Great Question

MDK asked:

I have thought about this in the past but have never researched it or asked anyone so, is there a proper way to dispose of a Bible? There is always talk about how to properly dispose of a flag and there is something that makes me feel a little guilty about destroying a Bible so is there a protocol for how and when to destroy a Bible?

Depending on where you read, you might find many different answers to this question. There is no "proper" way defined anywhere as universal, but many different denominations have used various methods. The most common, finds it origins in how the Hebrews dealt with the scrolls they had written.

For them, "proper" disposal was burial and burial only. Destruction was seen as immoral. Only burial (with some actions with it) was appropriate. Depending on where you read, there are some denominations that still practice this, along with always including a cross when it is buried, and sprinkling it with "holy water" before burying it. Some instructions even request that you water that area of ground for the next 6 days. Like I said, depending on where you read, you'll get some far fetched ideas.

Traditional history seems to be that the respectful thing to do is bury it.

I have other questions though. Mainly those of motivation. I guess, its more about me making a point about motivation. If motivation to get rid of a Bible is because of something that has happened to it (stained, paint, ink spills, unusable...etc.) then I have little concern. Burial seems the most traditional, but burying it in trash seems just as fine to me (I can't think of a reason to see it as disrespectful, but i'd go with your conscience and not mine).

However, if the Bible is still in usable shape, I'd recommend you either give it away to someone you know, or donate it to a church or something. I see no valuable reason for burying, or destroying a usable Bible.