Bibles in Hotel Rooms

[Xandarnia]

I don't even get what it is with this whole anti-Bible trend expressed by many people in this thread. Even if you are an unbeliever, the Bible had been a fundamental book for culture of Western civilization for the last 1500 years. Countless sayings are taken from it, and you can't understand many works of art, including paintings and sculptures without knowing what they are about.

As such, I feel perfectly fine with Bible being in any public place; after all, it's a human choice weather they want to believe what's written there, or not; but it's not possible to ignore the impact this book had on our culture. And if they don't like the book, well - one can always simply not pick it up.

Loads of other books are also culturally significant. Should we place them in hotels too?

Sure, a hotel can place what books it wants in its rooms, doesn't mean you have to read them.

[Hurdergaryp]

I don't even get what it is with this whole anti-Bible trend expressed by many people in this thread. Even if you are an unbeliever, the Bible had been a fundamental book for culture of Western civilization for the last 1500 years. Countless sayings are taken from it, and you can't understand many works of art, including paintings and sculptures without knowing what they are about.

As such, I feel perfectly fine with Bible being in any public place; after all, it's a human choice weather they want to believe what's written there, or not; but it's not possible to ignore the impact this book had on our culture. And if they don't like the book, well - one can always simply not pick it up.

Loads of other books are also culturally significant. Should we place them in hotels too?

A hotel library does sound like a good idea, actually.

[The Blaatschapen]

Do you display them? Or have notes on where you got them?


I never considered that a hobby before.

They just sit on bookshelves. They are all different languages, so there is no need to note where I got them from, as I can figure it out from the language.

And yes, it's an odd one.

If they are in different languages, and assuming that you don't know all languages, how are you sure that they are bibles?

[New Aeyariss]

Loads of other books are also culturally significant. Should we place them in hotels too?

Why not? Human beings have their own ability to reason and to judge what they want to accept, or not. They can always not pick them up if they don't like it.

[Hurdergaryp]

They just sit on bookshelves. They are all different languages, so there is no need to note where I got them from, as I can figure it out from the language.

And yes, it's an odd one.

If they are in different languages, and assuming that you don't know all languages, how are you sure that they are bibles?

Certainly the books come with certain features that identify them as such.

[Mzeusia]

Loads of other books are also culturally significant. Should we place them in hotels too?

Why not? Human beings have their own ability to reason and to judge what they want to accept, or not. They can always not pick them up if they don't like it.

Hmm. Okay then. Might put libraries out of business even faster though.

[The New California Republic]

They just sit on bookshelves. They are all different languages, so there is no need to note where I got them from, as I can figure it out from the language.

And yes, it's an odd one.

If they are in different languages, and assuming that you don't know all languages, how are you sure that they are bibles?

Most of the time the front half is in the other language, and then the text is repeated in English in the second half.

[The Blaatschapen]

If they are in different languages, and assuming that you don't know all languages, how are you sure that they are bibles?

Most of the time the front half is in the other language, and then the text is repeated in English in the second half.

Ah, modern Rosetta stones

[Bluelight-R006]

Do you display them? Or have notes on where you got them?


I never considered that a hobby before.

They just sit on bookshelves. They are all different languages, so there is no need to note where I got them from, as I can figure it out from the language.

And yes, it's an odd one.

Interesting... an aficionado on hotel Bibles in different languages... interesting.

I’d start a collection but as someone with a little germaphobia... I tend to think about the crap whoever last touched it had on their hands rather than the ‘sacred text’ inside. Truly horrifying for me, also the reason why I can’t bear to sleep in hotels.

[The Grims]

Personally I'd like it if Qur'ans were in hotels as well as Bibles.

Then finance it and it may happen.

[Visionary Union]

Who the hell cares? Seriously.. As an atheist, I won't read it, but the presence of the book won't disturb me- Its not like someone is forcing me to read it, and I'm sure that some people do need those books as they forget to bring their own.

[The Grims]

Who the hell cares? Seriously.. As an atheist, I won't read it, but the presence of the book won't disturb me- Its not like someone is forcing me to read it, and I'm sure that some people do need those books as they forget to bring their own.

I do wonder if people would care if a copy of Dawkins "the god delusion" instead of a Bible were to be placed in every room.

[Visionary Union]

Who the hell cares? Seriously.. As an atheist, I won't read it, but the presence of the book won't disturb me- Its not like someone is forcing me to read it, and I'm sure that some people do need those books as they forget to bring their own.

I do wonder if people would care if a copy of Dawkins "the god delusion" instead of a Bible were to be placed in every room.

I think we both know the answer.

