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...

Graciously thank them for the book of ficticious short stories.

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.

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.

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

I would act confused and wonder aloud how that could possibly help.

I mean, seriously, even if the Bible contained helpful stuff, it's a dogpile of geneology, questionable history, theology, fabulist mythos and outright bullshit. So expecting someone experiencing grief and loss to wade through that to find comfort is really thowing mud at the side of a barn to see if any of it will stick. It makes me question whether the person leading this group is even competent.

I just say thanks and leave it at that. My best man gave me a beautiful bible.It is gold leaf and then in a cedar box. I just looked stunned and had no idea , WTF. I do not want a bible but it was my best man who had recently became a born again. I must add we are no longer even friends as he went down the W bush and Trump path. The bible is somewhere with my ex wife.
Oh the word of god. how it gets going is truly amazing.

How about, "No thank you. I'm an atheist." You'd do the same if someone offered you a Hindu holy book or the Koran.

If you have a fireplace, use it to start your fire.

I have several Bibles in my house. One I keep handy to look things up, if I feel the need. It's one my grandmother gave to my older brother who passed away when he was 18. It has an inscription in her handwriting. I keep it for sentimental reasons. I see it as a historical type book and to look up things to see if it really says I'm being told it says.