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Blasphemy: The Selected Works of a Blaspheming Atheist
Blasphemy is an assault on some of the greatest insecurities of the religious world. In dealing with issues such as Hitler and his Christian ties and faith, and making the bold, yet honest statement, that ISIS is Islam, Michael strikes at the tender nerve of religion. With this no-holds-barred approach to these issues, backed by a wealth of factual sources, it's sure to be an eye-opener for many.
Join Michael A. Sherlock as he dives headlong into the world of Blasphemy.
Join Michael A. Sherlock as he dives headlong into the world of Blasphemy.
164 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 21, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 19, 2015
Blasphemy: The Selected Works of a Blaspheming Atheist by Michael Sherlock
“Blasphemy" is a provocative look at well, blasphemy. Sociologist, author Michael Sherlock takes off the gloves and provides his assessment on a number of interesting and contentious topics regarding religion. This no-holds barred 162-page book includes the following nine chapters: 1. Atheist Atrocities Fallacy – Mao, Stalin & Pol Pot, 2. Dear God, 3. Did Muhammad Suffer from Temporal Lobe Epilepsy?, 4. Hitler – Onward Christian Soldier, 5. Human Rights for Atheists, Agnostics and Secularists – Blasphemy Laws, 6. The Church – Hypnotizing a Congregation of Christians, 7. The Rotten Fruits of Christ, 8. ISIS Is Islam, and 9. Was Jesus the Illegitimate Child of a Lying Adulteress?
Positives:
1. A brief, engaging and accessible book.
2. The fascinating topic of blasphemy.
3. Easy to follow format. Subtopics are clearly laid out.
4. The atheist atrocities fallacy exposed. Mao, Stalin and Pol Pot discussed. “Atheism is not an ideology. It has no doctrines to speak of, no set of guidelines to follow; it is simply a nomenclature that describes people who do not believe in gods.”
5. A letter addressed to “God” where the author diagnoses aforementioned deity in the throes of a psychotic episode. He uses the following acronym, JOIMAT, which stands for Judgment, Orientation, Intellectual functioning, Memory/Mood, Appearance/Affect & Thought.
6. A case study of Muhammad.
7. An interesting look at Hitler’s religious beliefs. “Hitler was a Christian, like the fact that his soldiers all wore the slogan, ‘Gott Mit Uns’ (God with us) on their belts, that his birthday was “celebrated from the pulpits until his death…”
8. Some interesting ideas backed with substance. “From all of the evidence available in the volumes of historical works, both Christian and non-Christian, it is clear that there is an unbroken chain of hatred, intolerance, and racism toward the Jews, which began with “John’s” Gospel (see also the Synoptic gospels) and continued all the way down into the twentieth century, ending with Hitler’s bloody campaign against the Church’s most despised enemies.”
9. A look at blasphemy laws. “As it presently stands, there are 13 countries around the world that can execute secularists and nonbelievers, along with many others that prescribe imprisonment and/or issue fines to those who do not share the majority religious view of the state.”
10. Hypnotizing believers. A very interesting look at how religion has made effective use of knowledge in hypnosis to indoctrinate. “Hypnosis appears to diminish the ability to discriminate between fantasy and reality, and of course it involves enhanced responsiveness to suggestions.”
11. The five stages of a hypnotherapy session discussed in some detail. “1. Introduction 2. Induction 3. Deepening 4. Suggestion 5. Awakening.”
12. Effective use of scripture and doctrines of Islam to make points. A provocative section.
13. Tackles a specific hot-button issue in Christianity.
14. Provocative quotes, “‘which is more likely: that the whole natural order is suspended or that a Jewish minx should tell a lie?’ - David Hume.
15. Bibliography included.
Negatives:
1. Lack of supplementary material that complements narrative. Charts and diagrams would have helped.
2. Some missed opportunities. I would have liked to have seen some research on the most blasphemy-friendly to least blasphemy friendly countries.
3. Not as clear and lucid as I would like it to be.
4. Low production value that hurts the book.
5. Mr. Sherlock does not hold back so this is not the kind of book to introduce someone in a friendly manner into atheism.
In summary, this is an average to slightly above average book. I do enjoy provocative themes involving religion and the topic of blasphemy is as contentious as it gets. Sherlock does not hold back and addresses popular watercooler topics such as atheist “atrocities” and how blasphemy laws infringe upon free speech. The book lacks professional treatment and there are some missed opportunities. Worthy of your time but the atheist bookshelf has plenty of books of this ilk done better and more comprehensively. I give this book a mild recommendation.
