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Philosophy/religion

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Original poster

Is it offensive to throw away a Bible?

58 replies

Picturesinthefirelight · 15/05/2014 22:19

As this is what dd did at school & it caused uproar with another child. Dd didn't get into trouble as such but the whole incident really upset her. She had to be taken out of the class to calm down.

Dd didn't mean any offense, to her it was just a book she didn't want or need as she's read it already (along with Richard Dawkins The God Delusion) so she got rid of it.

OP posts:
ethelb · 15/05/2014 22:27

Was it hers to throw away?

pebblyshit · 15/05/2014 22:27

Was it her own copy?

Original poster
Picturesinthefirelight · 15/05/2014 22:28

Yes, it had been given to her by the Gideons.

OP posts:
lougle · 15/05/2014 22:30

How old is she? Its wasteful and disrespectful rather than offensive, I think.

HavantGuard · 15/05/2014 22:31

No. It's not. As long as it was her own copy, Catholicism at least doesn't treat paper as sacred just because it has certain words on it.

ethelb · 15/05/2014 22:32

If someone else took offense then they took offense.

Your DD needs to decide whether she should allow herself to get that bothered about it.

However, would she have done it with any other book? The God Delusion for example, considering she has already read it.

Original poster
Picturesinthefirelight · 15/05/2014 22:32

She is 12.

OP posts:
HavantGuard · 15/05/2014 22:32

My copy hit the bin too, many, many, too many years ago.

BertieBotts · 15/05/2014 22:33

I think it's fine but it probably could be offensive to some people.

But really, it's the most printed book in history. If all of the copies that were ever made were still in existence we'd be drowning in bibles.

Even if she donated it to a charity shop, they end up throwing a lot of books away. I expect they don't have special rules for bibles.

BertieBotts · 15/05/2014 22:33

I was given a Gideon's bible at school. I have no idea where it is now, I definitely don't have it.

Tobagostreet · 15/05/2014 22:34

I think that does sound a bit offensive.

Could she not have politely declined the book, rather than take it and bin it?

Original poster
Picturesinthefirelight · 15/05/2014 22:35

She also said that we already have a copy if the Bible at home so don't need another.

She's very black or white (no grey in attitude) & has social problems this girl used to be a good friend so she was very upset.

At her previous school dd was friends with a strict Muslim girl & a girl from a afro Caribbean type Catholic Church background. They had religious debates all the time but respected each others right to have an opinion.

OP posts:
pebblyshit · 15/05/2014 22:36

Was she making some kind of dramatic show about it?

Was she trying to make a point?

I think some denominations (creationist types) may find it offensive but I'm Catholic so it's not really my area. I think it's basic good manners not to chuck them out in front of people for whom it is significant. I wouldn't chuck out a pile of Barbara Cartlands in front of my Grandma and act all mystified when she got huffy about it. I do think it's an odd book to chuck away because you've read it. It would be like chucking a dictionary away, but I suppose so much is online now

Original poster
Picturesinthefirelight · 15/05/2014 22:37

She didn't feel she could decline taking it & didn't know anyone was watching when she got rid of it.

OP posts:
pebblyshit · 15/05/2014 22:38

x-posts. If you're going to have 2 bibles I wouldn't choose the second one to be the Gideon. I bet landfill is full of Gideon bibles. I've had 2 and I've no idea where they are. I could do with a bible cull but I do feel a bit odd about it.

Hiphopopotamus · 15/05/2014 22:39

I personally would find throwing any book away quite offensive. (Hence why I have four bookcases full) give it away, take it to the charity shop, whatever. But throwing any book away feels wasteful, and more like making a point rather than something practical.

Original poster
Picturesinthefirelight · 15/05/2014 22:39

She also said would they expect a Muslim child to take a bible so why should an atheist child.

I know exactly where my Gideon Bible is after all these years. I didn't know they still sent into schools.

OP posts:
avocadogreen · 15/05/2014 22:39

I dunno, I would never throw a book away, just pass it on if I didn't want it, bible or not. Were they given them in school or something? Couldn't she have said no? Do you think she was trying to make a point deliberately? Seems a bit inflammatory (and no I'm not religious and my best friend and I once stole the crucifix from the wall of our catholic girls school just for fun Blush)

Original poster
Picturesinthefirelight · 15/05/2014 22:40

She was off sick on the day of the talk so school saved it for her on her return to school.

OP posts:
HavantGuard · 15/05/2014 22:40

'This girl used to be a good friend'

Do you mean she was until the bible incident or that they stopped being friends before that? Is it possible that the girl's reaction was about her seeing a chance to have a go at your DD rather than genuine upset?

BertieBotts · 15/05/2014 22:41

I think it's pretty wasteful that they give them out in such bulk to teenagers in the first place TBH.

They should at least have some kind of option to give it back. I think I looked at mine twice, yes it might reach some kids who don't have access at home but the majority of children who will get something out of it will already have bibles at home. Cynical me says there's a reason they give them out to impressionable innocent year sevens as well, can imagine riot scenes if they were given out to older pupils and somebody decided it would be funny or some kind of statement to burn one in the playground or something.

ThinkIveBeenHacked · 15/05/2014 22:41

I distinctly remember being her age and having this book foisted upon me. There was no leeway. No declining it.

Swnbu.

The Gideons coming into school and hounding students to take their books is akin to the bloody Bounty lady shoehorning herself into your postnatal booth in the hours post birth: a sad, petty way to target the vulnerable.

Good on your dd for getting rid.

Original poster
Picturesinthefirelight · 15/05/2014 22:41

They stopped being friends a little while ago apparently when dd was excluded from a social event - but we are used to that)

OP posts:
HavantGuard · 15/05/2014 22:42

It sounds like your DD wasn't seeking any kind of confrontation. I'm sorry she had such an upsetting experience. Did the school handle it well?

Original poster
Picturesinthefirelight · 15/05/2014 22:43

Her ex friend is catholic & says she can't forgive someone or be friends with someone who doesn't believe (done Christian huh)

OP posts:
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