Is it sacrilegous to read the Bible in the bathroom?

[JRKH]

Of course everyone is entitled to their opinion.

I don’t think it’s perfectly acceptable at all, and I do find it repulsive if not sacriligious. Put the bible down, do your thing, wash your hands, come out and resume reading. How hard can that be? If you need to read something while on the can take the NY Times.

The OP said that he did it without thinking and while I might agree that it isn’t PERFECTLY acceptable, I find nothing repulsive about it. I am glad you don’t find it sacreligious.
But, as I say everyone is entitled to their opinion.

**Jesus had to use the bathroom too, He completely and totally understands. He’s probably pleased as punch that you care to think of Him so often. **

I hardly think that Jesus read the Torah while on the can. Jews of that era (and many today) would dare not even write the entire name of God or even utter it. They took (take) the Third Commandment very seriously, and so with the entire Word of God. What we are discussing here is a profanation of the Third Commandment.

It is unfortunate that some must carry these things to the nth degree. The origional poster was engrossed in his reading and without thinking carried his reading/prayer/praise to the bathroom with him. He incurred no sin in so doing and the majority of posters here don’t see a reason to try to impose one on him.
Your legalistic treatment of the matter goes entirely against Jesus teaching that - The Law was made for man, not man for the Law.
Jesus taught that the first 2 Commandments are the greatest and that all the rest of the Commandments and the Law are based on them. Since the OP carried the book with him to continue reading and studying the Word, the OP did not violate these commandments and therefore incurred no sin.

You are right the Scribes and Pharasees would have had him punished severely, but then Jesus said "Woe to the Scribes and Pharasees…

Consider this - How is carrying a Bible into the bathroom any worse than carrying Jesus (Who is the Word) in there. If you carry Jesus in your heart wherever you go then he is with you “on the can”.

**BTW: I think you might also be suffering from scrupulosity. Reason I say this is I suffer from this too and this sounds exactly like something I would have fretted over just a few years ago. I’m not totally healed by any means, but, I am not as bothered by these little things as I once was. There are ways to treat this. You might want to talk to your priest about it, as he might be able to offer some tips to help you through this stage of your spiritual journey.**His “gut feeling” is correct that it would be inappropriate.

I agree here. If his gut feeling is that it is inappropriate then he should try not to do it since it creates a conflict in his spirit. However let us not burden him with a sin which doesn’t exist.

The whole idea of taking the bible onto the toilet cavalierly cheapens the Word of God, so much so that we become careless about what it really is. After a while, we no longer reverence it and then these kinds of scenarios go from unthinkable to being acceptable. What’s next? Scripture toilet paper? If not, why not?

You are too hung up on the action and giving no credence to the reason. You are giving no credit to the OP for being in the true spirit of the Word.
If we are to praise God constantly does that not include the “can”?
If we are to carry God in our hearts do we need to drop him off before going into the bathroom and then pick him up on the way out? Certainly carrying God in there is much worse than carrying in a mere book, no matter how important.



Forgive me brother - I’m getting carried away and sarcastic which was not my intention. Please accept my apology.
But please understand that God is more interested in what we have in our hearts and not in our hands. God made me and my bodily functions. Let us not burden ourselves and others with trivial sins and guilt when we all have more important spiritual matters to attend to.

All Glory to God.
James

 

[joecap]

To put it in simple straight-forward terms:

How could God possibly be “grossed out” by what He created?
Our bodies are what they are at His command.
'Nuff said!

 

[Neil_Anthony]

Perhaps it depends on the outlook of the person doing the reading. If in your mind this cheapens the sacred, then you shouldn’t do it. Others might not even understand the problem, and for them it probably doesn’t matter.

I for one am slightly offended just to read people so openly discussing bathroom activities online. So obviously for me it wouldn’t be acceptable to read the bible in that situation. But I suspect I’m not typical

 

[JRKH]

Perhaps it depends on the outlook of the person doing the reading. If in your mind this cheapens the sacred, then you shouldn’t do it. Others might not even understand the problem, and for them it probably doesn’t matter.

I for one am slightly offended just to read people so openly discussing bathroom activities online. So obviously for me it wouldn’t be acceptable to read the bible in that situation. But I suspect I’m not typical

Nicely placed into the proverbial nutshell.
As for whether you are typical or not. I suspect that the feelings run the gammut.

Praise God Always and in all things
James

 

[Hellisreal]

Romans 14:14-23 for suggested reading here everyone.

Let the OP do his thing on the can. As long as he does not feel it is unclean, its clean if he does so to be closer to God. If we revile him, we are sinning.

Get back to bible reading OP.

 

[brittrossiter]

I am the OP, and thanks for the replies. My Bible is safely on my nightstand and out of harms way.

Whoever posted about scrupulosity made an excellent point - that’s something I’m definitely trying to avoid, and don’t want to get worked up about something like this unless it’s a big deal.

I do pray regularly in the bathroom, though, and see no problem whatsoever in doing that.

 

[JRKH]

I am the OP, and thanks for the replies. My Bible is safely on my nightstand and out of harms way.

Whoever posted about scrupulosity made an excellent point - that’s something I’m definitely trying to avoid, and don’t want to get worked up about something like this unless it’s a big deal.

I do pray regularly in the bathroom, though, and see no problem whatsoever in doing that.

Glad that you found the answers helpful.
May God Bless

James

 

[MH84]

sorry to be slightly off topic, but is reading the Bible in bed before you fall asleep ok?

 

[JRKH]

sorry to be slightly off topic, but is reading the Bible in bed before you fall asleep ok?

Can’t see a problem -
Why do you ask?