Further recommendations: “The Invention of Religion” by Alexander Drake, “Why I’m Not a Christian” by Richard Carrier, “Nonbeliever Nation” by David Niose, “Atheism for Dummies” by Dale McGowan, “The End of Christianity” by John Loftus, “Sacred Cows” by Seth Andrews, “The Atheist Universe” by David Mills, “Nailed” by David Fitzgerald, “The God Argument” by A.C. Grayling, “50 popular beliefs that people think are true” by Guy P. Harrison, “Godless” by Dan Barker, “God is not Great” by Christopher Hitchens, “Freethinkers” by Susan Jacoby, “Moral Combat” by Sikivu Hutchinson, “The Religion Virus” Craig A. James, “American Fascists” by Chris Hedges, “Doubt” by Jennifer Michael Hecht, and “Society Without God” by Phil Zuckerman.
“Blasphemy" is a provocative look at well, blasphemy. Sociologist, author Michael Sherlock takes off the gloves and provides his assessment on a number of interesting and contentious topics regarding religion. This no-holds barred 162-page book includes the following nine chapters: 1. Atheist Atrocities Fallacy – Mao, Stalin & Pol Pot, 2. Dear God, 3. Did Muhammad Suffer from Temporal Lobe Epilepsy?, 4. Hitler – Onward Christian Soldier, 5. Human Rights for Atheists, Agnostics and Secularists – Blasphemy Laws, 6. The Church – Hypnotizing a Congregation of Christians, 7. The Rotten Fruits of Christ, 8. ISIS Is Islam, and 9. Was Jesus the Illegitimate Child of a Lying Adulteress?
Positives:
1. A brief, engaging and accessible book.
2. The fascinating topic of blasphemy.
3. Easy to follow format. Subtopics are clearly laid out.
4. The atheist atrocities fallacy exposed. Mao, Stalin and Pol Pot discussed. “Atheism is not an ideology. It has no doctrines to speak of, no set of guidelines to follow; it is simply a nomenclature that describes people who do not believe in gods.”
5. A letter addressed to “God” where the author diagnoses aforementioned deity in the throes of a psychotic episode. He uses the following acronym, JOIMAT, which stands for Judgment, Orientation, Intellectual functioning, Memory/Mood, Appearance/Affect & Thought.
6. A case study of Muhammad.
7. An interesting look at Hitler’s religious beliefs. “Hitler was a Christian, like the fact that his soldiers all wore the slogan, ‘Gott Mit Uns’ (God with us) on their belts, that his birthday was “celebrated from the pulpits until his death…”
8. Some interesting ideas backed with substance. “From all of the evidence available in the volumes of historical works, both Christian and non-Christian, it is clear that there is an unbroken chain of hatred, intolerance, and racism toward the Jews, which began with “John’s” Gospel (see also the Synoptic gospels) and continued all the way down into the twentieth century, ending with Hitler’s bloody campaign against the Church’s most despised enemies.”
9. A look at blasphemy laws. “As it presently stands, there are 13 countries around the world that can execute secularists and nonbelievers, along with many others that prescribe imprisonment and/or issue fines to those who do not share the majority religious view of the state.”
10. Hypnotizing believers. A very interesting look at how religion has made effective use of knowledge in hypnosis to indoctrinate. “Hypnosis appears to diminish the ability to discriminate between fantasy and reality, and of course it involves enhanced responsiveness to suggestions.”
11. The five stages of a hypnotherapy session discussed in some detail. “1. Introduction 2. Induction 3. Deepening 4. Suggestion 5. Awakening.”
12. Effective use of scripture and doctrines of Islam to make points. A provocative section.
13. Tackles a specific hot-button issue in Christianity.
14. Provocative quotes, “‘which is more likely: that the whole natural order is suspended or that a Jewish minx should tell a lie?’ - David Hume.
15. Bibliography included.
Negatives:
1. Lack of supplementary material that complements narrative. Charts and diagrams would have helped.
2. Some missed opportunities. I would have liked to have seen some research on the most blasphemy-friendly to least blasphemy friendly countries.
3. Not as clear and lucid as I would like it to be.
4. Low production value that hurts the book.
5. Mr. Sherlock does not hold back so this is not the kind of book to introduce someone in a friendly manner into atheism.
In summary, this is an average to slightly above average book. I do enjoy provocative themes involving religion and the topic of blasphemy is as contentious as it gets. Sherlock does not hold back and addresses popular watercooler topics such as atheist “atrocities” and how blasphemy laws infringe upon free speech. The book lacks professional treatment and there are some missed opportunities. Worthy of your time but the atheist bookshelf has plenty of books of this ilk done better and more comprehensively. I give this book a mild recommendation.
Further recommendations: “The Invention of Religion” by Alexander Drake, “Why I’m Not a Christian” by Richard Carrier, “Nonbeliever Nation” by David Niose, “Atheism for Dummies” by Dale McGowan, “The End of Christianity” by John Loftus, “Sacred Cows” by Seth Andrews, “The Atheist Universe” by David Mills, “Nailed” by David Fitzgerald, “The God Argument” by A.C. Grayling, “50 popular beliefs that people think are true” by Guy P. Harrison, “Godless” by Dan Barker, “God is not Great” by Christopher Hitchens, “Freethinkers” by Susan Jacoby, “Moral Combat” by Sikivu Hutchinson, “The Religion Virus” Craig A. James, “American Fascists” by Chris Hedges, “Doubt” by Jennifer Michael Hecht, and “Society Without God” by Phil Zuckerman.
