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Holy Bible: Best God Damned Version: The Books of Moses

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The Books of Moses - Because you know it's nonsense, but were never sure why.

The Books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.

438 pages, Paperback

Published October 30, 2015

325 people are currently reading
1720 people want to read

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Steve Ebling

4 books39 followers

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5 stars
182 (53%)
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99 (29%)
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39 (11%)
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8 (2%)
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13 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
Profile Image for Jenna ❤ ❀  ❤.
893 reviews1,843 followers
January 28, 2019
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"Generally, the more you consider a Bible story, the more preposterous it gets."

For anyone who's ever read the first 5 books of the Bible, you know there are some interesting parts and some dreadfully boring parts. You also know, if you've read it with the blinders of Christianity off, how many discrepancies there are, how much insanity there is, what an utter bastard Yahweh (God) is. ​Holy Bible: Best God Damned Version: The Books of Moses is the Pentateuch with no blinders. It is not for believers, unless you have a strong sense of humor. Otherwise, you'll probably be offended. For the rest of us, this book is hilarious!

Steve Ebling has re-written the Pentateuch and made it vastly more interesting and amusing. He points out all those discrepancies that are blatant to non-believers but somehow hidden from believers (having read it as first a believer and then a non-believer, I can attest to that). There were some boring parts -- there's no way you can make it all interesting when so much of it is repetition and crazy-ass laws that no sane person today would ever follow. It's still much more interesting than the actual Bible though, and fun to read. I started this book after jaw surgery but had to take a break because I was laughing my ass off and was afraid I'd hurt myself. There is no way possible to read this book and NOT laugh! And not just laugh -- your belly will hurt and tears fill your eyes with some of this stuff!

I think this book will be most amusing to those who have read the Bible, but be warned: It is highly irreverent!

"Though generally senseless, the Bible will occasionally outdo itself and you just have to accept it as incidental, undecipherable stupidity and read on." And laugh!
Profile Image for Karen Michener.
24 reviews6 followers
May 31, 2016
Oh my God! I left this book out so my nosy, very religious co-worker could find it. Sure enough she snooped. She called it "really offensive." I couldn't stop laughing! Great Book!
Profile Image for Kevin.
595 reviews215 followers
February 14, 2024
““Get your ass back over to Pharaoh's palace and tell that prick that if he continues to refuse to free my people, I'm going to attack Egypt with frogs!" . . . Well, all right, frogs seemed like an odd choice, but Yahweh was, after all, a god. So Moses said, "Sure, frogs. Whatever you say, I mean, you're the god."”

Let’s be frank. When you read the old testament critically it is imbecilic. When you consider it literally it is preposterous. When you filter it through the mind of Steve Ebling it is freakin’ hilarious (and also imbecilic and preposterous).
Profile Image for Myra.
17 reviews1 follower
May 14, 2016
Best version of the bible ever.

If you ever wondered just how ludicrous, preposterous or ridiculous the first 5 books of the bible are, then I enthusiastically recommend this book. Hilariously irreverent! Cannot wait to read the Best God Damned Version of the New Testament.
Profile Image for William.
2 reviews1 follower
November 22, 2016
This truly was the best translation of the bible I have ever read. It's amazing how organized religion grabs only the bits and pieces of the bible to use in the brainwashing of their followers. I know that the bible is one of the bloodiest horror novels ever written, but I didn't realize that the bible also contains graphic sex, child rape, incest, orgies and so much more. I've had the bible pounded into my little brain from the time I was conceived until I graduated from high school and beyond. I had no idea how ridiculous and asinine the bible is until I read and THE BEST GOD DAMNED VERSON: THE BOOKS OF MOSES, The King James Version and New International Version side by side. I'm enlightened!
Profile Image for William Hall.
Author 5 books43 followers
February 4, 2016
The book of Moses rewritten in modern English and pointing out duplication, errors, and problems with what is written in there. Reading the Bible in modern English makes it an even more ridiculous read - if that's possible. The author's comments are funny and thought provoking.
Profile Image for Angel Wolfe.
5 reviews
January 5, 2016
Brilliant book

This book highlights just how bloody stupid the bible really is, how anyone can think that the bible is the word of god amazes me.
Profile Image for Ryan.
5,677 reviews33 followers
July 13, 2016
I received this book as a GoodReads give away. I entered the give away not for myself, but for my guy. He is very catholic, but with a perverse sense of humor. This seemed something that would be right up his alley. I didn't really look though the book when it came in, and waited to give it to him. As I was standing in the living room he says to me "Ryan, Here is your first-class, one-way ticket to Hell! Enjoy the ride." After giving him a look he says WHAT??? Its in the book. I was like yeah right, but he was not kidding. That was the inscription from the author. Now I had to read this book.

