Bibles in Hotel Rooms

[The Free Joy State]

I think I've only come across Bibles in British hotels; never in mainland Europe. I don't mind if they're there or not, though I don't think I've ever read them.

I get why Gideons do it (from their perspective), but I've always thought it's slightly strange to leave Bibles in hotel rooms, as -- statistically -- one of the last things people travelling for business or pleasure are likely to be thinking is: I wish I could read about Jesus right now.

[The Great Swedish Empire]

I see no problem. Me? I'm not really an atheist. I just don't believe but I don't care what the other religions preach. Just as long as it's harmless. Let them have their bibles. I see a bible in my nightstand cupboard and I don't care as long as it ain't taking up too much room. Maybe I'll even pick it up just for a read.

[Bluelight-R006]

I think, as long as the one supplying the Bibles does not force anyone to read it, or pays for all the Bibles, it’s okay to put Bibles in hotel rooms. No one needs to read it. I only take the Bible out because I like to handle books and not for the sake of reading.

I also think it’s okay if other religious books such as the Quran are placed in hotel rooms as well, it can be for the same purpose the Bibles are there, but no one really needs to read it. At this point the trouble is for whoever gives them out because those cost money.

[Ifreann]

1. In the place I live, people have multiple Bibles lying around in the house. So, whatever.
2. K
3. Because a single private organization is the one distributing it,

All over the world.

not the Trump Administration. I wouldn’t call it prevalent either when 99% of the people never bother to read it in the hotel room either way.

The prevalence of Bibles in hotel rooms doesn't vary by how many people read them.

4. I do love my taken out of context verses mehehehe, would you mind reading the whole chapter?

The whole psalm? I've read it before, but sure.

By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land? If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.

Remember, O Lord, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof. O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us. Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.

No? Okay, nevermind that it is a cry for vindication against the Babylonians who did far worse things to the Judahites...

If you read the whole psalm you will see that the author calls for the Babylonians to be served as they served the Israelites, and for their children to be killed.

---

I'd be more than a little surprised if there were some facsimile Codex Gigas' in hotel rooms, especially if they were put there by the Gideons, as it'd likely bankrupt them.

I suspect they're pretty well funded. They color-code the Bibles, it seems:

Orange: given in sidewalk distribution[10]
Green: for college/university students
Red: for in-school distribution to Middle/High school students
Digital Camouflage/Desert Camouflage: for the military[10]
Dark blue: printed in a language other than English[10]
White: for medical professionals
Light blue: for distribution by the Auxiliary only[10]
Brown: for facilities distributions, (for witnessing in prisons and jails by Gideons)[10]
Burgundy: personal worker's testaments (for individual witnessing by Gideons)[10]
Periwinkle: personal worker's testaments (for individual witnessing by the Auxiliary)

Weird, mine is dark blue, but in English. Must be a newer thing.

[Xmara]

I see no issue with it at all of course since I am a Christian, and I would have no issue with other religious organizations donating copies of their holy books to hotel rooms. Nobody is forcing you to read it.

I've been in hotels where I've found not only a Bible, but also the Book of Mormon.

[Xmara]

I think I've only come across Bibles in British hotels; never in mainland Europe. I don't mind if they're there or not, though I don't think I've ever read them.

I have yet to stay at a hotel in the US that didn't have a copy of the Bible in the room.

[Saiwania]

I have yet to stay at a hotel in the US that didn't have a copy of the Bible in the room.

Right? It's part of the expectation in the US at this point. You aren't a real hotel if the Gideons haven't gotten their Bibles placed into your rooms.

[Neanderthaland]

Presumably this means I can leave my religious paraphernalia around as well.

I hope you like statues of naked fat ladies.

[The Free Joy State]

Presumably this means I can leave my religious paraphernalia around as well.

I hope you like statues of naked fat ladies.

If you can find a hotel to take them, the world is your... fat naked lady altar.

[Ethel mermania]

Presumably this means I can leave my religious paraphernalia around as well.

I hope you like statues of naked fat ladies.

How fat? Pleasingly plump or obese? Cause i can totally get behind the former.

[Bluelight-R006]

Presumably this means I can leave my religious paraphernalia around as well.

I hope you like statues of naked fat ladies.

People would find it distressing, but it seems totally legal.

[Duhon]

Presumably this means I can leave my religious paraphernalia around as well.

I hope you like statues of naked fat ladies.

Which Venus though?

[Neanderthaland]

Presumably this means I can leave my religious paraphernalia around as well.

I hope you like statues of naked fat ladies.

Which Venus though?

Presumably this means I can leave my religious paraphernalia around as well.

I hope you like statues of naked fat ladies.

How fat? Pleasingly plump or obese? Cause i can totally get behind the former.

Venus of Willendorf

[Duhon]

Well, that one I got from Herr Gutenberg is 40cm by 60cm. And then there's ... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codex_Gigas

YASSSSSSSSSSS
SO YUUUUUUUUUUUGEEEEEEEEEE

[US-SSR]

Include other religious texts too, let Muslims give hotels copies of the Quran. Atheists could provide the speeches of Bob Ingersoll or some Tom Paine.

I always open the hotel room bible to Ecclesiastes 9 which is the passage I read at our wedding nearly 19 years ago:

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work, nor thought, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave where you are going.

I leave a $5 tip for housekeeping in there too.

Plus you can hack an air fryer with the Bible, the hair dryer and the kleenex box.

[Bluelight-R006]

I wonder if anyone has ever taken a Bible out of a hotel room before.

[Ethel mermania]

Which Venus though?

How fat? Pleasingly plump or obese? Cause i can totally get behind the former.

Venus of Willendorf

Sorry no, i draw the line at “thick”, not in my hotel room you dont

[Duhon]

I wonder if anyone has ever taken a Bible out of a hotel room before.

*raises hand*

You'll be surprised at the books one picks up in hotel rooms.

[Minachia]

I wonder if anyone has ever taken a Bible out of a hotel room before.

There are plenty of people who do that, whether they're malicious or genuinely want to have a Bible. The books are free from the Gideons, so it doesn't matter.

[US-SSR]

I wonder if anyone has ever taken a Bible out of a hotel room before.

*raises hand*

You'll be surprised at the books one picks up in hotel rooms.

Tijuana bibles? (NSFW)

[Samudera Darussalam]

I wonder if anyone has ever taken a Bible out of a hotel room before.

There are some, I'm sure. The Gideons' bibles are free. Though for what, one can wonder.

[Neanderthaland]

I wonder if anyone has ever taken a Bible out of a hotel room before.

There are some, I'm sure. The Gideons' bibles are free. Though for what, one can wonder.

I can think of a number of uses for small sheets of paper.

[Bluelight-R006]

I wonder if anyone has ever taken a Bible out of a hotel room before.

There are plenty of people who do that, whether they're malicious or genuinely want to have a Bible. The books are free from the Gideons, so it doesn't matter.

Yeah, but aren’t they hotel property? So wouldn’t it be stealing from the hotel? Meh, forget it.

I’m still waiting for the day I meet a Quran in a hotel room, or some other religious book. I would really want to handle one and try to read what’s inside.

[Duhon]

*raises hand*

You'll be surprised at the books one picks up in hotel rooms.

Tijuana bibles? (NSFW)

Nothing so racy, now. The weird thing is that I've never picked up porn in all my days spent lounging out at some hotel or other.

[Rastrian]

Maybe I should take a page from the Vicar of Dibley and hide chocolate in a Bible. For other people, of course.