December 30, 2025
Blasphemy and the struggle for truth.
I am privileged to live in the Republic of Ireland. We are a democracy, a Republic, where the people of Ireland voted in a national referendum in 2018 by an overwhelming majority of 65 % to abolish blasphemy as a criminal offense. It is no longer a "crime" in my Republic to criticize or to question the lies, the contradictions, the horrors, and the cruelty of organized religion.
My Republic has, as a result of this majority vote by it's citizens, made the Republic of Ireland a more democratic, a more open and a more caring society. In my country, the Republic of Ireland, Michael Sherlock would have faced no fears of imprisonment or legal retribution and would have been free to write his book Blasphemy: The Selected Works of a Blaspheming Atheist, because the people of Ireland recognized that it is not a crime to " speak sacrilegiously about God or sacred things". In Ireland now it is the right of any person to question, to criticize, to demonstrate the horrors, the contradictions, and the cruelty of organized religion. I am privileged to live in a democracy where freedom of speech allows me to express my opposition to to religion as a false and dangerous dogma.
Yet there remains many countries where such a privilege is denied to its citizens on pain of death. Where any criticism of religion is met with brutal suppression. Michael Sherlock has written a book which exposes the clear nonsense, the contradictory garbage and the danger which is constituted in two of the major world religions, Islam and Christianity. This is a book which I would love to see published widely and read with honesty and openness. It can teach truth, presenting the evidence of the horrors contained in "holy scripture" for those seeking it.
In clear, reasoned, scholarly and easily accessible data, Michael Sherlock gives each reader of his book multiple opportunities to read and examine the "holy" scripture for themselves and compare the horrors within them against that carried out by organized religion down through history right to our present day. Ireland can be included in these horrors committed by the Catholic Church and documented in multiple reports like the Ryan Report the Murphy report and the Ferns report into systemic abuse of innocent children by Catholic clergy.
Michael Sherlock's book gives us the history of organized religion that lead to the unconscionable actions of religious leaders worldwide. When religious organizations achieve absolute power, they inflict untold suffering on ordinary people as they consolidate their grip of power against free speech and freethough.
I appreciate your efforts Michael.
I am privileged to live in the Republic of Ireland. We are a democracy, a Republic, where the people of Ireland voted in a national referendum in 2018 by an overwhelming majority of 65 % to abolish blasphemy as a criminal offense. It is no longer a "crime" in my Republic to criticize or to question the lies, the contradictions, the horrors, and the cruelty of organized religion.
My Republic has, as a result of this majority vote by it's citizens, made the Republic of Ireland a more democratic, a more open and a more caring society. In my country, the Republic of Ireland, Michael Sherlock would have faced no fears of imprisonment or legal retribution and would have been free to write his book Blasphemy: The Selected Works of a Blaspheming Atheist, because the people of Ireland recognized that it is not a crime to " speak sacrilegiously about God or sacred things". In Ireland now it is the right of any person to question, to criticize, to demonstrate the horrors, the contradictions, and the cruelty of organized religion. I am privileged to live in a democracy where freedom of speech allows me to express my opposition to to religion as a false and dangerous dogma.
Yet there remains many countries where such a privilege is denied to its citizens on pain of death. Where any criticism of religion is met with brutal suppression. Michael Sherlock has written a book which exposes the clear nonsense, the contradictory garbage and the danger which is constituted in two of the major world religions, Islam and Christianity. This is a book which I would love to see published widely and read with honesty and openness. It can teach truth, presenting the evidence of the horrors contained in "holy scripture" for those seeking it.
In clear, reasoned, scholarly and easily accessible data, Michael Sherlock gives each reader of his book multiple opportunities to read and examine the "holy" scripture for themselves and compare the horrors within them against that carried out by organized religion down through history right to our present day. Ireland can be included in these horrors committed by the Catholic Church and documented in multiple reports like the Ryan Report the Murphy report and the Ferns report into systemic abuse of innocent children by Catholic clergy.
Michael Sherlock's book gives us the history of organized religion that lead to the unconscionable actions of religious leaders worldwide. When religious organizations achieve absolute power, they inflict untold suffering on ordinary people as they consolidate their grip of power against free speech and freethough.
I appreciate your efforts Michael.
September 14, 2022
This book has helped me to open my eyes and gave me a different perspective on Sunday church and Christianity as a whole. I grew up in a fairly Christian southern community, but I left Christianity over a year ago. Definitely a interesting read.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews