AIBU to ask whether you own a Bible?

[BeanQuisine]

Just idle curiosity, really.

We often hear right-wingers insisting "This is a Christian country", whether we're in UK, Oz or the US etc.

So I'm wondering how many of us actually own Bibles, and whether we ever read them. I did read assorted bits of it in my youth, but don't currently own a Bible.

YABU: Whether Mumsnetters own Bibles or not is none of your business.

YANBU: It's a vaguely interesting question.

Well, of course, it's extremely significant in the UK, because of the conflation of what is religiously "true" and what is culturally habitual.

The fact that I put a Christmas tree up doesn't mean I want Christian prayer in state schools or clergy in the House of Lords enacting legislation based on their religious beliefs.

The statement many people debate is whether we are "a Christian country." You may take that to mean "historically/culturally" but many don't.

A lot of people think things which are silly - I can't help that! Some people believe in horoscopes, crystals and ley lines.

Well you're going to have to leave this 'Christian' nation then! You will undoubtedly be diluting our values.....🤣

I think it's hilarious that some atheists (I'm one, btw) somehow think that reading a bible...or even going near one...might infect them with religious fanaticism

It's not this at all for me, it's the fact that the parts of the bible I have read are incredibly dry and boring, so I have no desire whatsoever to read any more of it.

I don't buy the "it's necessary reading for a cultural understanding" thing either.

I don't need to own and read a copy of Haynes Ford Escort MkII to understand how the combustion engine functions, the origins of motor vehicles, personal transport, or how to drive a car.

I've looked it up and find the date for civil marriages in Ireland was 1845.
However in Scotland it was not until 1940 unless with a sheriffs warrant or making a declaration before an attorney.
So I guess that is recent if you are Scottish.
Every days a school day.

Yes. One my parents bought me many years ago. Another I was given when I left middle school in 1980.

I’m an atheist.

Hell, no!

I have lots of bibles in the house, but I’m a book dealer! The old ones sell well to America, especially big Victorian ones; newer ones tend to get binned unless they’re particularly nice. Sometimes I’ll put a job lot together if I have a load at once, but it’s not really worth it for what they sell for.

Civil marriages yes, but the original point concerned "Church" weddings, and in Scotland if you wanted an actual wedding it had to be in either a church, or conducted by a minister somewhere publicly recognised like a hotel, right up into the past 20-25 years.

Other than that, your only option was a Civil wedding, and that had to be inside the Registry Office, so you couldn't even get the Registrar or a Celebrant to conduct it at a place of your choosing, nope, that was a Church monopoly.

Strange YABU questions - why not just yes or no?

I have loads of bibles - at least 12.

The most important one is the one that you actually read!

I think it's hilarious that some atheists (I'm one, btw) somehow think that reading a bible...or even going near one...might infect them with religious fanaticism.

It might be... if anyone actually thought that.

Instead, I imagine most people ignore the Bible because they think it's long, boring and irrelevant.

Yes it belonged to my great great grandparents it’s in a box tucked away and another given to me by my dad that’s on my bookshelf

Yes, my christening bible, the old family bible and my OH asked for a new (SJT) one last Christmas.

I think there is one in my loft but I haven't looked at it in years. Both DC were given bibles at school at some time. These were recycled when we redecorated the room where we keep books

Sure, each of those things is a separate question.

I don't in a meaningful sense "believe in Jesus" (even if I wish I did sometimes). I think it's fine for state schools in Britain to prioritise the Christian religion, I think it's fine for students to opt out of Christian prayers at school but also fine for them to occur. I think there should be CoE clergy in the HoL, but then again, I also think the life peers are generally abominable political appointees and they should all be kicked out - so I'm obviously fine with being out of step with the general public regarding the HoL composition ;)

Yes, but none of those things are written into our school curriculums or state institutions.

I do not.

Do the Gideons still put bibles in hotel rooms?
I have a little one I was given as a child somewhere. It’s only small.

Yes I own three. One that was my mother's, one that I was given at boarding school and another from a Christian youth camp I attended many decades ago. My family has never been religious and I wasn't christened. My mother's bible was a Christmas present to her around 1925. But I have read passages over the years, some of them are incredibly beautiful.

How common is it for them to have lists of family members in them? I've always dreamed of finding an old family bible with my ancestors' names in it.

Im an atheist but plenty in tje bible that isnt fiction. Especially NT is a record of a group of people in an emerging religion at a real time and place in history. Whether you think their beliefs are well founded or not, its still historically true that Christianity began in Israel in the 1st Century and the earliest ones travelled, preached, were persecuted etc.

I own several,in Welsh and English.I do read them.I also have possession of the massive Family Bible dating back to the early 1800s with a plate in the front listing the generations who have owned it.

Atheist too and totally agree.

I was brought up Catholic so got a small New Testament while in school. I don’t currently own a bible though as I’m not religious anymore.

No I don't. I am surprised at the answers on here. Really can't imagine all these people sitting reading their multiple bibles !