Q&A: New Testament in the Bathroom
New Testament in the Bathroom
Question
I was thinking of starting to study the New Testament in the bathroom. My question is whether there is any problem with bringing the book in there and reading it because of the Tetragrammaton that appears in it??
Answer
I don’t think so. Aside from a Torah scroll written by a heretic, the Name is not intended there as referring to the Holy One, blessed be He.
Discussion on Answer
That is a different discussion. Here the question was about bringing it into the bathroom. As for reading it itself, there are circumstances that permit it. For example, someone who wants to study history, or someone who is deliberating whether to adopt Christianity himself.
Why is the Name not intended for the Holy One, blessed be He? After all, He is also the God of the Christians, isn’t He?
Their god is triune and was revealed to Jesus.
So is it forbidden to bring a Quran into the bathroom?
B. When is it forbidden to read the New Testament?
Their god was round at first….
After all, they believe in the Old Testament.
Does the Quran contain the Name of God written in its proper form?
It is forbidden to read it when this is being done out of inclination, in order to join its worship. Also, when there is a significant concern that it may influence someone, there is room to forbid it.
I remembered that in responsa Igrot Moshe, Orach Chayim, vol. 5, sec. 13, he discusses giving food to a secular guest who will not recite a blessing. In the course of his remarks he writes that even if he does recite a blessing, it is considered like a blessing without the Name of God.
So what is the prohibition against reading heretical books?