What is a respectful way to dispose of a worn out Holy Book?

Question

Serious question. I have one that is old, tattered and worn out. I need to know how to properly dispose of it. I don't want to throw it in the trash dumpster. What is a respectful way to dispose of a worn out Holy Book? Serious answers only please.

Sorry but I would not want to donate it to charity or Goodwill. On cover is ripped off and some pages are missing.

Answer 1

I had this very same problem with my last King James! It was all falling apart and held together with elastic bands which I wrapped around it to keep it all together. I could nor bring myself to throw it out even after a I Got a brand new, red letter edition of a King James so I placed it in a cupboard and waited for for what I didn't know. One day when we were packing to return to our country I was taking out all the rubbish we didn't want to ship back home and I saw the security guard reading his little pocket Bible (this was in Papua New Guinea) I went back into the house and took down the old King James and took it out to him and asked him if he wanted it. He took it straight away and to him, it was a precious gift. Only the Lord would have known that it would be required by some one years later. Just keep your old Bible and the Lord will give you proper disposal instructions in time

Answer 2

I agree with you : it is a serious question.

Firstly, it IS the word of God.
Secondly, from a historical perspective, it took blood, sweat, tears, life, and much dedication to get the Bible in the language that most people could read.
Thirdly, there ARE people who would be happy to have even that old, tattered and worn out Bible. But you don't know them, and even if you did, you would want to give them a NEW Bible.

So, how do you dispose of this old one? Burn, bury, throw away in the dumpster? I don't think so. Seem sacrilegious. Put it in a box in the attic? Maybe. I just don't know!!!

Answer 3

there is no such thing
respect the word by setting at the top of the book case it will be found and used ,your children will enjoy the love you found in it
the book only gets more preciouse never think of its destruction
even the sacred scrolls that had a single mistake are held preciouse ,the old bibles are the best
dont even think of throwing it away ,your spirit is within every worn page evil can do wonderouus evil with something that contains even a part of your soul
keep it close and respected ,you can give it away but dispose of it never, it remains precious ,is meant to remain with you till you give it away to a beginner ,or a student
take these sunken eyes and learn to see,
take these broken wings and learn to fly
take these tried and tested words and find love.

Answer 4

Donate the Holy Book to Charity.

Answer 5

Burning it is a respectful way to dispose of it. By burning it, you are telling God that since you love the book so much, you cannot bear to let it out of your possession, and unable to know what has become of it. By burning it, you are ensuring that nothing degrading ever happens to it, and in a way, burning it is kind of like giving it back to God now that it's life is past.

Answer 6

There are overseas ministries that will take books like that. Missionaries beg for materials so they can teach. Many people in other countries have no bibles at all, so a tattered one would be like gold to them. Check with some churches to see if they support oversea missionaries.

Answer 7

First, carefully check it to find out if there is any family history or notes (births, marriages, deaths, etc.) entered in it.

Or any significant notes and comments made concerning Scripture passages?

Or owner's name, etc.?

Sometimes just saving it and and handling/looking at it can bring back good memories if it is yours ... or one of your parents, etc.?

Beyond that, I think if it is beyond use then Jewish practice might provide guidance; esp. Orthodox Jewish. Will look further with Google but I have a vague recollection that the practice is reverent burial.

Answer 8

Throw it away. It is just a book. What makes the words important is dependent on how they are received. That is where the sacred is stored. The book is printed and re-printed for the purpose of new readers and replacement copies.

Answer 9

Guy, the book may be holy, but it is a book to be read and used and when it is no longer usable-----throw it away after you have obtained another one.

It's not an icon. It may be holy, but it's not to be revered.

Answer 10

Give it to the Goodwill or drop it off at a convent or something like that.