And he was right. But I think the author will get there first, since he wrote it. But when you go, it will be laughing. Stories from the bible as you have never heard them before. We were trying to think of a way to describe it, and came up with an illiterate redneck homeboy, describes what happens in the bible. With the language of a sailor to go along. This is not a bible you want to take to church, or a funeral for that matter (oops), but the author is right. It is the BEST GOD DAMNED VERSION!
Profile Image for Chris Morris.
5 reviews
April 28, 2018
It’s a long time since I have enjoyed a book as much as this one. The thing I love about it is that it actually IS the bible. All of the stories told in great detail with all of the events taking place exactly as they did in the original, however it’s the author’s voice that makes it so compelling and so funny. It’s as though you are reading the Old Testament and the author has written down every thought that runs through your head as you read it. The stories are crazy and told in a funny and irreverent way and all of the contradictions, repetition, ridiculously far-fetched and impossible events are laid out in full with a very clever running commentary. The time and effort that must have gone into this project is impressive, but it’s worth it as I now feel I have more of an insight into the bonkers book than most Christians who have never read it! Can’t wait till New Testament is completed.
Profile Image for Marjorie Jones.
121 reviews1 follower
January 3, 2022
A very irreverent and thought-provoking retelling of the first five books of the Bible.

** Warning **

Don't read the book (or the rest of this review, for that matter) if you are easily offended, or if you are of a religious bent and don't want to be challenged about your god and his behaviour. You can keep believing in your fairies and unicorns - that's fine with me - just so long as you don't expect me to worship your "god" or lead my life according to the laws laid down by him.

However, if you really want to learn more of the behaviour of your god, what he demands of his people, the impossible and inconsistent things you have to do to please him, and the many cruelties and atrocities you are allowed to commit in his name, then I really recommend you read either the first five books of the Bible in their entirety, or, if you can face it, this accurate but slightly "sweary" retelling.

So, this book is a slightly crude and garbled story of confusing promises, broken promises, god-incited violence, rape, murder, torture, unprovoked invasions and slaughter of peaceful people going about their life in their own lands, inconsistent rules and regulations, with terrible punishments for even the most minor rule-breakers. The only part of this that's not quite according to the first five books of the Bible is some of the slight crudity in the telling - that's just the style the author has chosen to use. To be honest, considering the material being covered here, this style works really well.

Everything else is straight out of the source material, although not necessarily in the same words. We used to be evangelical Christians, so are reasonably familiar with the bible - I read most of this book in parallel with a NIV bible for reference, and all the inconsistencies, the bizarre and cruel demands, the repetition, and the plain unbelievable stories are straight out of those pages, as recorded as the divinely-inspired words of (a) god.

It's impossible for anyone to read this with an open mind, and still believe in a god that's worth of praise and worship and obedience. Unless of course, these aren't actually the divinely inspired words of a god? Ah, now that makes more sense.

If you've got this far through my review, and are still reading, and aren't mortally offended, then I expect you'll enjoy this reading this retelling of a far-fetched story of how the "Idiots" got to wander for forty years in the wilderness, eating their meals of "flat tasteless bread" when decreed, spraying sacrificial blood everywhere (also as decreed), eating dead quail and "fine granulated cr*p" that fell out of the sky as required. And all for a forty-year journey from Egypt that would have taken about two days on foot!

Here's a taster from the retelling.

When this "god" parts the Red Sea to let the "Idiots" through, then drown the Pharoh and all his men, by this time, there were three million Idiots and their animals.


Why knows how long this crossing would have taken, had it actually occurred. Forget the animals, three million people, marching ten abreast, would make a line of people two hundred miles long. The Bible says they all made it across before dawn. Rather than make any additional trouble here, we'll just go with that.


So that's OK, then. No problems there. Of course it happened.
Profile Image for Gino.
92 reviews25 followers
April 17, 2016
I received this book through the First reads Giveaway. This is a book i probably would of never bought myself but i saw it in the Giveaways and it sounded interesting. This was a great book. It is funny, very enjoyable, and a good read. Ebling's writing is entertaining and makes for a nice easy read. Growing up Catholic and now a Taoist i found this book very entertaining on how the Bible is so messed up. He goes through the books of Moses and in a very entertaining way points out the lunacy and what a farce the Bible is. I am amazed that people still believe this is THE word of God. I highly recommend this book for anyone who would like a fresh and different "perspective" on the Bible. I am interested in eventually reading his New Testament volume. So i am glad i won this book or i probably would of never read it and i would of missed a good read.
1 review
August 19, 2019
I thought I would never stop laughing - this is so cleverly written and for an atheist like me who finds the whole subject completely laughable - it was magic!! Perhaps if more 'bible thumpers' read this they might just see how ridiculous the book they lead their life by really is!
Profile Image for Vikrant Rana.
122 reviews4 followers
December 26, 2019
4/5

