How the gurz can I get a copy of this book?

January 17, 2006 4:51 PM

I've recently discovered a delightfully insane religion, and I want to buy their book. There are a couple of problems, though.

The religion is based in Turkey, and from what I can parse on this page, it looks like "The Knowledge Book" isn't available:

As a result of the scanning done, it has been decided that the Knowledge Book is to be written in handwriting in Countries outside Turkey until 18th of February of the World year 2007 (With an ink fountain pen).

It seems that they scanned the book onto the internet, so you're supposed to get together with two friends, call a number in Turkey, and write it out for yourself.

I really want this book. According to a magazine a friend of mine has, put out by this organization, "The Knowledge Book"—in English—is a delicious 1,111 pages long.

I have tried all the usual routes: abebooks, google, and so forth. I e-mailed the religion's founder, V. Bulent Corak, and heard nothing back.

Alternately, what are some other really good crazy religion books? I already know about the usual suspects, and the Urantia book.

Many thanks.

posted by interrobang to religion & philosophy (23 comments total)

Dude, if you get one, tell us how. Hell, ebay a few.
posted by phrontist at 4:58 PM on January 17, 2006

On the subject of other crazy religion books, I used to have a copy of Esoteric Rune Magic years ago. It's now out of print, and as you might glean from the Amazon reviews, it wasn't all that well-received. But I enjoyed it, at least in part because of how obviously insecure the author was. The guy was clearly a walking open wound, which was pretty clear from reading his spells and astral projections in the book. Just a little paperback book, nothing epic or sweeping like the Book of Mormon or even the Satanic Bible, but a small relic of kookery nonetheless.
posted by Gator at 5:17 PM on January 17, 2006

Looks like you can download part of it here: FTP Site.

Or, at least some religious rantings from them.
posted by spinifex23 at 5:55 PM on January 17, 2006

That book looks educated stupid to me.
posted by Decani at 6:03 PM on January 17, 2006

Oh sorry... in answer to your question... the Bible and the Koran are both pretty whacked out.
posted by Decani at 6:04 PM on January 17, 2006

Looks like you can download part of it here: FTP Site.

Or, at least some religious rantings from them.
posted by spinifex23 at 7:55 PM CST on January 17 [mark as best answer] [!]


That book looks educated stupid to me.
posted by Decani at 8:03 PM CST on January 17 [mark as best answer] [!]


Oh sorry... in answer to your question... the Bible and the Koran are both pretty whacked out.
posted by Decani at 8:04 PM CST on January 17 [mark as best answer] [!]

Yes, fellas, the book is nuts, and I already know that it's online. I want a hard copy of it.
posted by interrobang at 6:11 PM on January 17, 2006

Other 'crazy' religious books The validility or comedic value of these books are left to the reader:

The Seth books are a pretty good read. Jane Roberts started a small religious movement with them. They're pretty interesting, mix a lot of philosophy, traditional religion, and new age-isms. Roberts herself is a pretty interesting character, kinda the opposite of the medium stereotype.

Carlos Castenada's books are pretty dramatic and well done. The Castenada cult is still out there even after quite a bit of proof he made all of it up. Engrossing stuff.

Some of the apocrypha. Not sure if there's a good book with them all, but I think Jesus wrestles an aligator or something in one of them.

Principia Discordia, the semi-serious religion which is still going strong. A funny and intelligent read.

I heard the Raelian religion's founder's book is pretty good.
posted by skallas at 6:26 PM on January 17, 2006

Thanks for the leads so far, Gator and skallas.
posted by interrobang at 6:31 PM on January 17, 2006

I can't find it online either, but this woman has translated it, according to her resume. She's got contact info, she might know where you can find a print copy.
posted by Meredith at 6:36 PM on January 17, 2006

...from what I can parse on this page, it looks like "The Knowledge Book" isn't available: As a result of the scanning done...
posted by interrobang to religion & philosophy at 5:51 PM MST

I don't think the book was scanned "into the internet" as you stated; from (earlier) context it seems they are saying the entire planet was scanned and found to be ready:

As a result of the general scanning done in your entire planet on the 21st of June of the World year 2004, it has been determined that many of our Terrestrial Friends are ready...

Read on down, it seems if you form a COUNCIL, you receive the book, maybe in parts (fascicules), though it isn't explicitly stated. Maybe you can find an already established FOCAL POINT that is teaching from the book.

14- The Focal Point established by the Friends at the Council of 3 people is open to the public, everyone may come.

15- At this Focal Point, each Friend in the Council reads and explains one by one a fascicule every week in sequence, starting with the First Fascicule.

