50 Things You're Not Supposed To Know

1. Question Everything: Authority, Dogma, and Tradition

If you are afraid of tackling contradictions, if you believe that without blind faith you would be prey to senselessness and desperation, if dealing with complexity sends you running for the reassuring arms of dogma—then this book is not for you.

Embrace critical thinking. The book champions the importance of questioning authority, dogma, and tradition, especially within the realm of religion. It suggests that a willingness to confront contradictions and complexities is essential for intellectual and spiritual growth. Blind faith, on the other hand, can lead to intellectual stagnation and a reliance on dogma that stifles individual thought.

Challenge assumptions. The author encourages readers to approach religious beliefs with a critical eye, examining the evidence and questioning the underlying assumptions. This involves a willingness to challenge long-held beliefs and to consider alternative perspectives, even if they are uncomfortable or unsettling. The book is designed for those who enjoy paradox and think that questioning authority should be an Olympic sport.

Seek truth, not comfort. The book is not for those who seek the reassuring arms of dogma but for those who are willing to take a weird, dangerous journey through world religions and running into some of the very odd characters populating them. It is for those who have a taste for paradox and think that questioning authority should be an Olympic sport. The goal is to seek truth, even if it means confronting uncomfortable realities and challenging deeply held beliefs.

2. Religion as a Tool: Power, Control, and Hypocrisy

All national institutions of churches … appear to me no other than human inventions, set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit.

Religion and power. Throughout history, religion has often been used as a tool for power and control. Organized religions can become institutions that seek to maintain their authority and influence, sometimes through manipulation and oppression. This can lead to hypocrisy, where religious leaders and institutions fail to live up to the ideals they preach.

Examples of abuse. The book provides numerous examples of how religion has been used to justify violence, oppression, and exploitation. From the Crusades to the Inquisition, religious institutions have often engaged in actions that contradict their stated values. The author highlights the hypocrisy of religious leaders who preach morality while engaging in immoral behavior.

Questioning motives. The book encourages readers to question the motives of religious leaders and institutions, and to be wary of those who seek to control others through fear and manipulation. It suggests that true spirituality is about individual freedom and personal growth, not blind obedience to authority.

3. The Paradox of Faith: Violence, Intolerance, and Extremism

During much of Japanese history, the samurai trained day in and day out to become more effective at slicing and dicing their opponents on the battlefield. The punch line in this is that most of them were devout Buddhists.

Faith and violence. One of the central paradoxes explored in the book is the relationship between faith and violence. Many religions, despite preaching peace and love, have been used to justify war, persecution, and other forms of violence. This is often due to the belief that one's own religion is the only true path, and that those who follow other religions are enemies who must be converted or eliminated.

Intolerance and extremism. The book highlights the dangers of religious intolerance and extremism. When religious beliefs become rigid and inflexible, they can lead to a rejection of other viewpoints and a willingness to use violence to enforce one's own beliefs. This can result in horrific acts of terrorism and genocide.

The need for critical self-reflection. The author encourages readers to critically examine their own religious beliefs and to be aware of the potential for intolerance and extremism. It suggests that true faith should be based on love, compassion, and respect for others, not on hatred and violence.

4. Sex and Spirituality: From Repression to Liberation

The autumn breeze of a single night of love is better than a hundred thousand years of sterile sitting meditation.

Sexuality and religion. The book explores the complex and often contradictory relationship between sexuality and religion. Many religions have historically repressed sexuality, viewing it as sinful or impure. This has led to guilt, shame, and a denial of natural human desires.

Alternative perspectives. The author presents alternative perspectives on sexuality, highlighting traditions that view sex as a sacred and liberating force. These traditions often emphasize the importance of experiencing pleasure and intimacy as a way to connect with the divine. The book explores examples of religious figures who embraced sexuality as a path to enlightenment.

Finding balance. The book encourages readers to find a healthy balance between sexuality and spirituality, rejecting both repression and excess. It suggests that true spirituality involves embracing all aspects of human experience, including sexuality, with awareness and compassion.

5. The Messy Origins: Piss-Drinking Priests, Mammoth Porn, and Zombie Popes

We have drank Soma and become immortal. We have arrived at the light, we have found the gods.

Unconventional beginnings. The book delves into the often bizarre and unconventional origins of various religions. It uncovers stories of piss-drinking priests, mammoth porn, and zombie popes, revealing the messy and often absurd circumstances that shaped religious traditions. These stories challenge the sanitized and idealized versions of religious history that are often presented.

Humanizing religion. By exploring the messy origins of religions, the book humanizes these traditions and makes them more relatable. It shows that religions are not divinely ordained but are rather the products of human creativity, imagination, and experience. This can help to demystify religion and make it more accessible to those who are skeptical or disillusioned.

Embracing complexity. The author encourages readers to embrace the complexity and messiness of religious history, rather than trying to force it into neat and tidy categories. It suggests that true understanding comes from acknowledging the full range of human experiences that have shaped religious traditions.