This is such an irreverent, funny take on old testament that one can't stop chuckling at so many instances, particularly if one's faith is not brittle. It also ultimately highlights how hotchpotch a book of faith for billions could be. I really feel for the people who are to defend Bible; particularly the ones who still believe in an old man sitting in heavens playing around with people's lives.
I personally believe that EVERY organized religion will ultimately fall to such dogmas, howsoever noble and bold would have been the original thinking behind. Hopefully, reading this book also allows people to open a window of light into their intellect, even if this window is small, it is a start.
Profile Image for Michael.
20 reviews9 followers
August 29, 2021
A funny book that's also a little bizarre (in a good way) because its based on what the bible actually says.
I wish everyone in the world would read this book.
This, along with Drunk with blood, gods killings in the bible by Steve Wells and God, the most unpleasant character in all fiction by Dan Barker should be compulsory reading for everyone who labels themselves Christian and anyone who lies in saying "god is love".
Maybe some of them, just maybe will think for themselves "what the f have I been doing?"
Profile Image for Teresa.
1,902 reviews33 followers
November 19, 2018
OMFG

This was the funniest bible I have ever read, almost spit my coffee through my nose when god asked if sodom was full of fudge-packers...

Sheesh
Profile Image for Tracy.
Author 14 books3 followers
June 26, 2020
It's good to remember exactly what the Bible says, since so many people today hold it up as a paragon of morality and virtue. It really isn't. We've evolved past the Old Testament god, and are better than him.

I read the entire Old Testament as a teen, during a brief "born again" phase. I'd forgotten just how cruel and genocidal Yahweh was. I recently read he was actually a war god, like Ares, which makes sense considering the bloodshed he demanded. He certainly comes across as a tribal god, not THE god.

It's shocking to me that people don't see that, when it's right there in black and white. Yes, Steve words things in an irreverent style (he could tone down the F-words and ass-wiggling, which come across as juvenile when used too often).

But when I caught myself saying "Does it really say THAT??" I checked the actual Bible, and YES, it does! Kill everyone but you can keep the virgins as slaves. Take all the other people as slaves. Nail their earlobes to the door. And kill kill kill animals, so many cremated and gutted animals! Yuck! Blood sacrifice everywhere. And the poor first-born, not only in Egypt before the Exodus. Give your first-born to Yahweh, but whew, you can ransom him back, if you want. What a greedy asshole of a god.

As for modern morality — where we recognize the damage of racism, abuse (emotional, sexual, physical), and genocide (of course!) — not a peep from "god." He was clearly written by a herding society that valued their possessions above anything, and other people were their possessions as much as their animals and crops. And the inconsistencies and mistakes (Moabite or Midianite?) the original authors left in — that pretty much screams that even THEY didn't expect the whole thing to be considered the words of god. His actual words were the 10 commandments (god is such a petty, jealous guy) and those endless, torturous laws. (Ugh. I feel so filthy! Hah!)

Steve is working on the New Testament, which I'm looking forward to. I hope he returns to the Old Testament at some point. I want to read his takes on the rest of the nonsense there — Samson's magical hair, Jonah and the whale, Daniel in the lions' den , and more mythical fun!
Profile Image for Haselrig.
99 reviews1 follower
March 18, 2017
Sometimes the right book comes along at the right time. That was certainly the case here. Holy Bible: Best God Damned Version: The Books of Moses is a great idea executed perfectly and it slid into my brain like a key into a lock. It's funny, irreverent and insightful in some unexpected, and welcome, ways. Highly recommended for anyone for whom a little Christian criticism isn't a completely intolerable idea.

Now if you'll excuse me, i smell something smoldering :)
Profile Image for Ms. Reader.
480 reviews1 follower
October 18, 2016
I received this book from Goodreads First Reads in exchange for an honest review...

I found this book hilarious, and so amusing to read! It had me laughing at my butt of. I wrongly recommend you to read it!
Profile Image for Jim B.
36 reviews
May 23, 2020
As an atheist, I really wanted to like this book. However, I couldn't even finish Genesis. The author is approximately 1/10 as funny as he thinks he is, and often just drops f-bombs instead of making an actual joke. He also comes across as racist, saying that Egyptians have sex in camel crap and that all people named Ishmael blow up school buses.
I should have known because of the "warning: politically incorrect" on the cover. That's usually a sign that means "warning: doucheyness ahead."
Hard pass.
Profile Image for Bonnie Dale Keck.
4,677 reviews58 followers
April 22, 2017
Kindle Unlimited although actually won paperback version through goodreads giveaway {not realizing it was for paperback versus kindle, and am legally blind so....} for Holy Bible - Best God Damned Version - Genesis: For atheists, agnostics, and fans of religious stupidity, then noticed on ku there was Holy Bible - Best God Damned Version - The Books of Moses: For atheists, agnostics, and fans of religious stupidity, and also yet to be released one on the New Testament.

