# Is it wrong to read the Bible in the bathroom? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 16, 2005, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-wrong-to-read-the-bible-in-the-bathroom/285082 "2005-01-16T21:27:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-wrong-to-read-the-bible-in-the-bathroom/285082/1 "2005-01-16T21:27:47Z")
I don’t think this is quite worthy of GD, so I’l post it here. Does anyone think it is wrong to read the Bible in the bathroom? I’m not an expert on theology, but I’d have to assume that God would rather us read the Bible in the bathroom than the usual _Reader’s Digest_, _Sports Illustrated_, or other bathroom browsing. Do others have a different opinion? ---
**Author:** ![luluBahrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e5b9ba/32.png) [@luluBahrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/luluBahrain)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-wrong-to-read-the-bible-in-the-bathroom/285082/2 "2005-01-16T21:37:17Z")
I feel weird if I bring my Bible in the bathroom. Bear in mind that I feel weird if I lay if facedown or under any other book. So, I may just be a strange person. Also, if I am reading it or praying and have to like scratch my butt or something I feel wrong. I have issues, I know. ---
**Author:** ![Roadwalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e19b73/32.png) [@Roadwalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roadwalker)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-wrong-to-read-the-bible-in-the-bathroom/285082/3 "2005-01-16T22:03:22Z")
I read a devotional every morning because I’m _there_ every morning. For crying out loud, read the Bible where you are most comfortable and have the fewest distractions. God sees you when you’re crapping anyway, there’s nothing wrong with reading his word at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-wrong-to-read-the-bible-in-the-bathroom/285082/4 "2005-01-16T22:09:33Z")
According to Jewish law, reading the Bible in the bathroom (as well as other holy works) is forbidden. Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-wrong-to-read-the-bible-in-the-bathroom/285082/5 "2005-01-16T22:28:11Z")
Try not to get any poop on the Bible. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-wrong-to-read-the-bible-in-the-bathroom/285082/6 "2005-01-16T23:31:37Z")
. . . Because eliminating wastes is unnatural or evil, or something? Like homosexuality, adultery or usury? Are we talking New or Old Testament that’s in favor of constipation? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-wrong-to-read-the-bible-in-the-bathroom/285082/7 "2005-01-16T23:52:59Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > . . . Because eliminating wastes is unnatural or evil, or something? It might just be because it’s “unclean.” You know, like women. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-wrong-to-read-the-bible-in-the-bathroom/285082/8 "2005-01-16T23:56:39Z")
The religion that was created on the crapper! From the _Daily Telegraph_: > [@](#): > > German archaeologists have discovered the lavatory on which Martin Luther wrote the 95 Theses that launched the Protestant Reformation. Luther frequently alluded to the fact that he suffered from chronic constipation and that he spent much of his time in contemplation on the lavatory. Experts say they have been certain for years that the 16th century religious leader wrote the groundbreaking Ninety-Five Theses while on das klo, as the Germans call it. > > But they did not know where the object was until they discovered the stone construction after recently stumbling across the remains of an annex of his house in Wittenberg, south-west of Berlin, during planning to plant a garden. “This is a great find,” Stefan Rhein, the director of the Luther Memorial Foundation said, "particularly because we’re talking about someone whose texts we have concentrated on for years, while little attention has been paid to anything three-dimensional and human behind them. "This is where the birth of the Reformation took place. “Luther said himself that he made his reformatory discovery in cloaca [Latin for “in the sewer”]. We just had no idea where this sewer was. Now it’s clear what the Reformer meant.” What makes the find even more fitting is that at the time, faecal language was often used to denigrate the devil, such as “I shit on the devil” or “I break wind on the devil”. Prof Rhein said: “It was not a very polite time. And in keeping with this, neither was Luther very polite.” > > The 450-year-old lavatory, which was very advanced for its time, is made out of stone blocks and, unusually, has a 30cm-square seat with a hole. Underneath is a cesspit attached to a primitive drain. Prof Rhein said the foundation would prevent the 80,000 visitors who arrive in Wittenberg each year in search of the spirit of Luther, from sitting on the lavatory. “I would not sit on it. There’s a point where you have to draw the line,” he said. ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-wrong-to-read-the-bible-in-the-bathroom/285082/9 "2005-01-17T00:20:34Z")
I don’t care **what** you’re reading in there! Just hurry up! Other people have to get in there, too, ya know! ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-wrong-to-read-the-bible-in-the-bathroom/285082/10 "2005-01-17T00:21:40Z")
My Bible is a little on the large side for easy reading in the bathroom, but I think it’s a fine thing to do. Just wash your hands, please. ---
**Author:** ![butter\_pie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aca169/32.png) [@butter\_pie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butter_pie)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-wrong-to-read-the-bible-in-the-bathroom/285082/11 "2005-01-17T00:26:00Z")
> [@](#): > > What makes the find even more fitting is that at the time, faecal language was often used to denigrate the devil, such as “I shit on the devil” or “I break wind on the devil”. “I fart in your general direction!” Hmm… in other news, Monty Python more historically accurate than originally thought. 🙂 I never read the Bible in the bathroom, but then, I never read anything in there except for the few times I’ve been reading while soaking in a bath. When I took it upon myself to study the Bible for a while though, I used to sit on the back of the public bus on the way to work, reading, with a big yellow highlighter and highlighting the passages and quotes I particularly liked. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-wrong-to-read-the-bible-in-the-bathroom/285082/12 "2005-01-17T00:47:49Z")
