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.

i don’t

Yes, two that are regularly read plus a few old ones and different translations.

Yes, several in our home, used regularly. I also wonder how many of the hotel shouters/ reclaim our Christian values people have ever read one. Especially the parts about welcoming the foreigner.
I do think the Bible is the key to understanding lots of literature, it would be hard to be a university student of several subjects and not have read at least parts of it. I imagine lecturers have to explain many more references than they used to. I think people who have enquiring minds would have read it, even if to dismiss it. It's so available, you can even have an app if you don't want anyone to catch you reading it!

I'm sure there is one stuffed away somewhere.

Britain is a Christian country in name only these days, and all the better for it.

Yep we have loads. Me and dh were both brought up catholic as are our 6 dc. We have ours form being kids plus the kids have all been given them along the way baptism/ first holy communion. The kids used love reading the childrens versions when they were little but we don’t read them now at all.

I went to CoFe school, I have the Bible that was gifted to me (has my name engraved in it) when I left school. Not religious and I have not read the Bible since school but can't bear to part with it as slightly sentimental!

I am certainly not a Christian but I own a Bible. I have a Koran too. Nothing wrong with knowing about religion.

I probably have about 5 1 from my Christening 1 from my confirmation and couple of random others. I am mildly religious and did R.E a-level though.

Yes, but it was a bible I had to have growing up and it now lives with all of my other religious texts such as the Quran, Book of Mormon etc.

Not Christian in the slightest just interested in religion as a concept.

I’ve got a fancy white and gold one in a drawer that was a confirmation present.
I have read the bible in the past but I’m not a believer any more so it’s just a sentimental item.

Despite being an avowed atheist, I have a decent knowledge of old and new testaments, from childhood, and also some later theology/philosophy study.
But I don't own a bible these days.

I haven't voted because your options are weird

I currently have an antique one that I'm selling. I'm not Christian so I wouldn't normally have one and definitely don't read

We have at least 3. One family member reads the bible quite a bit and is religious.

No but I can recite huge chunks of it from memory due to unusual schooling!

I think even if you are not a believer and don't own a Bible, Christianity is embedded in the culture of the UK. Christmas, Easter, various saints and quotes and sayings in common use all stem from Christianity and we are more immersed in it than we think. Many people in the UK are culturally Christian even if they never attend church and have no belief.

We have a bible in the house. We are all atheists and none of us read the bible in any way shape or form. The reason for having one is pre-internet, having the ability to look up a bible reference from literature or in culture. These days, if I am curious about a bible character or reference being made by someone else, I can just use the internet to look it up. The physical bible doesn't get a look in. I don't tend to get rid of books so it remains in the house.

UK culture, along with many other developed nations, is historically Christian, and the remnants of that are all over the place. That's a different thing to stating that the majority of the population actually believe in the tenets of Christianity or are actively participating in Christian worship.

Interesting and weirdly synchronistic post as I publicly flounced off Facebook last night after its algorithms started bombarding me with Christian Nationalist style posts about some group taking action against unsightly immigrant "camps" by clearing them out, tidying the area, and leaving a giant wooden cross in situ in the guise of "protecting our post codes". It follows the recent emptying of several hotels of asylum seekers. They stopped short of actually setting it on fire, but give them time.

I have a few Bibles knocking around, but don't consider myself a card carrying Christian. Half the Bible isn't even "Christian" but that's the part the blood thirsty and righteous seem to cling to.

It's interesting to include in ones reading list to get an understanding of cultural evolution, but its divinity is at best questionable, as it was, like most pieces of propaganda, curated by men for solidly earthly reasons.

The cynic in me is wondering how long it will be before Bible ownership is seen as some sort of measure of patriotism.

Christian Nationalists claim a belief in end times prophecy to bring about the second coming and "heaven on earth". Which is ironic, because their "pal" Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven is here on earth and within us, and was pretty vague about all that apocalyptic stuff. Given that apocalypse essentially means revelation kind of underpins it's more a personal thing anyway.

Anyway, sorry for the ranty interjection. Definitely woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.

Yes I have one and I read it occasionally

This. We are a Christian country, nothing to do with far right, far left, or far whatever.

I do - and I’m solo camping at the moment and I’ve taken it with me hoping I’ll get some time and space for proper reflection!

That's interesting. It includes the Apocrypha, the books the Reformation threw out. Chronologically they are between the OT and NT. Although I was raised Catholic I only have the New International Bible my brother gave me during his Pentecostal phase and a King James my ex gave me.

Haven't read the Bible for years but whenever I dip in I find myself becoming ever more left wing tbh. Especially reading the words attributed to Jesus.

I own a King James which is my 'proper' Bible. I have a huge hardcover New King James Study Bible and I have the New Living Translation on an app on my phone. I try to read from the Bible at least once a day, KJV if I have time or the one on the app if I am on the go. I read the study Bible if I am in the Old Testament and need some context

Let's see. I have my day-to-day ESV journaling Bible. That's my main one, larger print so I can read it more easily and space for margin notes. I've a NKJV Chronological Bible, also an old NIV Bible, and a pocket-sized version of that as well. These latter two are too small print for me now.

I've read most of my Bible, there are a few minor prophets I still need to read. I'm a practising Christian, my Church is currently studying Genesis.

I have a few - i am catholic tho.

Yes, 4 I think. I mainly read it on an app on my tablet though.