Reading the Bible on the toilet?

[Zzyzx_Road]

Hey it’s got to be better than People magazine.

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

We should treat Bibles with greater reverence than other books. I’m not going to say the matter in question is absolute; there could be exceptions (to take an extreme example, a concentration camp). But personally, I wouldn’t be comfortable bringing the written Word of God into the restroom – let alone keeping it there – partly just out of respect, but also because of what might happen to it.

So on my Iphone I should just play candy crush instead of read the Bible app?



Reading the Bible anywhere is fine. This is a silly question in the line of many silly questions lately dealing with scrupulous things.

 

[Ad_Orientem]

So on my Iphone I should just play candy crush instead of read the Bible app?

I think digital media is a different matter. An Iphone isn’t a sacred object. The Bible software on it is, perhaps, but it’s not a physical object in the same way.

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

I think digital media is a different matter. An Iphone isn’t a sacred object. The Bible software on it is, perhaps, but it’s not a physical object in the same way.

Sacred apps? LOL!!!

Wait, so there is something more sacred to read the word on paper pages? Laudate would disagree, so would the USCCB who posts scripture online. Not to mention the Vatican Herself that posts important documents online including the Bible The CCC and Catholic pronouncements. So you feel that reading the Bible on a cell phone in a bathroom is ok but if a wood product is involved… then go to confession?

Interesting logic…

 

[Allegra]

The condition that they sell Preparation H for.

Capisce???

“Whatever happened to Preparations A through G!!!”

I had to look up preparation H. Hemorrhoid isn’t a bad word, is it? Why didn’t you just say so? No. I never got those.

 

[Ad_Orientem]

Wait, so there is something more sacred to read the word on paper pages? Laudate would disagree, so would the USCCB who posts scripture online. Not to mention the Vatican Herself that posts important documents online including the Bible The CCC and Catholic pronouncements. So you feel that reading the Bible on a cell phone in a bathroom is ok but if a wood product is involved… then go to confession?

Interesting logic…

You’re twisting my words. The act of reading itself isn’t more sacred one way or the other; but the medium which contains the words *might *be (note I said, perhaps, and that this is my personal sentiment). A digital medium is in a way less permanent, less concrete, and used for multiple purposes, which perhaps make it less of a sacred object, so to speak (a sacred object is dedicated to sacred use).

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

You’re twisting my words. The act of reading itself isn’t more sacred one way or the other; but the medium which contains the words *might *be (note I said, perhaps, and that this is my personal sentiment). A digital medium is in a way less permanent, less concrete, and used for multiple purposes, which perhaps make it less of a sacred object, so to speak (a sacred object is dedicated to sacred use).

You are not making sense.

 

[on_the_hill]

So on my Iphone I should just play candy crush instead of read the Bible app?



Reading the Bible anywhere is fine. This is a silly question in the line of many silly questions lately dealing with scrupulous things.

Good grief! I’m almost afraid to admit it—but for a long time I avoided reading through Laudate for this reason.

My habit at work is to take a break around 10AM, walk around a bit, flip through my iPhone, etc. but I always reserved Laudate for after a stop in the men’s room. I’d play Sudoku during that stop.

It just didn’t seem appropriate to read the daily Mass readings at that…time. But recently I started reading the readings “whenever.”

 

[Xeyed818]

I think digital media is a different matter. An Iphone isn’t a sacred object. The Bible software on it is, perhaps, but it’s not a physical object in the same way.

After pondering, it turns out that I do value more highly my paper Bible over any electronic ones. And, after further pondering of whether it is ‘greater sacredness’ or ‘greater intimacy’ from being ‘in touch’ with it’s pages - likely both.

I feel an ‘intimacy’ with favorite paper books, as well. However, unlike the Bible, it wouldn’t give me pause to throw one in the trash if it became unusable. Neither have I paused before deleting downloaded Bibles I chose not to keep. Why? Perhaps a computer screen prevents a level of intimacy or ‘realness’ - even with the Bible. Perhaps a paper Bible, as well as a paper book, is like ‘looking into the eyes of the Author/author’ as they speak. In some strange way, a computer screen may ‘filter out some kind of connection’. (I had been thinking of replacing my purse-sized paper Bible for an electronic one. Think I’ll pass on that now with this new awareness.)

All that said, I have never felt that God was displeased with me for eating and drinking over the pages of the Bible, even if I do spill something on occasion. I haven’t ‘desecrated’ the Bible as there is no attitude of contempt involved. That, to me, is the bottom line.

