How to dispose of a Bible?

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White_Peony

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I have a Bible I owned since I was a little kid. It’s pretty battered. How should I dispose of it?
 
There is no mandated way of disposing of a bible. Some people will bury or burn it, especially if it is a blessed item. If not you can still do that, or even just throw it away. I personally like the idea of burying the bible myself, treating it with the same respect I would a passed friend or pet.
 
Whooo, it is time for bed. Or I need more caffeine or something. I quickly read the title as:

How to dispose of a Body?

:eek:

I suppose both could be disposed of the same way…burn or bury. 🤷
 
It once occurred to me that the parish should collect old bibles, rosaries, medals etc and put them in graves at funerals. Neverdid get round to following up on it. I have a couple of bibles and rosaries I want put in my coffin.
 
I have a very battered bible that my great-grandfather got sometime in the late 19th century. I will give it to a nephew who is extending my work on the family genealogy.

I also have a fragile mother-of-pearl rosary that my grandmother gave to my grandfather at their wedding. I just realized the other day that he had it 48 years; I have had it 63 years.
 
Most people, including non-believers, come to associate objects with people and ideas. Careful disposal is a part of many cultures. If you feel something needs special care: give it special care. It is surprising hard to burn a book singly - you have to burn the pages one by one. Burial if fine as long as the site will not be disturbed for some time. ‘Burial’ at sea, with proper weighting is another possibility. You could also put the whole Bible through a powerful office shedder, and burn the resulting shreds. My own view, however, is that there is nothing mor interesting than a well-read and battered book, showing the importance it had to people. If oyu know the importance it had to others, I suggest writing a note to this effect about the people who have used the Bible, and leaving it on the shelf, to intrigue and delight someone after you are gone.
 
thistle said:
So its pretty battered. Why is that a reason to want to dispose of it?
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Depends on how much it’s deteriorated: if the cover and the pages are a bit worn and torn, but the pages themselves are still attached to the spine, it’s worth keeping and handling it with care. If the covers have come off and the pages are all falling apart and some are missing, it’s likely better to dispose of it reverently, ie. burning it respectfully and burying the ashes, or burying it where you know the ground isn’t going to be walked on regularly (ie, under some bushes in the garden).
 
If the bible is in good condition, I recommend that you give it to your local parish. If it is a Protestant bible, same idea, only give it to a Protestant church. That way if someone asks for a bible, the minister will be able to give that one. As for the worn ones, I personally believe it’s best to hold onto it. If it isn’t an antique or something that is over forty or fifty years old, you can always look into putting on new cover.
 
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