Not much to comment on about this book versus the first one read, except that according to a couple of programs I sawy, if the area flooded was in the Egyptian delta area it would have seemed as if the whole world was, and it went on to talk about the wandering in the desert would be possible if they left a certain way from Egypt and then went down to that delta area and then turned a certain way which would have taken them to the desert area, though why they wouldn't have turned back after a couple of days, eh, not sure that was covered.
Profile Image for Bonnie Dale Keck.
4,677 reviews58 followers
April 22, 2017
Kindle Unlimited although actually won paperback version through goodreads giveaway {not realizing it was for paperback versus kindle, and am legally blind so....} for Holy Bible - Best God Damned Version - Genesis: For atheists, agnostics, and fans of religious stupidity, then noticed on ku there was Holy Bible - Best God Damned Version - The Books of Moses: For atheists, agnostics, and fans of religious stupidity, and also yet to be released one on the New Testament.

Not much to comment on about this book versus the first one read, except that according to a couple of programs I sawy, if the area flooded was in the Egyptian delta area it would have seemed as if the whole world was, and it went on to talk about the wandering in the desert would be possible if they left a certain way from Egypt and then went down to that delta area and then turned a certain way which would have taken them to the desert area, though why they wouldn't have turned back after a couple of days, eh, not sure that was covered.
Profile Image for Dan Graser.
Author 4 books121 followers
May 6, 2017
This is a wonderfully sarcastic and blunt satire that removes all of the pretense around some of these texts and lays bare their absurdities. This is hugely profane material that is intended for skeptical readers with a sense of humor, if you have neither of those qualities then you likely won't enjoy this. For those who have at least one of those qualities, this is laugh-out-loud quality satire, brilliant stuff from Ebling!
Profile Image for Noreen.
109 reviews26 followers
October 4, 2016
Best god damned answers to theodicy and intelligent design I've seen yet. My favorite passage is on page 7. And I'm chuckling to myself trying to imagine what our society would be like if it really were based on the morals dictated here. (Yeah, but Jesus blah, blah blah. I expect the god damned sequel to this book will clear up any misconceptions about New Testament.)
2 reviews
July 18, 2020
This was absolutely exceptional. I have read the Bible cover to cover and the author does not deviate from accuracy. He makes this so much fun to read. There were dozens of times I would put down the book and have to collect myself from laughing. 10/10!
4 reviews
December 5, 2020
Blasphemous Hilarity

Literally laughing-out-loud funny! This telling of bible stories perfectly illustrates just how preposterous some of these tales are. Looking forward to Ebling's takes on other books of the bible.
95 reviews1 follower
November 5, 2016
DO NOT READ IF YOU ARE RELIGIOUS OR "POLITICALLY CORRECT."
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR SARDONIC ATHEISTS AND NON-BELIEVERS.
Profile Image for Steven.
166 reviews4 followers
August 3, 2021
BLUF: I am a Christian, and I approve this book!

It is offensive, make no mistake, but anyone who reads any version of the Bible who doesn't get offended is reading it with blinders on. It is filled with the most awful content and if you really start breaking it down, it is complete gibberish. It is not "divinely inspired", otherwise it would not contain so many mistakes, contradictions, and scientific inaccuracies.

Ebling does a fantastic job of pointing out a lot of these errors, and even more to the point, his introduction points out that the five books that form up the Old Testament Books of Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) are compiled from three different versions and mashed together.

I would have given this five stars, but unfortunately his editor seems to have fallen asleep in the last portion of the book. Then again, there was NO editor for the Bible, so maybe this lines up pretty well.

This book is grossly offensive, but Ebling attacks the Bible stories with a very tongue-in-cheek attitude that is very refreshing and entertaining.
Profile Image for Charles Wagner.
191 reviews2 followers
December 6, 2021
Warning: Politically incorrect

Well, what isn’t politically incorrect?
Having been brought up in a New Testament church, I never had much respect for the Old Testament anyhow. Ebling goes about saying why- in detail.
If you do not mind bad language, the book is quite funny, in a sardonic sort of fashion.
The Pentateuch, derived from multiple sources, is dissected, and mocked. And, no, Moses was not the author, if Moses even existed.
Do not be surprised to find this title, and perhaps the author, on the burn pile, when the American theocracy is instituted really soon. Perhaps, Yahweh will even publicly incinerate heretics who have read this title and chuckled to themselves as illustrated within these pages. So, beware. Yahweh is making a list and checking it twice, I understand…
If you are Christian religious, prepare to be offended, but from the title you would never have purchased Ebling’s book anyhow. In that case, you might find this book chock full of simple-minded words of Satan.
Shocking and appalling… sort of.
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