In looking for more (name removed by moderator)ut from the net, I came across: (veers a bit off topic)

“This is may be a bit like asking why paintings on the walls of art museums should not be replaced with flat-screen displays. The idea makes technical sense on some level, but overlooks a lot of details.”

“The whole experience of using paper books involves the senses differently. Browsing for digital books is a much less satisfying experience then perusing a bookstore, or a friend’s bookshelves.” (Joshua Levy)

When I finish transferring notes and markings from my ‘old Bible’ to the new one, I’ll likely put the Bible in a Zip-Lock baggie (or two) and place it in the trash. Even though copious underling makes it less than useful for someone who wants to be ‘led by the Spirit, not me’, it may one day ‘resurface’. The world may someday get so crazy that we will be in great hunger for an unadulterated Bible - and will gladly dig through the garbage dumps in hopes of finding one.

(If someone has a better idea for heavily marked Bibles, though, I’m interested.)

There is something I’ve noticed on one previously ‘trusted site’ - and that is the changing of wording from what I know it was in the original paper book. I also downloaded a KJV Bible in Excel format - and all the words “Passover” were changed to “Easter”. (??) Of course, that made the rest of the file suspect, as well. However, I really like the features of the macro for a project, so just overwrote that text with (thus far) a true copy.

Paul Washburn
February 22, 2014 at 6:43 pm #

Years ago, I read in a novel of a possible future, where books were put on digital readers to “save space”, while the original intent was to change the actual text to the preferred propaganda of the time. Entire sections of books were removed, much like present day “copies” of the movie ‘Holiday Inn’, where most of the skit about Lincoln’s Birthday was removed, due to current-day issues of racism. Obviously, I am a preferred reader of print on paper.

Best to All,

PJ

 

[Hodegetria]

I had to look up preparation H. Hemorrhoid isn’t a bad word, is it? Why didn’t you just say so? No. I never got those.

I think he or she just couldn’t spell it, and didn’t want to try.

This whole thread reminded me of a Seinfeld episode about how if someone was in the shower, they were basically unreachable, as if on another planet, LOL. For many, indeed, it’s the only private place in the house where you can be undisturbed. But even though there’s just the two of us (in a three bathroom home,) I often talk to God while in the loo, not necessarily whilst on the throne, but doing other things…brushing teeth, applying makeup etc.

I also wanted to mention that in Jewish tradition there’s a prayer called Asher Yatzar that thanks God for the normal and healthy workings of our bodily functions:

“Blessed are You, Hashem our God, King of the universe, Who formed man with wisdom and created within him many openings and many hollows. It is obvious and known before Your Throne of Glory that if even one of them ruptures, or if even one of them becomes blocked, it would be impossible to survive and to stand before You (even for a short period). Blessed are You, Hashem, Who heals all flesh and acts wondrously.”

You’re supposed to say the prayer while drying hands after washing them (after using toilet.)

**As usual, please correct me if I’m mistaken in any way.

 

[ajecphotos]

I have read some of my prayers in the toilet!! Sometimes you just have to go and i just have to say my prayers!

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

Good grief! I’m almost afraid to admit it—but for a long time I avoided reading through Laudate for this reason.

My habit at work is to take a break around 10AM, walk around a bit, flip through my iPhone, etc. but I always reserved Laudate for after a stop in the men’s room. I’d play Sudoku during that stop.

It just didn’t seem appropriate to read the daily Mass readings at that…time. But recently I started reading the readings “whenever.”

That is funny!

But yeah, God is happy when we fill our heads with His Word. And if you are reading on the toilette, The scriptures are a perfectly good choice. Perhaps the best choice.

Plus (and I apologize before hand) Something about a camel and a needle…

 

[CuriousAlways]

After pondering, it turns out that I do value more highly my paper Bible over any electronic ones. And, after further pondering of whether it is ‘greater sacredness’ or ‘greater intimacy’ from being ‘in touch’ with it’s pages - likely both.

I feel an ‘intimacy’ with favorite paper books, as well. However, unlike the Bible, it wouldn’t give me pause to throw one in the trash if it became unusable. Neither have I paused before deleting downloaded Bibles I chose not to keep. Why? Perhaps a computer screen prevents a level of intimacy or ‘realness’ - even with the Bible. Perhaps a paper Bible, as well as a paper book, is like ‘looking into the eyes of the Author/author’ as they speak. In some strange way, a computer screen may ‘filter out some kind of connection’. (I had been thinking of replacing my purse-sized paper Bible for an electronic one. Think I’ll pass on that now with this new awareness.)

