Holiday Season. Here are ten facts behind one of the most famous Saints.

10. Who is Saint Nicholas?

Saint Nicholas (in Greek: “Victory of the People”) the common name of a Lycian saint and Roman Catholic Bishop of Myra in Anatolia (in modern-day Turkey, though then it was a Greek-speaking Roman Province). He was born during the third century (around 270 AD) in the village of Patara. He had a reputation for secret gift-giving, but is now commonly identified with, and often as, Santa Claus.

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Following our list of quotes from St Thomas Aquinas, this is the second in our series of famous quotes from great atheists and great religious minds. Here are 15 quotes from some of the greatest atheist minds in history.

Quotes 1 - 5

1. Creationists make it sound like a ‘theory’ is something you dreamt up after being drunk all night — Isaac Asimov

2. I don’t believe in God. My god is patriotism. Teach a man to be a good citizen and you have solved the problem of life. — Andrew Carnegie

3. All thinking men are atheists. — Ernest Hemingway

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Recently we have had some interesting discussions between atheists and religious people on some of our lists. This has inspired me to write a series of lists on topics relating to both sides of the story. To start with, I am doing this list of 15 of the most brilliant quotes from Saint Thomas Aquinas. Thomas Aquinas was one of the greatest theological thinkers of the 13th century. His impact on Christianity was so immense that his writings are still at the core of Roman Catholic seminary education. He is the foremost classical proponent of natural theology, and the father of the Thomistic school of philosophy and theology.

Quotes 1 - 5

1. A man has free choice to the extent that he is rational.

2. All the efforts of the human mind cannot exhaust the essence of a single fly.

3. Because philosophy arises from awe, a philosopher is bound in his way to be a lover of myths and poetic fables. Poets and philosophers are alike in being big with wonder.

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