As far as I know (and I've read the book) there is no biblical record of an adulterer being put to death by stoning. Not once.
Jesus was not the only one to put to an end the stoning of adulterers--a rarely used punishment, if the biblical record is any indication. Judaism itself put the punishment away also, and they did that about the year 30 C.E. One of the reasons this question was put to Jesus is because it was an active and controversial issue during the period in which he lived. They were not just 'testing' Jesus; they really wanted to know.

Dcn. Rolin Bruno, Ambridge, Pennsylvania

Jesus Christ annuled the law of stoning when he said "let him who is without sin cast the fist stone".

jer, dublin, eire

There is too much confusion over the true foundations of the values that our society is built upon.
They are seen as Christian values because they are supposed to be based on the teachings of the peace preaching, merciful Christ not particularly on law of the bible.
Living biblically it is not living as a true Christian.
Even if one does not believe Christ to be the son of God, even if one thinks he was a prophet or an alien or guy from the future….the fact remains that some very fundamental truths about peaceful human co-existence have been brought to the limelight and most intelligent people recognise their values in building a sustainable society.

Sylvia, London,

If Human beings are so decent, how come we need laws and why do most people break some facet of the law so often and why would we invent them in the first place if we were so good?
Most people commit one of these: Insurance fraud, speeding, petty theft (office stationary etc), copyright theft, using mobile phones whilst driving....
How would you explain Stalin, Pol Pot, Hitler, Mao, North Korea, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Rawanda...?
I'm not sure we can really believe in the decency of human beings, it's a wishful fantasy?

Nathan, Inverness, UK

"You could also be executed for adultery, blasphemy, breaking the Sabbath, perjury, incest, bestiality, and witchcraft, among others. A rebellious son could be sentenced to death. As could a son who is a persistent drunkard and glutton."

obiviously these are not acts that need addressing...still ajoke is at most times a sneer at seroius warning signs in the guise of progress

Bryan, London, England

This book looks brilliant!

Maybe it'll help people understand that

a) our laws are NOT derived from the Bible but from basic human decency
b) that the Bible is chock-full of the cruellest and most callous base morality imaginable and
c) much of The Bible was written in The Bronze Age, and one should either stop apologising for it or stop believing it to be true.

Graham Hughes, Liverpool,

I find anything that pokes fun at any belief system amusing. Not for the simple comedy nature, but also for the reaction of those who fail to see the comedy therein.

Saying that, can you imagine the response if he wrote a similar book about the Koran and Islam? He'd have a fatwah on his ass from some fundamentalist Muslim group faster than you can say Salman Rushdie.

Anyway, he's taking an interpretation of the Bible, something that hundreds of 'religious' groups have been doing to benefit their own ends for the last 2000 years. How is he different to them?

DJ, Norwich,

I think this sounds like a funny book. If anything the premise is unadventerous; creating the absurd by grafting a daft 2000 (ish?) year old text (that some people do take literally) onto today's life. That's like stoning fish in a barrel.

Sean Shepherd, Huddersfield, UK

I did not need to read this thoroughly but upon a quick glance, I can conclude that the author has succeeded in painting the bible that "bad". For one, we know even the devil pretends to be an angel of light and his is not the first one we will see. Yes, there were strict laws in the OT but maybe, he should look into the NT and see GRACE in action. That Jesus died they way he died was to because he wanted AJ Jacobs to have a solid fellowship with God.

Huhuhuguy, Malmo, Sweden

Living the bible way is not about growing beard andall the stoning lot you are writing about.Its now living the Life as demonstrated by Christ Jesus.Let us not interpret the bible in flesh but the Spirit,the counsellor direct you on that.Yield yourself to God and do away with the carnal mind which is but death.I pray that the Almighty God will unveil your understanding and pray that you go to church and learn the walk .God bless you.He loves you.

Brighton Mbawo Kandahah Afghanistan

Mbawo Brighton, Ipswich, UK

Jesus had mercy on the woman caught in adultery in the gospel of John chapter 8, so the headline on the front page is totally mistaken. The church of Jesus Christ made a decision recorded in Acts 15 specifically that Gentile believers are not required to keep the law of Moses. Jesus Christ submitted himself to a cruel debt to free us from the curse of the law.

Andrew Chapman, Newcastle upon tyne, England

Before going to places such as Saudi does the Forgein office intervene on behalf of HRH Prince Charles. He is a god fearing man and wishes to be known as" Defender of the Faiths" Yet he and "his second wife,"both self confessed adulterers traipse around no doubt causing untold embarassment. Surely they place themselves in grave danger in visiting places where adulterers are stoned to death on a regular basis.

PATRICIA MARY MACGREGOR, doncaster, South yorks