All that said, I have never felt that God was displeased with me for eating and drinking over the pages of the Bible, even if I do spill something on occasion. I haven’t ‘desecrated’ the Bible as there is no attitude of contempt involved. That, to me, is the bottom line.

In looking for more (name removed by moderator)ut from the net, I came across: (veers a bit off topic)

When I finish transferring notes and markings from my ‘old Bible’ to the new one, I’ll likely put the Bible in a Zip-Lock baggie (or two) and place it in the trash. Even though copious underling makes it less than useful for someone who wants to be ‘led by the Spirit, not me’, it may one day ‘resurface’. The world may someday get so crazy that we will be in great hunger for an unadulterated Bible - and will gladly dig through the garbage dumps in hopes of finding one.

(If someone has a better idea for heavily marked Bibles, though, I’m interested.)

There is something I’ve noticed on one previously ‘trusted site’ - and that is the changing of wording from what I know it was in the original paper book. I also downloaded a KJV Bible in Excel format - and all the words “Passover” were changed to “Easter”. (??) Of course, that made the rest of the file suspect, as well. However, I really like the features of the macro for a project, so just overwrote that text with (thus far) a true copy.

Best to All,

PJ

Did you say in one of your paragraphs when you are finished making notes in your bible you put it in a Ziplock Bag and toss it in the trash? Oh oh. I just read on the Ask an Apologist Forum that the correct way to dispose of a bible is to bury it or burn it.

Anyone else have a comment?

 

[eViLpOpTaRt]

This might sound silly, but is it a sin to read the Bible on the toilet?

No! Some people find it’s time well-spent. Beware of scrupulosity.

 

[Xeyed818]

Did you say in one of your paragraphs when you are finished making notes in your bible you put it in a Ziplock Bag and toss it in the trash? Oh oh. I just read on the Ask an Apologist Forum that the correct way to dispose of a bible is to bury it or burn it.

Anyone else have a comment?

Thanks for bringing this up again. I suddenly had the thought that surely there was someone who would appreciate even a marked Bible. So I Googled…

google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=used+Bibles+sent+overseas

Keeping the Bibles above ground and out of incinerators does seems like a better plan.

PJ

 

[CuriousAlways]

Also, many folks have their Bible’s blessed - another reason they should not be tossed in the trash can but disposed of in an acceptable manner if need be. Donations are a wonderful idea - and thanks for putting that out there as well.

 

[UnumCorpus]

In our house growing up we never had reading material in the bathroom, but somehow I always ended up reading the shampoo bottles over and over and over again anyway (just like when I sat at the breakfast table and read the cereal box). Some people just like to have something to read to keep their minds occupied.

Lol, and I thought I was the only one who did this! If I have no reading material available in the bathroom, I either read shampoo bottles or the instructions on my toothpaste tube over and over again. I’m also one of those people who likes to keep their mind occupied…if I don’t, my mind wanders and I end up imagining all of the embarrassing things I’ve ever done. Not sure why my mind does that in the bathroom of all places.

Nowadays it’s better as I have a reading app on my phone, so I use that time for reading classics such as Dante’s Commedia.

 

[Hodegetria]

Lol, and I thought I was the only one who did this! If I have no reading material available in the bathroom, I either read shampoo bottles or the instructions on my toothpaste tube over and over again. I’m also one of those people who likes to keep their mind occupied…if I don’t, my mind wanders and I end up imagining all of the embarrassing things I’ve ever done. Not sure why my mind does that in the bathroom of all places.

Nowadays it’s better as I have a reading app on my phone, so I use that time for reading classics such as Dante’s Commedia.

Also guilty! LOL The original multi-taskers.

I also wanted to say, always donate old Bibles, don’t throw them out-- if they contain personal information, delete it or cut that part out. I remember before the USSR fell, westerners visiting were begged for just one page of the Bible. Hospitals, rehabs, prisons, AA clubs/meeting places, old folks homes ALL need Bibles.

 

[pensmama87]

Lol, and I thought I was the only one who did this! If I have no reading material available in the bathroom, I either read shampoo bottles or the instructions on my toothpaste tube over and over again. I’m also one of those people who likes to keep their mind occupied…**if I don’t, my mind wanders and I end up imagining all of the embarrassing things I’ve ever done. Not sure why my mind does that in the bathroom of all places. **

Nowadays it’s better as I have a reading app on my phone, so I use that time for reading classics such as Dante’s Commedia.

…Are we long-lost twins, or something!!!

 

[UnumCorpus]

…Are we long-lost twins, or something!!!

You do that too? Then we definitely must be long-list twins!