For those of you who didn't know, I have only been Agnostic for 2.5 years now. I guess I am still in a transition from Christianity.
I will be completely honest when I say that I do have one bible still in my home that I have had for years as part of my décor in my living room. Of course it is here merely as a decorative accent but I have now bagged it for garbage.
Please tell me if you have these things still in your home.
No need to be shy or embarrassed unless you are still doing sunday mass and paying Tithe......lol
No, but I did have for many years, long after I had no faith in anything in it.
It is still ancient literature and has cultural relevance.
I have my deceased mother's Bible. It has family information in it and it was something that meant a great deal to her. I loved my Momma and lost her way too soon. I have difficulty parting with any of her prized possessions despite the fact she's been gone since 1996.
I bought a KJV Bible at Goodwill. Bible quotes sound best in KJV-speak, IMHO. Especially the commandments. They just don't carry as much zing without the "thou shalts." Also, my MIL sent some sort of Bible (whichever one the Methodists use, likely) to my husband.
No crosses but I own a bible. Read it from time to time to stay brushed up. Read it twice consecutively when I was7-8 but my memory isn't what it used to be. I wanted to believe. Wouldn't it be great to be blind to reality. Ignorance is bliss,right? Two pages in to genesis I shook my head and new it was all fairy tales. You should see the look on tbese"s" when they find out I am not"of the flock". Immediately they cop this attitude of poor,pitiful,unenlightened Caseman. I must show him the error of his ways and lead him to the light of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Ramirez I mean Christ. These ignorant fool"s" know Jack shit about their religion. It is considered cool to be ,say shit like it's all thanks to my lord and Saviour Jose Christ we won the game. Meanwhile3 million people died in Sri Lanka today, but they was just heathens, not good s like my football team. We preyed and our Lord and Saviour Julio Cesar Christ answered em we managed to break the other team's quarterback's leg off n win in overtime.Praise the lawd. Now we going to Hooters then miss kitty's n celebrate this victory with an ounce of coke some smack hash and three underage sex slaves from the former Soviet Union. They get confused,then embarrassed then PISSED OFF when I refute everything they say with facts and bible verses. Eventually they storm off,furious because I am so damned stupid I can't see the truth for all my ridiculous evidence and corroborations. I am just too damned stupid to understand faith.
Yep. Several bibles. Quran, numerous books on various mythologies, and two crucifixes my parents brought back from Bremen after WWII.
I picked up a Bible a couple of years ago to go along with my interest in "Atheist Bible Study." I listen to podcasts about that sort of thing. I like to go to the source to see the absurdities of the Bible without always relying completely on the analysis of others. There is is reason that atheists tend to know more about Christianity than Christians. It's hard to take that book seriously when you read it for yourself.
I just remembered I inherited the family antique hand carved ivory, Nativity scene.
There is a Bible, a cross, an angel, prayer hands, an evil eye, a mezuzah, a star of David, Buddhist prayer flags, a prayer wheel, a Bible, an Ephemeris, a tarot deck, 7 Budda statues, Koran, a Book of the Dead, several books on comparative , a statue of, Ganesh, multiple Wiccan symbols, an egg, and a masculine fertility statue (oh, wait, that's a dildo)......
Yes, I married an antiques dealer (read: hoarder)....so the last answer also applies.
The books are mine, as well as some symbols and statues. My Agnosticism/Atheism (depending on the day), and termina adolescent eye-roll were not just endowed upon me, they were earned. However, the cultural artifacts remain. From the first time I ever saw that giant Turible (incense burner at an very large Catholic service) get hurled down the aisle at a tremendous speed, suspended by a thick rope, only to swing back and forth as if propelled by an unseen force, spewing acrid thick white smoke, I thought, over and over, "these people are fucking crazy, but this is the best theater EVER!
So I have been fascinated by the cultural effect of . Good and bad. (Remember, a faggot is kindling, for the fires the Christian Church used to burn us in)..
So my mother, the full time Astrologer, used to tell me as a child, when I had questions about god, "look at all of the religions, see what they have in common, and there you find your truths"
Less than anything else, believe it or not, is a diety. It is not the thread. So I welcome the cultural artifacts into my home, and will celebrate them all. It confuses my boss when I take religious holidays, at the very least...
(This is one corner of one room in my home. Another room looks like a huge junk drawer)
I answered no, but in hindsight think there might be an item or two laying around. Seems I saw a cross pendant, but it is not mine and will likely wind up at Goodwill or some similar place. Definitely no Bibles unless my crazy ass brother sneaked one in and left it.
I have studied religions for a while now and have many religious symbols in my home. Most of those would be considered "Pagan"
I have several Bibles with family history that have belonged to family members that have passed on. These are the only thing there that I have that would actually be considered "Christian".