16- In this way, those who come to the Focal Point receive information and are trained. This is the (Law of Serving the Human Being).
posted by attercoppe at 6:41 PM on January 17, 2006

Yeah, attercoppe, the whole thing is really difficult to understand. You may be right.

And thanks for the contact information, Meredith; I will contact that person and see what happens.
posted by interrobang at 6:46 PM on January 17, 2006

...crap, I don't see an e-mail address on that woman's website. Am I missing something?
posted by interrobang at 6:49 PM on January 17, 2006

Your mileage may vary on its religiosity, but Atlas Shrugged always stuck me for it's pseudo religious kookery. It lacks the spiritual element, but elevates 'greed is the sincerest form of altruism' to a level where all its proponents shine with an inner beatific beauty.
posted by planetthoughtful at 6:55 PM on January 17, 2006

Translation of Mevlana's "The Knowledge Book", Istanbul Turkey, from Turkish/English into Italian. (Own initiative). Stopped for lack of time.

Repeat: Stopped for lack of time.

That sounds about right.
posted by luckypozzo at 6:56 PM on January 17, 2006

Uh, no, you're not missing it. I saw the address and phone numbers and thought it had one, but realized it didn't after I had already posted it. But I just found another resume for her and her email appears to be [e-mail].
posted by Meredith at 6:57 PM on January 17, 2006

interrobang: Try annawittmann at hotmail dot com. If you go to the home page (here) you'll see a spinning '@' symbol that launches this email address.
posted by planetthoughtful at 6:59 PM on January 17, 2006

Has anybody actually read the Urantia book? It's marvelous, it seems Jebus was a minor functionary in the galactic accountants union.
posted by signal at 7:08 PM on January 17, 2006

Thank you, planetthoughtful.
posted by interrobang at 7:13 PM on January 17, 2006

Alternately, what are some other really good crazy religion books? I already know about the usual suspects, and the Urantia book.

I do not know what the 'usual suspects' are, but one of my favorites is a slim volume called Mental Illness, Possession, Exorcism and Life After Death, by Dr. Frances Harber, brooklyn NY (1977, reprint 1990). (Represent!) It is wonderful. In college, a group of us made a segue piece in a theatre festival out of chapter six, "how to recognize possession", which is a list of 327 apparently common forms of possession, e.g,
220. a woman, who refuses to have a baby, is possessed.
221. A woman, who can't have a baby, is possessed
222. A woman, who has a miscarriage, is possessed.
223. A woman, who has a still-born child, is possessed.
224. A man, who wears very tight pants to show his sexual organs, is possessed.
225. A person, who is a hippie, is possessed.
226. A person, who likes to shoot off firecrackers, is possessed.
227. A woman, who always knits, is possessed.
228. A person, who always reads during company, is possessed.
229. A person, who reads a newspaper at breakfast with other people, is possessed.
230. A parent, who abuses his child, is possessed.
231. A woman, who says a woman does not have to have an orgasm, is possessed.

oh, it goes on, and on, so randomly and fantastically that I keep typing. A person who has hayfever, is possessed. A person who can't ride an elevator, is possessed... A person, who complains that animal is constantly moving in his abdomen, is possessed. (so that's what that was about.)

There are references to zombies and to jesus. what more is needed?

As well as the play, a student went out & found dr frances harber and an interview was published with him in our school paper, but I cannot find a copy of it now...

Next to that on my shelf is a golden volume of the same size about "the best treatment for AIDS and other Apocalyptic Plagues", which is apparently drinking your own pee. That's not exactly religion, though, I guess...
posted by mdn at 8:53 PM on January 17, 2006

Wow, mdn. I'm possessed several times over. In fact I assume just about everyone is possessed, with the possible exception of Dr Frances Harber.

Some of the things I've seen from religious fringe groups have been pretty freaky. There was one from an organisation which wanted to run a program for kids called Heaven On Earth, which for short they called Kiddie-Hoe.
posted by andraste at 9:06 PM on January 17, 2006

This person says they sent her the book. Her site seems to have a lot of commentary on it, for example this page. Lots of other insane goodness there too, about angels and whatnot.
posted by gubo at 12:16 AM on January 18, 2006

Side note on the Urantia book: German composer Karlheinz Stockhausen is a devotee.

I've not read it all, but I'd say it's very good. Better than the New Testament, maybe I'd put it between the Old Testament and the Book of Mormon in terms of quality reading.

I love the Book of Mormon.
posted by Joseph Gurl at 4:09 AM on January 18, 2006

If anyone cares, the Knowledge Book is coming my way, from Turkey. They want a $100 dollar donation, which I may pay, if the book looks right.

I e-mailed this address: [e-mail], and heard back from them about a week later.
posted by interrobang at 3:55 PM on February 1, 2006