Well, you were in a church. If you were in a bar. Someone may have offered you a drink. Just politely refuse it and move on.

I'd put it next to my Book of Mormon as being equally fanciful.

As Alan Watts once remarked, the bible is inspired, but not as a revelation of a supernatural entity, but as insights of mortals as to the human condition as best as they thought to express it.

All the best to you in dealing with your grief. Think of their gesture as no more troubling than a "Bless you" after you sneeze. It's not as if we fear their so-called revealed knowledge.

I would turn it down.

Send it to me. Someday I want to read one from cover to cover and annotate all the errors.

The last time I was in a church, it was a wedding. While waiting for everything to start, my friend picks up a bible and starts looking through it. I leaned over and said, "he dies on page 327".

If you have already read it tell them what you got from it.But be careful with your opinions,I have found religious people to be easily offended. If you havent, read it. Its a worth while experience and a chance to get a real perspective. I was brought up reading the bible for the sabbath. I found it to be nothing more than a book of superstition,fiction and fables, some nice sentiments and crazy conundrums,but at least I can say I've read it. Life is an adventure of experiences challenge them all.

You politely say no thank you.

Culd always use it as toilet paper in a pinch.

Take it. It can always be used in an emergency to roast marshmallows or heat coffee.

" I prefer national geographic" wouldn't go down too well unless she was thinking of boring you to sleep. [ pretty hard reading to say the least]

Take it into your hands and then yell, "It burns! It burns! What have you done to me!". Then drop it on the floor and frantically run out the door. You know? Just for levity. Or maybe not.

those flimsy sheets make good rolling papers in a pinch!!

If you had read it before, I would say politely refuse. BUT if you don't already have a copy, it is known as "The Atheist's Handbook" for a reason. Every atheist ought to have one, just for laughs if nothing else. BTW, most christians have not opened one in their life either. They just take their preacher's word for what it says.

Read it. I have highlighted all of the sex scenes.

Thank them and use it as a resource to show just how wrong a belief in God is.

Can't blame them. You are in a church. Agree with @Dwight

Thanks but no thanks. In truth I have a small book shelf with every kind of bible on it that you can think of. It has some study books and courses also. I know what is inside it but I just don't buybull anymore.

“No thanks I already hv books at home”. Hahahahaha

You can take it and thank them. But seriously, if you need comfort the bible is NOT the book to read. people are constantly robbing, beating and killing each other. It's a horror show. Don't tell them that tho. Touchy subject and what not

Most of the books int eh world ar a lot better written...

I would take it and then put it in recycling. One more gone.

Graciously thank them for the book of ficticious short stories.

Accept it and, if you haven't already, read it. If it is not King James, or the standard Jewish Publication Society if it is a Torah or Tanakh, if you were at a synagogue, use those for comparison. There are almost as many ideosynchratic versions out there as there are sects.

A simple thank you. Fortunately for you - it's not contagious ...

I do actually own one - it has a cool wooden cover, that caused me to obtain it at a thrift shop. Looking at it now and then arms me for better informed debate.

no thank you