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 have one which I believe I was given at the Sunday School I went to when I was about five. A recently deceased member of the congregation had stipulated in his will that all the children at the Sunday School should get one.

I also have a copy of the New Testament bound in pink (!) that was given to me by my godparents as a Christening present.

Have I read them? At school we must have covered most of it, certainly at secondary school where our RE teacher was pretty old school. I haven't looked at it for years and years though.

The bear went after not a random crowd but specifically after children who were mocking the baldy prophet. I strongly suspect the author who inserted that little episode was bald and beset with brats.

The bear was female, which is extra nice.

I have 2 or 3 bibles, I am a Christian though and attend church and discipleship group every week.

Never have I said that secularism isn’t a good thing, but the UK is not a secular country, no matter how much you want it to be so. From the House of Lords to education and legislation, religion is still forms a large part of UK governance – you can disagree that it should be so, that doesn’t change that it is.

To be religious is a belief in a diety, and is not analogous to being an athlete, whereby the physicality of practicing athleticism is the definitive description. It’s 2026 – religious practice has significantly evolved, as has the the way CofE operates.

This question made me tot up my Bible total!

I have five: a Gideon New Testament/Psalms I was given at school (over 50 years ago!), an RSV we had to buy for RE at secondary school, a Good News I bought when I went through a brief but intense religious phase as a teenager, a King James I had when doing my English degree and a NSV that belonged to my late partner (also from school days).

I use them only for reference now (usually the King James) and describe myself as an atheist/cultural Christian, depending on the day.

Atheist. Own a bible a Quran and Torah. Yes I’ve read them

I think there's probably one in the house somewhere, I think maybe the kids were given one years ago at school?

A what now?!

I have at least two and am a hardcore atheist. It helps to know the Bible when debating with US style evangelicals. We get a fair number of them round here.

We have one’s we were given and only have then because I do not know how to get rid of them as it feels wrong to bin or incinerate them. Any disposal suggestions welcome. Charity shops do not accept them. I was thinking of dropping them off in the foyer of a local church?

I would argue that simply having faith in a deity does not make you actively religious. Religion is more than that. Simply believing in something does not necessarily inform a person's actions or outlook on life.

And I would also argue that for the most part religious traditions in education, lawmaking etc are little more than lip service for the most part. One half arsed trip to church is all that my kids are exposed to a term in Scottish primary. Swearing on the bible in court is just an outdated tradition.

I think the uk is secular in pretty much every way that impacts most people's day to day lives. You can disagree with that if you want.

Many. My Great Grandfather was a preacher and he collected them. I have care of the family bible that records the births, marriages and deaths.

I have my Sunday School bible.
I used to have a beautiful one that I recieved at Christmas, red leather cover and gilt pages, and beautiful illustrations. It got stolen!

No. DH’s, grandmothers giant one (larger than our printer) is still somewhere in the roof space but was last used 30 odd years ago for storing newspaper clippings that his DM saved.

I still have the Bible (both Old and New Testaments) I was given at Sunday School when I was a child.

I read from it at my nephew's funeral 5 years ago. I can't remember the last time before that.

You don't have to attend church to be a Christian. There are Christians who study the bible every day to keep up their faith. They are amongst some of the most interesting and philosophical people to engage with.

By "Christian country" it usually means that the culture and basis of laws are based on Christian tenets eg only married to one person at a time, holidays around Christian events.
Not that everyone owns a Bible.

Yes i have quite a few.

Thinking I might get one of these. Barnes & Noble leatherbound edition with over 200 illustrations by Gustave Doré.

One of my favourite Biblical sayings - from my Geneva Bible.
Vanity of vanities saith the Preacher: vanity of vanities, all is vanity.
Says it all really 😃

That looks stunning!

Family historians dream of finding such family bible. My mothers family used them as record books for birth death, who had mumps who and when vacinations were given.

Have many and I do read it daily.

Why in the name of God, did you ask a completely different question in your poll?

Several. Have the Universalis app on my phone as well.