I have a Quran that was gifted to me. Also a 22 volume set of the Zohar that was also gifted to me.
I have an extensive library with a large religious section that includes The Dead Sea Scrolls several of the "Lost Gospels" The Egyptian Book of the Dead, The Golden Dawn, The Secret Teachings of all Ages, The Kama Sutra, the I Ching... and many many more...too many to list. These allows me to have informed conversations with people about their many various beliefs.
I also collect religious artifacts of the "pagan" variety. Some are for novelty and home decor some I actually use.
I have a number of Tarot decks. My favorite is the one that I can actually play cards with.
There are prayer flags and hamsas, stars of David, and pentagrams. There is a crystal ball, and a number of wands, staffs, and athemes.
There are smudging fans and bowls, that I actually use to disinfect the house periodically.
A plethora of herbs and spices and things from nature.The pendulums, crystals, and geodes are beautiful and eye catching.
Oijah Boards, and cauldrons, that get used sometimes also in "potion" making. (I make my own cosmetic oils, and herbal cures, and also use them sometimes to cook in when I am in need of extra pots and pans!)
A twisted broom hangs at my door that I use in weddings for "broom jumping" ceremonies, and there is a witches hat and shoes sitting on my top shelf, and one feathered artificial raven that sits on my clock... just 'cause it's cool!
I have studied religions for a while now and have many religious symbols in my home. Most of those would be considered "Pagan"
I have several Bibles with family history that have belonged to family members that have passed on. These are the only thing there that I have that would actually be considered "Christian".
I have a Quran that was gifted to me. Also a 22 volume set of the Zohar that was also gifted to me.
I have an extensive library with a large religious section that includes The Dead Sea Scrolls several of the "Lost Gospels" The Egyptian Book of the Dead, The Golden Dawn, The Secret Teachings of all Ages, The Kama Sutra, the I Ching... and many many more...too many to list. These allows me to have informed conversations with people about their many various beliefs.
I also collect religious artifacts of the "pagan" variety. Some are for novelty and home decor some I actually use.
I have a number of Tarot decks. My favorite is the one that I can actually play cards with.
There are prayer flags and hamsas, stars of David, and pentagrams. There is a crystal ball, and a number of wands, staffs, and athemes.
There are smudging fans and bowls, that I actually use to disinfect the house periodically.
A plethora of herbs and spices and things from nature.The pendulums, crystals, and geodes are beautiful and eye catching.
Oijah Boards, and cauldrons, that get used sometimes also in "potion" making. (I make my own cosmetic oils, and herbal cures, and also use them sometimes to cook in when I am in need of extra pots and pans!)
A twisted broom hangs at my door that I use in weddings for "broom jumping" ceremonies, and there is a witches hat and shoes sitting on my top shelf, and one feathered artificial raven that sits on my clock... just 'cause it's cool!
I have the cross necklace my ex gave me for Xmas one year. Also a Hammer of Thor necklace. And an Elder Sign (H P Lovecraft) amulet on a beautiful chain that I picked up from the game store way back when, to protect against critters from the Necronomicon, just in case.
These are all works of art, and I'm not getting rid of them, despite not believing in any of them.
I've been a non-Theist since my teen age years. I have several religious icons, books. Simply because I don't believe in the super-natural doesn't mean I can't appreciate the philosophy or the art. A friend left me a 'blessed' statue of the Arch Angel Michael stepping on the neck of a demon or something (even has a card naming the Priest who blessed it). It is not an expensive statue -- I'm hoping he will want it back someday. I don't care who knows I have these things -- they do not define who I am.
I'm a Buddhist. I'll bet most folks on this board don't know that Buddhism is NOT a religion. It is a non-theistic practice of meditation and ethical behavior. What do we do in meditation? We practice relaxing the mind from stress and worry, and just observe how the mind works. There are a lot of insights along the way, both during and post meditation.
But to answer your question. I have no Christian imagery, but my room-mate has some. I do have some Buddhist images, but I don't worship them, or anything like that. I have Buddhist literature/books, but no Bible. I wish I had a Bible to use as reference. Knowing various Bible stories is helpful in understanding a lot of Western literature.
I'd like to share a Buddhist Sutra, the Kalama Sutra, in which Buddha talks about the need for doubt and skepticism.
Kalama Sutra
Do not believe anything simply because you have heard it.
Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations.
Do not believe in anything because it is spoken and rumored by many.
Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books.
Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders.
But after observation and analysis, when you find anything that agrees with reason and is conductive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.
I think I still have the Qaran on my phone, and I live with my Catholic mother.
I also have many Pagan talismans and other charms.