6. The Theft of God: Stealing in the Name of the Divine

The pope channeled Jesus's message to love your enemies by … granting Iberian monarchs full permission to “invade, search out, capture, and subjugate the Saracens and pagans and any other unbelievers and enemies of Christ wherever they may be, as well as their kingdoms … and other property … and to reduce their persons into perpetual slavery.”

Justifying conquest. The book examines how religions have been used to justify conquest, colonization, and the theft of land and resources. It highlights the concept of "divine entitlement," where religious believers claim that God has given them the right to take the lands and possessions of others. This has often led to violence, oppression, and the destruction of indigenous cultures.

Challenging moral hypocrisy. The author challenges the moral hypocrisy of religious institutions that condemn theft in everyday life but condone it on a grand scale when it is done in the name of God. It suggests that true morality should be based on principles of justice, fairness, and respect for the rights of others, regardless of their religious beliefs.

Reclaiming ethics. The book encourages readers to reclaim ethics from the clutches of religious dogma and to develop a moral compass based on reason, empathy, and a commitment to human rights. It suggests that true spirituality involves living in harmony with others and working to create a more just and equitable world.

7. The Sacred and the Profane: Finding Wisdom in Unexpected Places

As I look at him, he is still like the hole in the privy. As to the Bodhisattvas and Arhats, they are all … chains to keep you in bondage.

Redefining sacredness. The book challenges the traditional notion of the sacred as something separate from the profane. It suggests that wisdom and enlightenment can be found in unexpected places, including the mundane, the vulgar, and the taboo. This involves a willingness to look beyond conventional religious settings and to embrace all aspects of human experience.

Breaking down dualities. The author encourages readers to break down the dualities that separate the sacred from the profane, the spiritual from the material, and the good from the bad. It suggests that true understanding comes from recognizing the interconnectedness of all things and embracing the full spectrum of human experience.

Embracing paradox. The book celebrates the paradox of finding wisdom in unexpected places. It suggests that true spirituality involves a willingness to challenge conventional norms and to embrace the contradictions and complexities of life. This can lead to a more authentic and meaningful understanding of oneself and the world.

8. The Limits of Tolerance: Freedom for All, Except…

Papists are not to enjoy the benefit of toleration, because, where they have power, they think themselves bound to deny it to others.

The paradox of tolerance. The book explores the limits of tolerance, raising the question of whether tolerance should be extended to those who are intolerant. It examines the arguments of philosophers like John Locke, who believed that certain groups, such as Catholics, should not be tolerated because they would deny tolerance to others if they had the power.

Protecting freedom. The author suggests that the goal of tolerance should be to protect freedom and individual rights. This may require setting limits on tolerance in order to prevent those who would seek to undermine freedom from gaining power. The book encourages readers to think critically about the balance between tolerance and self-defense.

Defining boundaries. The book encourages readers to define their own boundaries of tolerance, based on principles of justice, fairness, and respect for human rights. It suggests that true tolerance involves a willingness to stand up against oppression and to defend the rights of all, even those who may hold unpopular or controversial beliefs.

9. The Ever-Changing God: Racism, Slavery, and Divine Revelation

On September 30, 1978, God got out of bed and decided racism was no longer cool.

God's evolving morality. The book examines how religious beliefs about morality have changed over time, often in response to social and political pressures. It highlights the example of the Mormon Church, which initially banned black people from the priesthood but later reversed this policy after facing criticism for racism. This raises questions about the nature of divine revelation and whether God's morality is subject to change.

Challenging divine authority. The author challenges the notion that religious beliefs are divinely ordained and immutable. It suggests that religious beliefs are often shaped by human biases, prejudices, and cultural norms. This can lead to inconsistencies and contradictions in religious teachings.

Promoting ethical progress. The book encourages readers to promote ethical progress by challenging outdated and harmful religious beliefs. It suggests that true spirituality involves a commitment to justice, equality, and compassion, regardless of what religious texts may say.

10. The Absurdity of Belief: Flying Spaghetti Monsters and Sacred Clowns

The master of time and space, the great God who had breathed life in everything that exists was none other than a flying blob of spaghetti equipped of very sizable meatballs—an anatomical detail prompting Henderson to add that no other god had balls as big as the Flying Spaghetti Monster (FSM).

Satire and social commentary. The book explores the use of satire and absurdity as tools for social commentary and religious critique. It highlights the example of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, a parody religion that uses humor to challenge the claims of other religions and to promote critical thinking.

Challenging religious dogma. The author suggests that humor can be a powerful way to challenge religious dogma and to expose the absurdity of certain beliefs. By poking fun at religious institutions and practices, satire can help to break down barriers and to encourage open dialogue.

Embracing skepticism. The book encourages readers to embrace skepticism and to question all claims of authority, including religious ones. It suggests that true understanding comes from a willingness to challenge assumptions and to think for oneself.

Last updated: March 1, 2025