God-Awful: The Worst Religious Leaders of the Western World

Everyone knows there have been terrible popes, but who were they and what did they do that was so bad? Likewise, everyone knows that the ranks of televangelists have been decimated by scandals, but who were these men and what led to their downfalls? These are the kinds of questions that are answered in God-Awful: The Worst Religious Leaders of the Western World.

This book is crammed full of history, facts, oddities, and stupefying tales. Naturally, there is some pretty grim stuff on these pages. Inquisitions, holy wars, avarice, terrorism, and the like are not subjects that can be lightly glossed over. This book takes an unflinching look into all these dark areas, but there is also a light-hearted feel to much of the book that prevents things from getting too gloomy. Chapters on subjects such as satan-worshiping rock stars and "Snake Handlers" for instance, lend some levity to the proceedings. Then there is the surreal, mind-bending saga of history's most unmentionable holy relic.

This is a fascinating look at the unseemly side of religion that will captivate readers of all religious backgrounds.