Myths and misconceptions about the Bible's content abound, and churchgoing Christians are often as confused as everyone else. Shocked by the Bible sets the record straight with well-researched, controversial, myth-breaking assertions about what the Bible really does - and doesn't - say.

If people actually knew what is in their Bible — the nonstop sex and violence, the hilarious comedy, and the astounding facts their pastors never told them — they'd rush to crack it open and get the surprise of their lives. — Joe Kovacs

Fed up with a lack of public knowledge, author Joe Kovacs has compiled some of the most crucial information for correcting people's faulty education on what the Bible really says. If readers have ever wondered about God, the Bible, or the meaning of life, and are just not satisfied with the answers they've received - or if they want to learn what the Bible really says on troubling questions - Shocked by the Bible is an essential resource for both Christians and non-Christians alike.

If you think you really know the Bible, better think again. Joe Kovacs takes a close look at the greatest story ever told and separates myth from reality. My favorite parts of the book deal with Christmas and Easter. Check out Shocked by the Bible. You may well be shocked. — Bill O'Reilly, Fox News

Among the little-known facts Kovacs explores are:

Jesus said NO ONE has gone to heaven except Himself The Bible never says Jesus died on a Friday or rose from the grave Sunday morning "Christmas" is not mentioned in the Bible "Easter" has vanished from the Bible God wanted to kill Moses "God the Father" is never mentioned in the Old Testament There weren't just two of every kind of animal aboard Noah's Ark The worst case of hemorrhoids in history is recorded in the Bible Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were not Jews Jesus made personal appearances on Earth in the Old Testament The Bible tells you not to eat your dog or cat for dinner God ordered many of His own people to get divorced Elijah did not cheat death by riding a chariot to heaven "Three Wise Men" appear nowhere in the Bible, and none are ever mentioned visiting baby Jesus in a Bethlehem manger The Bible does not say Eve bit into an apple Jesus wasn't the only guy to walk on water Animals had meaningful discussions with people The Bible calls the devil "god" There's a character in the Bible called a "dumb ass" Underwear didn't disintegrate despite 40 years of heavy use The practice of decking a tree with silver and gold is actually condemned by God The apostle Peter was married God ran lotteries There's a person who didn't eat or drink anything for 80 days God ordered the slayings of thousands of men, women and children Jesus had a group of "other" apostles in addition to the famous 12 A "live forever" diet is mentioned The Bible talks about sex with angels God never said "Let Me make man in My image"

It's not about religion, it's about the Bible. What's in it, and what's not. You'll truly be stunned when you see for yourself what Scripture has to say, without anyone telling you it doesn't mean what it says. It's for those who have never read the Bible, those who don't understand the Word, as well as those who have been reading it for years and know it well, or at least thought they knew it. — Joe Kovacs

Shocked by the Bible: The Most Astonishing Facts You've Never Been Told Myths and misconceptions about the Bible's content abound, and churchgoing Christians are often as confused as everyone else. Fed up with this lack of public knowledge, author Joe Kovacs has compiled some of the most crucial information for correcting people's faulty education on what the Bible really says. If readers have ever wondered about God, the Bible, or the meaning of life, and are just not satisfied with the answers they've received - or if they want to learn what the Bible really says on troubling questions - Shocked by the Bible is an essential resource for both Christians and non-Christians alike. Shocked by the Bible is not one of those dull, who-gives-a-flying-leap books about religion that act as a cure for insomnia. From start to finish, this eye-popping page turner will be tough to put down as you discover things you may never have known were actually in the Bible. USA UK

God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything Christopher Hitchens delivers another in the recent rash of atheist manifestos. The same contrarian spirit that makes him delightful reading as a political commentator, even (or especially) when he's completely wrong, makes him an entertaining huckster prosecutor once he has God placed in the dock. Hitchens's one-liners bear the marks of considerable sparring practice with believers. Yet few believers will recognize themselves as Hitchens associates all of them for all time with the worst of history's theocratic and inquisitional moments. The book's real strength is Hitchens's on-the-ground glimpses of religion's worst face in various war zones and isolated despotic regimes. But its weakness is its almost fanatical insistence that religion poisons "everything," which tips over into barely disguised misanthropy. USA UK

50 Reasons People Give for Believing in a God: Guy P Harrison Guy P Harrison has written a persuasive and frequently humorous book about an important topic. This thoughtful work should be read by religious practitioners, political leaders, and the general public and should be taught as a foundation for explaining the role of religion in society. The author — a journalist with worldwide experience and thorough scientific knowledge — doesn't ridicule supernatural beliefs. He seems fond of believers. But he quietly employs logic to show that invisible gods, devils, heavens, hells, miracles and the like belong in the superstitious past, and cannot be taken seriously by educated modern people. A fine addition to the recent surge of non-believer books. This one is a kinder, gentler version, and fun to read — with this disclaimer from the author: "No gods were harmed in the writing of this book". USA UK

Letter to a Christian Nation: Sam Harris Modern religions serve many social goods such as health care for the poor. The problem is that it also services many reprehensible ideas. Sam Harris blows the whistle, pointing out the religions of the world are based on human generated vengeful stories. Harris fearlessly describes a moral and intellectual emergency precipitated by religious fantasies – misguided beliefs that create suffering, that rationalize violence, that have endangered our nation and our future. His argument for the morality, the honesty, and the humility of atheism is galvanizing. It is a relief that someone has spoken so frankly, with such passion yet such rationality. Please buy two, one for you and one for a friend you care about. USA UK

In his new book Guy Harrison details such reasons for god-belief as the obviousness of God, "playing it safe," the fear of hell, that belief in gods brings genuine happiness and comforts, and the fact that so many people are religious. 50 Reasons People Give For Believing In A God

Albert Einstein is best known for his theories of relativity and for his famous equation that describes the equivalence of mass and energy, but his thoughts on religion have long attracted conjecture. His position on God has been widely misrepresented by people on both sides of the atheism/religion divide. Einstein and God

Christianity is based on the stories and claims of the Bible. If the Bible is not largely accurate history, then Christianity has no foundation. Thus, either the Bible is dependable, historical truth or Christianity is just superstitious mumbo-jumbo. The Bible: Primitive Nonsense?

Like many Jews and Christians, David Plotz long assumed he knew what was in the Bible. But it wasn't until he picked up a Bible at a cousin's bat mitzvah — and became engrossed and horrified by a lesser-known story in Genesis — that he couldn't put it down. The Things I Learned When I Read Every Single Word of the Bible

Buses with the slogan "There's probably no God" will soon be running on the streets of London. The posters are the idea of the British Humanist Association and have been supported by prominent atheist Richard Dawkins, bestselling author of The God Delusion. Atheist Bus Campaign