What to do with old Bibles

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RickyZ

Senior Member
Sep 20, 2012
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787
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#1
I have several old Bibles that I just don't need anymore. Some are pretty ratty, one has my name on it, and nobody seems to want them as a donation. But I feel 'wrong' about tossing them in the trash. What do I do with them?
 

oldhermit

Senior Member
Jul 28, 2012
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Alabama
#2
They are just paper, ink, and glue. If they are beyond reasonable use, I would just burn them.
 

Chester

Senior Member
May 23, 2016
4,273
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#3
I have several old Bibles that I just don't need anymore. Some are pretty ratty, one has my name on it, and nobody seems to want them as a donation. But I feel 'wrong' about tossing them in the trash. What do I do with them?
I think you are a bit like me: it seems irreverent to burn a Bible or just get rid of it!

But it is not the paper and ink that is sacred: it is the message it contains.

So: you can keep it stowed away and then let your children or grandchildren get rid of it, or you could bury it in a box in your back yard, or you could burn it as a sacrificial offering to God :)
 

RickyZ

Senior Member
Sep 20, 2012
9,635
787
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#4
I thought of that. Images of 'banned book burnings' came to mind. Plus I'm pretty sure that is illegal under AQMD regulations. Not that that kind of thing has ever stopped me before ;)
 

Chester

Senior Member
May 23, 2016
4,273
1,410
113
#5
I have several old Bibles that I just don't need anymore. Some are pretty ratty, one has my name on it, and nobody seems to want them as a donation. But I feel 'wrong' about tossing them in the trash. What do I do with them?
Hey, suppose you send me youf "ratty old" Bibles and I will send you a few of my "ratty old" Bibles - and then we can just do with them what seems appropriate!

Or maybe we (and anyone else coming onto this thread) can just send them to oldhermit and he can make a big bonfire in his back yard.
 

blue_ladybug

Senior Member
Feb 21, 2014
70,860
9,579
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#6
Not to derail the thread, but I have the same question about the 2 pics of God that I have. I don't feel right about throwing them away, but I also don't feel right keeping or selling them, either.

To Ricky, the suggestion about burying them in a box sounds good. :)
 

blue_ladybug

Senior Member
Feb 21, 2014
70,860
9,579
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#7
Take them to a soup kitchen and put them on the free table..
 

RickyZ

Senior Member
Sep 20, 2012
9,635
787
113
#8
Not to derail the thread, but I have the same question about the 2 pics of God that I have. I don't feel right about throwing them away, but I also don't feel right keeping or selling them, either.

To Ricky, the suggestion about burying them in a box sounds good. :)
They've been buried in a box for a decade. We're moving so old unneeded boxed stuff has got to go.
 

trofimus

Senior Member
Aug 17, 2015
10,684
794
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#9
I think you are a bit like me: it seems irreverent to burn a Bible or just get rid of it!

But it is not the paper and ink that is sacred: it is the message it contains.

So: you can keep it stowed away and then let your children or grandchildren get rid of it, or you could bury it in a box in your back yard, or you could burn it as a sacrificial offering to God :)
To bury them in the ground is not a bad idea!

I have also some old Bibles I do not use anymore and I do not know what to do with them. To burn them or to throw them into trash bin seems inappropriate to me.
 
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blue_ladybug

Senior Member
Feb 21, 2014
70,860
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#10
I meant bury them in the ground.. :)

Or you could put them outside in a free pile. People LOVE free piles.. :)

I speak from experience. ;) :p

They've been buried in a box for a decade. We're moving so old unneeded boxed stuff has got to go.
 
E

eternally-gratefull

Guest
#11
When my mother died, I took her KJV Scofield bible which she had for years. It has her name on it, and is special to me. I may not read it, but I hold it dear. It has the names of two of the most important people in my life. Jesus and my mother.

Maybe your kids would like to have them?
 

RickyZ

Senior Member
Sep 20, 2012
9,635
787
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#12
Or you could put them outside in a free pile. People LOVE free piles.. :)
That is an idea. Our new community does have a couple 'book exchange' locations in town. But I'm not sure the ratty ones or those with my name on them are good candidates for that.

I like the idea of sending them to oldhermit ;) What's yer address lol?
 

RickyZ

Senior Member
Sep 20, 2012
9,635
787
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#13
When my mother died, I took her KJV Scofield bible which she had for years. It has her name on it, and is special to me. I may not read it, but I hold it dear. It has the names of two of the most important people in my life. Jesus and my mother.

Maybe your kids would like to have them?
We have no kids. Just a bird and she'd shred them. Again not an option because I'm pretty sure most inks are toxic.
 

joaniemarie

Senior Member
Jan 4, 2017
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#14
Hey RickyZ., I just moved this past Spring and know exactly what you mean. I like the idea Blue had about putting them on the table at a homeless shelter. But then just seconds after reading Blue's idea., I thought .... Hey... if I'm going to do that shouldn't I give them a nice Bible? LOL

I think all the ideas shared here are good and it's funny how all of us have wondered about this question at one time or another. When I moved., they just ended up coming along yet again. It's such a personal thing IMO. It is actually only paper and ink but it's hard to just toss them humanly speaking. The old Gideon Bible from the lawn sale back in 1982 is still on my shelf. Along with the kids Bibles too and the woman's Bibles and the daily Bibles. The fake leather Bibles and the old real leather Bibles. Old and shabby.

It's just my silliness because everything is going to get burned up anyway. Tons of stuff and important books and Bibles have been already destroyed., and are currently being destroyed every day and more will be in the future. But., even so my personal choice was to put it on the shelf again. :)
 
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Lucy-Pevensie

Senior Member
Dec 20, 2017
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#15
Not to derail the thread, but I have the same question about the 2 pics of God that I have. I don't feel right about throwing them away, but I also don't feel right keeping or selling them, either.

To Ricky, the suggestion about burying them in a box sounds good. :)
You have pictures of God??
I'm jealous!........... Is he very handsome?
 

Lucy-Pevensie

Senior Member
Dec 20, 2017
9,261
5,618
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#16
I have the old giant family Bible which is a mess now, I toyed with the idea of putting it in the recycling bin last time we moved but I couldn't bring myself to do it & packed it. It weighs a ton.
 
D

Depleted

Guest
#17
I have several old Bibles that I just don't need anymore. Some are pretty ratty, one has my name on it, and nobody seems to want them as a donation. But I feel 'wrong' about tossing them in the trash. What do I do with them?
The next time you have a doctor's appointment, leave one in the waiting room. The magazines in waiting rooms are usually awful!
 

Laish

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2016
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#19
Hello RickyZ
I have a suggestion or two .
Are there any new folks ( new in Christ ) that attend your church congregation. If so many new folks don’t always have cash to get a translation.
Giving them one with a personal note on what you got from reading that one may help a new babe in Christ more than you may think . Also dose your congregation have a donation box for goods like clothes and the like ? I am sure if they do someone could also be helped if they find a Bible with a nice shirt or the like .
Blessings
Bill
 

Lewiz

Senior Member
Mar 11, 2018
346
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#20
Guess what's happening to the Earth when God's judgment comes?
Burned by fire.
Guess who's gonna burn those Bibles if you don't?
Yep. God.