Bibles in Hotel Rooms

[Rev. Rye]

It really bugs me when I check into a hotel room and there's religious propaganda (a bible) in the night stand drawer. This also seems discriminatory. If you're going to stick a Bible in the drawer, why not also a Koran? Or the Talmud? Or the Rigveda? Why do Christians get to stick their holy book in hotel rooms but not other religions?

Well, I don't think Muslims have gotten around to creating their own Gideon-like organisation, and really, the Talmud and Rigveda in Hotel rooms? Jews and Hindus are too ethnocentric and fatalistic to bother with evangelising. Those books, especially the Talmud, are too damn big to bring home with you. Hell, I bet the complete talmud would probably be bigger than most hotel rooms; and besides, do you really think that Jewish people would just give away something as expensive as a Talmud?

When I find a bible in the drawer I always write something on the cover (and inside pages) like "WARNING! THIS BOOK CONTAINS INCEST, WAR, UNJUST LAWS AND DEATH! KEEP AWAY FROM CHILDREN!", "WARNING! THIS BOOK SAYS SLAVERY IS OKAY!", "WARNING! THIS BOOK REPRESSES WOMEN!", "WARNING! THIS BOOK CONTAINS 99.6% PURE BULLSHIT!" etc.....

I went to a hotel last weekend and found a Gideon's bible on my dresser. Not in the drawer, out in the open. I considered writing on it, but I chose not to for several reasons. A) I have too much respect for the printed word to deface a book (even one I hate, even Left Behind or Pride and Prejudice), B) My handwriting is barely legible, C) I'd feel obligated to elaborate on it with extensive notes that would take up too much time to write, and D) I doubt, even if anybody could read my writing, they would bother to open it up anyway.

I must add that I considered simply tossing the thing in the trash. But I thought it would be more effective to mark it up and leave it there. I like to imagine someone going to read it and finding what I've written. "Good heavens, Charles! Look what someone did to the Bible!" Just wish I could be there to see it!

Well, I'm pretty sure that only the cleaning staff would see it in the trash. Of course, a lot of them are Hispanic, and many Hispanics are Catholic, so, yeah.

[Minimalist]

Slap one of these stickers on it, Rev.

[Statler Waldorf]

It really bugs me when I check into a hotel room and there's religious propaganda (a bible) in the night stand drawer. This also seems discriminatory. If you're going to stick a Bible in the drawer, why not also a Koran? Or the Talmud? Or the Rigveda? Why do Christians get to stick their holy book in hotel rooms but not other religions?

When I find a bible in the drawer I always write something on the cover (and inside pages) like "WARNING! THIS BOOK CONTAINS INCEST, WAR, UNJUST LAWS AND DEATH! KEEP AWAY FROM CHILDREN!", "WARNING! THIS BOOK SAYS SLAVERY IS OKAY!", "WARNING! THIS BOOK REPRESSES WOMEN!", "WARNING! THIS BOOK CONTAINS 99.6% PURE BULLSHIT!" etc.....

I'm wondering what others on this forum think of Bibles in hotel rooms. And does anyone else mark, deface, rip up, or throw away Bibles when you stay in a hotel room?

I must add that I considered simply tossing the thing in the trash. But I thought it would be more effective to mark it up and leave it there. I like to imagine someone going to read it and finding what I've written. "Good heavens, Charles! Look what someone did to the Bible!" Just wish I could be there to see it!

*yawns*...Hotels are private businesses. They are able to endorse whatever viewpoints they want and are protected in doing so by law. If you don't like Bibles being in them stay at RV Parks, it's pretty simple. Last time I checked you could not force anyone to read a book, so it's not even a big deal. Considering it's the number one selling book of all time, it's not a bad one to have in a hotel. Consider it a little bonus, like mints on your pillow :-)

[Rev. Rye]

So the YouTube videos in post #41 were strictly for political reasons ?

Wow. Gilligan, you seem to have actually stumbled upon an argument that's actually slightly cogent, as opposed to just face-palmingly stupid.
Let me clear it up for you: Of course, all the brutal leaders of the Communist movements were atheists (like Stalin or Chairman Mao), but It would be an oversimplification to claim that their brutality is due to atheism. In essence, when there were persecutions, almost never were they solely against those who follow religion, but religious followers are usually seen as one of a long list of "enemies of the state." Simply put, the communist regime of Rumania did not torture the priest just because they were atheists; they persecuted them because they were a threat to their total control over the people.

[Minimalist]

Don't expect him to be swayed by facts.

[Anomalocaris]

Try not to believe too much English propaganda about Napoleon. He was quite a guy.

Indeed, Napoleon was excommunicated by the catholic church, while Hitler was not. That alone should tell you who was the good guy, and who the bad.

[Thor]

*yawns*...Hotels are private businesses. They are able to endorse whatever viewpoints they want and are protected in doing so by law.

No kidding! Gee, I didn't know that! Thank you for the lesson, Professor Waldorf!

If you don't like Bibles being in them stay at RV Parks,

I have one clown tell me if I don't like Bibles in hotel rooms I should stay "down by the river". Now you tell me to stay in an RV park. These are typical responses. Christians have a "like it or lump it" mentality when people object to religious beliefs being foisted on the public. But I'm sure they'd sing a different tune if Muslims took over a school board and decreed that there would be prayers to Allah read over the loudspeakers five times a day.

Last time I checked you could not force anyone to read a book, so it's not even a big deal.

So then you would think it's okay for hotels to put pornography in their rooms. After all, no one is forcing the guests to look at it.

Considering it's the number one selling book of all time,

What does this have to do with anything?

it's not a bad one to have in a hotel.

So your criteria is how much it sells? In that case, Harry Potter books should be in hotels.

Consider it a little bonus, like mints on your pillow :-)

I consider it a "bonus" like finding dried puke on my pillow.

[Ace Otana]

If you don't like children's books (bible) in hotel rooms, just do what my uncle does. Take it home and burn it. One page at a time if you want. I really don't mind hotels having bibles in rooms. It's free fire fuel to me.
Anything religious in my reach, turns to ash in a matter of hours.

So I have no problem with bibles in hotels. It's free fire fuel.

[Thor]

If you don't like children's books (bible) in hotel rooms, just do what my uncle does. Take it home and burn it. One page at a time if you want. I really don't mind hotels having bibles in rooms. It's free fire fuel to me.
Anything religious in my reach, turns to ash in a matter of hours.

So I have no problem with bibles in hotels. It's free fire fuel.

Good solution! I'll have to get a wood burning stove!

[Gilligan]

So the YouTube videos in post #41 were strictly for political reasons ?

Wow. Gilligan, you seem to have actually stumbled upon an argument that's actually slightly cogent, as opposed to just face-palmingly stupid.
Let me clear it up for you: Of course, all the brutal leaders of the Communist movements were atheists (like Stalin or Chairman Mao), but It would be an oversimplification to claim that their brutality is due to atheism. In essence, when there were persecutions, almost never were they solely against those who follow religion, but religious followers are usually seen as one of a long list of "enemies of the state." Simply put, the communist regime of Rumania did not torture the priest just because they were atheists; they persecuted them because they were a threat to their total control over the people.

So even an atheist could be in danger in that regime?