[Eglaecia]

NRSV is the most accurate English version. KJV is full of errors and uses inaccurate sources for both OT & NT translations.

And we can be sure that NRSV was written by Conservatives and not Liberals, correct? Liberals by definition, want to introduce change for change's sake. If NRSV is more accurate, it isn't as widespread as KJV is from my understanding

It's the primary translation used in English academia. Of course, most academics will be cross referencing the Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek too.

because there are a bunch of people who lag behind newer developments and take for granted that the KJV is the best translation there is- when this might well not be the case anymore. Notwithstanding the KJV only people.

It hasn't been the most accurate for a while. DRC1752 and RSV are much more accurate.

For an awfully long time, KJV was upheld as the standard Bible for the English speaking world. Lots of people will look for reasons to not move on from this translation for this reason alone.

Yeah because Protestants use it, and many Baptists adhere to a KJV only philosophy.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

I have seen bibles at US hotel rooms as far as I can recall. I don’t mind. I stay at a hotel merely to sleep when I’m out of town.

Iirc, the printing and dissemination of bibles is the Gideons’ stated mission.

[Hurdergaryp]

I do wonder if people would care if a copy of Dawkins "the god delusion" instead of a Bible were to be placed in every room.

I think we both know the answer.

The Selfish Gene by the same author would be a better choice, but that's just my opinion.

[Page]

As an atheist, I couldn't care less. Those Gideon people provide them for free, and it's not like the Bibles are even taking up valuable space. It's a stupid thing to make an issue out of. There are legitimate problems for the atheist community to focus on like religion being forced on public school students, but a Bible sitting in a hotel room drawer is not a thing that matters.

[The New California Republic]

Most of the time the front half is in the other language, and then the text is repeated in English in the second half.

Ah, modern Rosetta stones

I'd actually prefer hotel rooms to have replica Rosetta stones, as I'd have a huge pile of those instead.

[Geneviev]

Personally I'd like it if Qur'ans were in hotels as well as Bibles.

Then finance it and it may happen.

Churches should help with that too.

Who the hell cares? Seriously.. As an atheist, I won't read it, but the presence of the book won't disturb me- Its not like someone is forcing me to read it, and I'm sure that some people do need those books as they forget to bring their own.

I do wonder if people would care if a copy of Dawkins "the god delusion" instead of a Bible were to be placed in every room.

If there were still a Bible, I don't think anyone would care.

[Grinning Dragon]

If anything, hotels should place a copy of the US Constitution in each room in US hotels across the country.

Edit to clarify.

[Castelia]

If anything, hotels should place a copy of the US Constitution in each room.

Imagine being in North Korea and then finding a copy of the US Constitution on your bedside table.

Oh, the hilarity!

[Castelia]

I have a few dozen bibles that I have taken from hotel rooms across the world, in a variety of languages.

And no, I am not joking.

Just out of curiosity, but isn't that illegal?

I mean, surely at least the hotel would have raised a fuss about you taking their stuff?

[Bluelight-R006]

I have a few dozen bibles that I have taken from hotel rooms across the world, in a variety of languages.

And no, I am not joking.

Just out of curiosity, but isn't that illegal?

I mean, surely at least the hotel would have raised a fuss about you taking their stuff?

If you hid the Bible in your backpack/suitcase/luggage on your way out, how would they know? I mean, they could be told from the housekeeping staff and contact you through phone and ask for it to be mailed back, but they could also ask the Gideon Association for another Bible? They’re free.

[Castelia]

If you hid the Bible in your backpack/suitcase/luggage on your way out, how would they know? I mean, they could be told from the housekeeping staff and contact you through phone and ask for it to be mailed back, but they could also ask the Gideon Association for another Bible? They’re free.

Ah, I see. It's standard procedure here in my country for housekeeping staff to conduct a thorough check of the room before allowing someone to check-out, so it's possible you could be asked to return the Bible if they wanted it back. Just a case of different standard procedures it seems.

But how about Bibles that were placed there by the hotel management? I mean, surely since the Bible is their property, they would object to it being taken, no?

[The Free Joy State]

I have a few dozen bibles that I have taken from hotel rooms across the world, in a variety of languages.

And no, I am not joking.

Just out of curiosity, but isn't that illegal?

I mean, surely at least the hotel would have raised a fuss about you taking their stuff?

NCR is not the only person to take things from hotels. Most people take those little soaps and shampoos, for instance.

An Auntie of mine (no longer with us) had enough cutlery from various hotels she'd visited to make a whole set¹. And, no. I'm not kidding.

1. Not that I'm condoning that, or anything