Burning the Bible

[znk666]

I found using it as toilet paper highly more beneficial.

[Strongbad]

I wouldn't burn a bible simply out of respect for the theists who aren't ignorant fools and for those who do live quality, moral lives helping others.

Please stop with the oxymorons.

It's often easy to lump a group of people together, but to disrespect those who don't deserve it is wrong - in my opinion. As much as I disagree with the bible and affirm that it is all a myth, I reserve respect for those who devote their lives to an idea which gives them hope of a better tomorrow. We must remember that a large majority of those who consider themselves religious live in horrible life situations and are often times extremely uneducated.

We are no better than anyone else, regardless of what we each believe individually.

The only thing one has to "respect" is another individual's right hold a belief. Neither the individual nor the belief need be respected. Respect is earned, not automatically "deserved".

[Cinjin]

The only thing one has to "respect" is another individual's right hold a belief. Neither the individual nor the belief need be respected. Respect is earned, not automatically "deserved".

You do of course have a valid point Strongbad. I think the proponents of burning a bible may have several qualifications for such an act even by your standards.....

1. The bible burning was simply trash, that got burned with everything else.
2. The burning was not offensive since no devotee was around to witness it.
3. Since respect is earned, perhaps the bible devotee was not worthy of such respect and was actually a rude asshole who forced his beliefs on everyone else.
4. Since the bible holds the belief and the belief condones immoral acts and the belief need not be respected - that justifies any and all burning??


I'm just playing devil's advocate here as I have never burned a bible and don't care enough to do so. I think your point is valid.

[coffeeveritas]

The idea for this thread came from one of Rhythm's many sarcastic and irreverent posts which of course I am a fan.

But I got to thinking ...

One, I've never actually burned a Bible - mostly because I just never had one handy at a campfire - or wherever I may have needed some kindling. And Two ... I never much cared.

Anyway the questions: Have you ever burned a Bible? If so why? If not - would you?
Obviously there is a certain stigma over burning books of any kind. Some would consider burning a book a futile expression and a sign of ignorance, but is it ignorance to burn a book that you know better than those who worship it? Could it not be immoral not to make an attempt to destroy an immoral book?


Thoughts?

I really don't have any major problems with burning the Bible. It's kind of a waste of paper, but maybe it could be kind of cathartic for people who have been burnt by the church to do a little burning. I personally have come back around to liking the book, but you're all free to burn one just to see how sacrilegious you feel (my guess is not at all).

[Diamond]

So, I think it would be much a wiser action to just tell them why you hate those books or perhaps what particular things you find to be repulsive in those books instead of burning them. This is just my opinion.

I think it's fair to say that many of us have tried that, only to hear them say stuff like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PK7P7uZFf5o

If I ever get another bible, I would either burn it or do to it what I did to the one I got for Xmas last year: but warning sticker on it and highlight all the verses that many a decent human being would find disgraceful or repulsive. Only this time, I would give it away.

But burning it sounds a lot more fun! Actually, to be quite honest, if you give me a big box of matches, I can and will look for anything to set on fire. I just like burning stuff!

[Jackalope]

I think the proponents of burning a bible may have several qualifications for such an act even by your standards.....

No doubt there may be more qualifications / motivations.

I myself have not burned a bible, nor would I care to do so as a political / anti-religious statement. The only case where I can imagine doing so would be if I needed a fire, and I needed tinder and nothing else suitable was available.

As a frequent wilderness backpacker, I often find myself needing a fire - though I cannot imagine having a bible in my possession. I make a point of not packing things with little use. The extra weight is murder on long uphill stretches of trail.

Added: I did see on one website on wilderness survival where someone suggested including scripture in a survival kit, both for inspiration, and as emergency tinder. I thought it was an interesting and practical perspective from a theist - though he obviously valued scripture, the book itself was only paper and ink, and suitable for re-purposing in a time of need.

[Strongbad]

The only thing one has to "respect" is another individual's right hold a belief. Neither the individual nor the belief need be respected. Respect is earned, not automatically "deserved".

You do of course have a valid point Strongbad. I think the proponents of burning a bible may have several qualifications for such an act even by your standards.....

1. The bible burning was simply trash, that got burned with everything else.
2. The burning was not offensive since no devotee was around to witness it.
3. Since respect is earned, perhaps the bible devotee was not worthy of such respect and was actually a rude asshole who forced his beliefs on everyone else.
4. Since the bible holds the belief and the belief condones immoral acts and the belief need not be respected - that justifies any and all burning??


I'm just playing devil's advocate here as I have never burned a bible and don't care enough to do so. I think your point is valid.

I've never burned one either; it was much easier just to toss it in the trash. If someone else wants to burn one, I couldn't care less. If the "devotees" get their panties all twisted up in knots - whatever. They're always looking for something to get offended by anyway.

[Anomalocaris]

I'd burn every bible and Que'ran in the world to have Alexandria's library back!

That brings up an interesting question.... say perhaps the entire world was entirely religion "free"... would it be ethical to burn all remaining "religious" texts in order to prevent the evils of religions from returning to the world? To me, obviously the trade-off would be worth it... but I can definitely see the argument that the destruction of any knowledge, whether it be science or religion is a very dangerous game.

It would not be ethical to destroy "all" religious texts because it would deprive future generation of valuable insight into the nature of their own species and how they got to where they would be.

Also, burning books at the very most may help superficially bury some specific existent religion. Note the burning of all inca kippu and maya text did not stop the native cultish practices amongst the inca and maya, despite 400 years of truly vicious spanish christian repression. It certainly won't kill the phenomenon of cults and religions itself. Even if all existent religionis buried, a society made religion-free by ignorance of religion will undoubtedly spawn nutcases and frauds to inflict new cults and religions on the ignorant. Human ignorance is the vacuum religion will spontaneously come into existence to fill.[/align]

The only way to keep a society religion free is to elevate the whole population's intellectual quality to such levels that rationalism comes more easily and comfortably to them than self deception and wish thinking.

Such society would remain largely religion free no matter how many copies of the bible litter the streets.

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

The only thing one has to "respect" is another individual's right hold a belief

People have a legal right [in my country] to believe whatever they like,no matter how loopy or obnoxious such beliefs seem to me. I have a legal obligation to obey the law. EG by not setting fire to or running down in tank people with whom I disagree. I have neither a legal or a moral obligation to respect every fuckwit and its idiotic beliefs.

My respect is earned,not ascribe,it may not be expected or demanded. It makes no difference if it is an individual, an idea,an office or an institution. How I BEHAVE may be another matter entirely. I'm afraid hypocrisy is a part of the human condition,and I'm nothing if not very human

[Minimalist]

but you're all free to burn one just to see how sacrilegious you feel (my guess is not at all).

One might try pissing on one. That may do the trick.