Getting rid of old stuff

[bill]

We've taken down all of our old christian stuff like pictures, crosses, etc.  I don't have a problem throwing this stuff away, but I have a few questions.  Is it okay to give it away?  I realize selling it would be benefiting from it so I understand that's out.  What about old Bibles?  I know that the "old testament" has been changed to fit certain narratives, but it still does contain scriptures.  I think that putting any part of G-d's word in the garbage just doesn't seem right.  Would it be wrong to give them to christians?  

[Sora]

That's a really good question! I had tried Christianity on for size when I was younger, and when the phase was over, I had a few objects that simply needed to go. I'm not sure if this is the proper thing to do, but I did donate my items to a church. Having grown further in my education, I could easily make an argument as to why this is a bad idea. On some level, it's supporting idolatry. On the other hand, maybe someone who was down on their luck received a little comfort from it.

Tough call. Maybe we can get one of our Rabbis or learned individuals to chime in with some advice.

[bill]

That was the same thing I thought. I don't want to support idolatry. I suppose an old bible could be useful to show people where the changes were made.

[Tseruyah]

Bill, first of all, welcome out of the old life and into your new life!  May you and your house know only shalom and joyful observance of the Noachide Laws in your new freedom.

As for keeping the "old stuff," it is, in my opinion, perfectly fine to keep a xtian bible for the purposes of cross-referencing the proofs of tampering and inconsistency.  I own several and mark them up with notes and references like a textbook. You will need something with which to defend your position, after all.  Excess should go into the recycle bin.  It's only the true Word of G-d if it isn't filled with falsification.

Jewish tradition is for Jewish articles like Torah scrolls and where the Name is written or printed, that is, buried with dignity to decompose naturally.  We do not burn, but bury.  People burn garbage and bury their loved ones.

Torah demonstrates what to do with articles of idolatry like images and crucifixes: destroy them, with extreme prejudice.

Just a thought: in every life that survives xtianity, there is the sometimes long and drawn-out purging of both material and emotional wreckage and residue. This is where the idolatry ends; in your family, it stops because you stopped it, after how many generations in your family only you know, and may it never return!

[papabear]

I'd also like to add that donating anything has a benefit to the giver, if I understand the reading I have done at all...so that is important to think about.

[Sora]

Rabbi Singer just answered this in Episode 35 which is about the virgin Mary. It's right end, somewhere around 2:15:00. The punch line is that you can't sell these things and you can't derive any benefit from them at all. So, you shouldn't use it, and you shouldn't give it away. Ideally it should be destroyed, or disposed of.

Thanks to Rabbi Singer for answering this one!

[mouse]

from what I learned; Moses smashed and burn the golden calf; then made power of the false idol and threw the ashes into the river;

so that is what I did with my christian belongings; Gd gives signs so he must like our signs for him; I burned everything I had christian; I gave it no value or respect;

I treated it like trash; I believe Abraham also made trash out of his father's false Idols. so... make a bonfire and Gd will enjoy the smoke..

for the Gd of Israel said:" return to me and I will return to you"; ... peace