James

 

[rwoehmke]

I know a man with a family. The only room in the house where he can get peace and tranquility while reading is in one of his house’s bathrooms. He goes there as soon as he rises for morning prayer and meditation. Has done so for years and really loves the Lord and respects “The Book.”

I grew up in the days of the outdoor biffy with newspapers and catalogs (catalog paper was like that in some of your finer Bibles) so the first thought to cross my mind was, “Well fine as long as you didn’t tear out a page for double duty.”

One might ask the question, given the time of Jesus’ presence on earth and the eating habits of Mid-Eastern peoples, why is the cutting off of the right hand as required by Sharia of a convicted thief so terrible a punishment? And you thought ex-communication was bad?

 

[Hellisreal]

sorry to be slightly off topic, but is reading the Bible in bed before you fall asleep ok?

I would check the 1 Timothy for that one.

…

Checking now

…

Nothing in there.

Help me out, do you have a bible? Lets see if we can both search the bible together and find any such warning in it.

If nothing else, we will be reading the bible right?

 

[CB_Catholic]

OK. Before the jokes start flying, I am completely and totally serious in asking this question.

Is it sacrilege to carry a Bible into the restroom and continue reading it “in there”? I caught myself doing that about a week ago. I’d been reading it in my bedroom, and picked it up and carried it in with me without thinking about it. When I realized what I was doing I quickly put it down. I’m not trying to be scrupulous; I just don’t want to offend God by subjecting sacred items to conditions that are not worthy of their position.

Is this something I should confess, or is this a situation where the Word of God is good to be read at any location, even in the bathroom?

I sure hope not–I’ve done it many times! I often keep a copy of the CCC on the back of my commode and have consequently read through almost the entire book. Many of my friends have paperback Bibles and religious reading in their bathroom–sure beats the Reader’s Digest.

 

[Hellisreal]

I sure hope not–I’ve done it many times! I often keep a copy of the CCC on the back of my commode and have consequently read through almost the entire book. Many of my friends have paperback Bibles and religious reading in their bathroom–sure beats the Reader’s Digest.

Some do the Farmer’s Almanac.
To be fair…

 

[fellowChristian]

Wow how lax we have become.

To hear so many say it is ok.

I know alot of people who won’t take a book into the bathroom because it is unsanitary.

I clean our bathrooms and I know urine splashes (standing men of course) and for those who are holding the Bible as you flush, think about the splashing that occurs.

I think 20/20 did an expo on how many germs splash from just the toilet being flushed.

Come on not only is it disrespectful to the word of God, but it is unsanitary. The first Bible’s name was

La Biblia Sacra Vulgata.

The Sacred Books in the Vernaclular.

We shouldn’t even pile things on the Bible (cups,phones,watches) It should always be treated with respect.

We are told not to even wear a Rosary as a necklace, out of respect.

Would you take the American Flag into the bathroom with you too?

Nevermind I don’t want to know.

 

[JRKH]

Wow how lax we have become.

To hear so many say it is ok.

I know alot of people who won’t take a book into the bathroom because it is unsanitary.

I clean our bathrooms and I know urine splashes (standing men of course) and for those who are holding the Bible as you flush, think about the splashing that occurs.

I think 20/20 did an expo on how many germs splash from just the toilet being flushed.

Come on not only is it disrespectful to the word of God, but it is unsanitary. The first Bible’s name was

La Biblia Sacra Vulgata.

The Sacred Books in the Vernaclular.

We shouldn’t even pile things on the Bible (cups,phones,watches) It should always be treated with respect.

We are told not to even wear a Rosary as a necklace, out of respect.

Would you take the American Flag into the bathroom with you too?

Nevermind I don’t want to know.

As said previously, If you feel it is wrong, then don’t do it.

Please keep in mind that the OP’s question was whether it was a sacrilege to take the Bible “In There”.
He did not do it intentionally, and meant no disrespect.
Since the intent was not there then no sin is incurred.

Certainly we want to treat the Bible with respect, but we don’t want to turn it into an Idol either. The word of God is written in our hearts. the Bible is mearly a way to record and transmit that word.

Peace.

James

 

[Alda]

I’ve sometimes been about to do this and then thought better of it. I am scrupulous and wasn’t sure if it would be okay so I didn’t do it.

 

[TC2]

I think the Lord would be glad to share time and His word with you no matter where you are. I think He’s big enough not to be offended by the location.

Here’s a thought, Elvis died in the bathroom, in less than, er, ‘viewable’ circumstances. If he had died with a Bible open in his hand, would you (opposers) feel he had sinned/offended God, or would you think, ‘well, at least he was talking to the Lord, maybe he was saved, that’s a good way to go’ ?

 

[Matt_Collins]

It reminds me of a story a wonderful old Jesuit told me in college.

A novice went to his spiritual director, an aged and wise old Jesuit, and asked him if it was OK to smoke while he prayed. The older man said “Of course not!” A moment later he added “But it’s certainly a good thing to pray while you smoke!”

 

[Julianna]

OK. Before the jokes start flying, I am completely and totally serious in asking this question.

Is it sacrilege to carry a Bible into the restroom and continue reading it “in there”? I caught myself doing that about a week ago. I’d been reading it in my bedroom, and picked it up and carried it in with me without thinking about it. When I realized what I was doing I quickly put it down. I’m not trying to be scrupulous; I just don’t want to offend God by subjecting sacred items to conditions that are not worthy of their position.

Is this something I should confess, or is this a situation where the Word of God is good to be read at any location, even in the bathroom?

No

 

[valient_Lucy]

I don’t know…as pointed out in another thread, there is no scriptural evidence that Jesus or any of the disciples went to the bathroom. This may be a Catholic invention!

Good point! This could simply be another “tradition of men.”