What if you don't believe that book anymore?

Question

If you have a religious book that you were given, or bought for yourself, but don't believe, would you try to sell it to recoup funds?

Would you keep it for research and a reminder?

Would you give it away to someone who could use it more?

Or would you destroy it?

I'm genuinely interested. Personally, I'm Pagan and have kept several conservative Evangelical Christian books that my relatives gave me.

Nemrod, didn't ask for that. It is in fact because I have a lot of people in my life who actually know me trying that I have some books I don't agree with.

Terr, I'm not asking for help with my books. I decided to keep them. I'm asking what you and others would do in that situation.

Answer 1

I never get rid of books, especially religious books, because they are valuable for research. Just because I don't believe in something anymore doesn't mean that the knowledge won't be useful when talking with someone who still does believe in it.

Answer 2

I've done both...

The ones I've kept I use to look up those ever so annoying religious quotes the fanatics use to "prove" a point (and then I laugh when they don't quote the entire thing, just the part they think is relevant... when it isn't really).

The ones I gave away are just ones that were either a copy of one I had already on my mythology shelf, or I just couldn't be bothered keeping them anymore.

Currently sitting on my bookshelf are: 3 different versions of the "holy" christian bible (all with different wording on how the verses go), a "Creationist vs Evolution" booklet from the Mormons, a whole shelf just of Pagan publications (including Farrar's "Witch's Bible"), the Satanic Bible (a gag gift for my birthday), and (just for laughs) the latest version of HP Lovecraft's Necronomicon.

Answer 3

I've kept my bible (although I left it at my parents house when I moved out) because of the cute Precious Moments illustrations. It also has sentimental value...my grandparents got it for me when I was a baby and since my grandfather recently passed away, it's become even more special. I've got a bunch of Chick tracts and other books by Chick publications, but those are for entertainment value, I don't actually believe them. In short, I hoard books and rarely part with them, even if they disagree with my religious standpoint.

Answer 4

I am an Occultist, as such I keep all texts, no matter their form. Just becuase something does not belong to our path is no reason to get rid of it. We have an advantage to most other faiths. What we believe is not restrictive about what we learn in regards to faith and understanding. This allows us to learn and understand the path of others. Sure it sounds useless but when we stand in a church we will have something to say. When we meet a few catholics who wish to discuss religious we will have a place within that conversation. Remember we are soully in charge of representing our faiths. It shows a lot of kindness and respect to know the rules among the house of others.

Hails to the truth,
Silence

Answer 5

I personally find it rewarding to read them, atleast in part so that I can have an educated argument when the zealots decide to make some unfounded comment on how Im going to hell because I dont go to church among my many sins. Its always fun to make someone else realize that in their religion their "sins" are equal to mine, and because they havent actually read their own guide to the afterlife, lol, they never really know what they're saying. And when you sit down with someone of any religion having some knowledge of other religions is helpful, just from an intellectual aspect. Either way...you have to do what is right for you. If you want to make a point to someone who gave it to you, you can nicely give it back with gratitude for the thought, but telling them you think it would be more beneficial to someone who followed that religion, without allowing them to preach about your eternal soul. Or, you can give it to someone who already follows it. And if you feel that one less book means one less zealot, then its your decision if you want to destroy it. I know that if you are pagan then you know that destroying it isnt going to result in your going to "purgatory" or anything. Good luck!

Answer 6

I'd keep them for reference. (Knowledge is power.) It's nice to know what the motivation behind most of the political decisions made in our country. And I'm pretty much against destroying any books in general.

Answer 7

Give them back to your relatives. That will let them know you don't consider them useful. Hopefully they won't put you in this position again. I am Christian, but I don't believe you should pass things along to others that you have no faith in. And I would never sell something that I felt had no value.

Answer 8

I have kept most but not all my religious books. I gave them to people that wanted them or kept them. If I truly felt it was garbage, I would sell it for whatever just to get rid of it. I kept several as reference.

Answer 9

I keep them for a couple reasons - I like to have a diverse bookshelf for people who visit, and also I used to write a lot of notes in the margins and I like to go back and look at what I used to believe and how I have grown.

Answer 10

I keep them, I guess it's that "know your enemy" mentality. I don't think Christians in general are my "enemy" I just like to be reminded what I'm NOT missing, and I use it for reference when I have people attack my spirituality. I even have a few tracts, that are pretty funny.