I think that it’d be worse to rip the pages out of the Bible and using them to make a joint since you were out of rolling papers and too broke to be able to afford to go to the store and buy some. No, I haven’t done that, but I know some peole who’ve done this. (They said the results were less than satisfactory.) ---
**Author:** ![Tentacle\_Monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba9def/32.png) [@Tentacle\_Monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tentacle_Monster)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-wrong-to-read-the-bible-in-the-bathroom/285082/13 "2005-01-17T01:17:07Z")
> [@Roadwalker](#): > > God sees you when you’re crapping anyway, there’s nothing wrong with reading his word at the same time. God watches me do number two? Oh, man. I’m a sinner, and God’s a pervert. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-wrong-to-read-the-bible-in-the-bathroom/285082/14 "2005-01-17T01:50:57Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Does anyone think it is wrong to read the Bible in the bathroom? Now _there’s_ a straight line if I ever saw one. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Roadwalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e19b73/32.png) [@Roadwalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roadwalker)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-wrong-to-read-the-bible-in-the-bathroom/285082/15 "2005-01-17T03:19:06Z")
> [@Tentacle Monster](#): > > God watches me do number two? Oh, man. I’m a sinner, and God’s a pervert. I said _see’s_ not _watches_. I watch my young kids crap too so make sure they don’t fall in. God’s just concerned for your safety. ---
**Author:** ![yBeayf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/e274bd/32.png) [@yBeayf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yBeayf)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-wrong-to-read-the-bible-in-the-bathroom/285082/16 "2005-01-17T03:41:16Z")
> [@](#): > > Because eliminating wastes is unnatural or evil, or something? Well, it’s natural to our fallen state, but unnatural to our ennobled, original (and future) state. It is emblematic as few things are of our susceptibility to corruption, decay, and death, and so is not really compatible with the presence of a holy thing such as a Bible. This is also why the ancient Irish monks were forbidden to pray anything in a latrine other than “O God come to my assistance, etc.”, and why in both East and West bathrooms are not traditionally blessed, nor attached to a church, nor are services of any kind performed in them. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-wrong-to-read-the-bible-in-the-bathroom/285082/17 "2005-01-17T03:56:12Z")
In an almost-related post … Here in Saudi Arabia, the Authorities say you cannot bring the Koran into the bathroom with you. (What about a tiny pocket edition?) Further, people have written letters to the Authorities (in the newspaper Agony Aunt section) asking if it is OK to take your wallet into the bathroom. This question being based on the fact the local bank notes have Koran quotes on them. Frankly, I do not recall the ruling. ---
**Author:** ![yBeayf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/e274bd/32.png) [@yBeayf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yBeayf)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-wrong-to-read-the-bible-in-the-bathroom/285082/18 "2005-01-17T04:01:45Z")
> [@](#): > > Here in Saudi Arabia, the Authorities say you cannot bring the Koran into the bathroom with you. (What about a tiny pocket edition?) Further, people have written letters to the Authorities (in the newspaper Agony Aunt section) asking if it is OK to take your wallet into the bathroom. This question being based on the fact the local bank notes have Koran quotes on them. When I was Muslim, I was taught that one could not bring a Qur’an into an actual latrine (i.e. where one relieves oneself), but, if necessary (as protection from theft, for example), one could bring it into the common area of sinks and mirrors, etc. Verses of the Qur’an enfolded in a locket, etc. for the purpose of being an amulet could be carried anywhere. I would assume that a folded banknote in a billfold would fall under this allowance. I’m surprised more traditional Muslims aren’t up in arms about verses of the Qur’an being on Sa`udi banknotes – it would seem that would be a prime way to ensure that they are not treated with the respect that Muslims believe they deserve. ---
**Author:** ![inkleberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f17d59/32.png) [@inkleberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/inkleberry)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-wrong-to-read-the-bible-in-the-bathroom/285082/19 "2005-01-17T08:34:36Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > I don’t think this is quite worthy of GD, so I’l post it here. Does anyone think it is wrong to read the Bible in the bathroom? I’m not an expert on theology, but I’d have to assume that God would rather us read the Bible in the bathroom than the usual _Reader’s Digest_, _Sports Illustrated_, or other bathroom browsing. Do others have a different opinion? It might be in poor taste to wipe your ass with it, but reading it would be just fine. Weird, but fine. ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-wrong-to-read-the-bible-in-the-bathroom/285082/20 "2005-01-17T08:43:11Z")
> [@yBeayf](#): > > This is also why the ancient Irish monks were forbidden to pray anything in a latrine other than “O God come to my assistance”. “And while you’re at it, trow anoder roll of bog paper over de wall, would ya?” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-wrong-to-read-the-bible-in-the-bathroom/285082.md?page=2)