I always thought the Bibles were placed there more 'in case of emergency' for travellers on their own who are down or lonely, in the hope that reading it might help them out of a bad place. I figured that if you are a 'believer' you would carry your own little pocket Bible anyway.
I like the fact that in Ibis Budgets, there are just no cupboards ergo no space to put the Book. I don't read it. And even in the non Ibis Budgets, as mentioned above, less and less of the Book are seen, as my paw goes looking for the minibar/restaurant compedeum in the cupboard/drawer, I no longer find the Book.
I heard someone give a talk once (no, not in a Church -- in an RSL club) about how she was literally saved from suicide by having a Bible in her hotel room: opening that Bible and reading about the life and sayings of Jesus turned her life around.
Its always entertaining to flick through a few pages of the book of mormon when staying at a Marriott. Reminds me of scenes from the funniest musical ever written.
I should say at the outset that, despite the best attempts of my parents and teachers, I am not religious.
I have noted with interest that the trend of seeing copies of the Holy Bible placed by the Gideons and other such organizations in hotel rooms seems to be waning. It was once ubiquitous and it now seems to be somewhat less common.
Interested to hear what other fellow AusBT folk have noticed (if anything).
I think it is dwindling, it may be because Australia is becoming a Post Christian country.
Two traditions and one admonishment : 1) Gideons placed Bibles in hotel rooms so that those staying there could hopefully get some comfort and hope when away, alone, perhaps struggling.
2) Hotel rooms were often places people considered or completed suicide.
Admonishment: if they offend, just leave them in the top drawer and don’t worry about it.
I'm a militant atheist. But I don't get offended at the mere presence of a religious text. It doesn't burn me or make me scream in pain. Even if I do want to roll my eyes a little over it, I don't feel personally offended or excluded or "micro-aggressed" against.
That said, "there's an app for that." Almost everyone has a smartphone or e-reader and physical copies of texts are just generally becoming much less important. The Bible, and various versions of it in fact, are public domain works which can be found on the internet or otherwise acquired for free.
The Gideon's aim of making bibles accessible to everyone has been achieved. The bible is easy to access. Everyone can, in a world of smartphones, carry a bible with them in their pocket. Yes, not everyone has a smartphone, and we all have sentimentality for physical media from time to time (I certainly do with some things), but bibles in hotel rooms are not necessary to make Christianity's core text accessible.
Bibles shouldn't have a place in hotels whereby they're automatically placed in each hotel room. If people wish to read the bible in their hotel, then they should bring their own.
As I stated earlier, I am not religious but I don’t agree with this statement. If a charitable organization wishes to provide complimentary copies of the Bible for placement in hotel rooms, what is the problem?
The mere placement of a Bible in a room is not forcing any particular religion down someone’s throat. If you aren’t religious or of another creed, simply don’t open it!
Many hotels in the Muslim World have an arrow pointing to Mecca pinned to the ceiling. And many Muslim airlines put the arrow on the tracking map at Prayer times. I couldn’t care less. I’d far rather have a (silent) bible in the draw by the bed than hear the catawhaling of the call to Prayer in most Muslim cities. Truely not my cup of tea.
As I recall, Marriott used to place of copy of L. Ron Hubbard's book "Dianetics" in the same drawer as the Gideons Bible. Since the Marriott founder J W Marriott and family are Mormans, perhaps they feel they can.
I once found it on the bed side table when i checked in, but put it back in its place in the top drawer.
have noted with interest that the trend of seeing copies of the Holy Bible placed by the Gideons and other such organizations in hotel rooms seems to be waning).
This is due to political correctness, the unrealistic view that the Gideon bible might offend someone from another religion so some hotels decided to remove them. Its possible some militant complained about its presence, but despite the occasional rantings online I think its unlikely any hotel would pay attention to that, and there is special counselling available for these people.
The Gideons have not and will not stop handing out free bibles for hotels and the like. Its what they do.
have noted with interest that the trend of seeing copies of the Holy Bible placed by the Gideons and other such organizations in hotel rooms seems to be waning).
This is due to political correctness, the unrealistic view that the Gideon bible might offend someone from another religion so some hotels decided to remove them. Its possible some militant complained about its presence, but despite the occasional rantings online I think its unlikely any hotel would pay attention to that, and there is special counselling available for these people.
The Gideons have not and will not stop handing out free bibles for hotels and the like. Its what they do.
Have you actually got an evidence that hotels decided to remove them because they're scared of offending someone? Because that sounds like the sort of nonsense people make up without evidence.
Bibles shouldn't have a place in hotels whereby they're automatically placed in each hotel room. If people wish to read the bible in their hotel, then they should bring their own.
As I stated earlier, I am not religious but I don’t agree with this statement. If a charitable organization wishes to provide complimentary copies of the Bible for placement in hotel rooms, what is the problem?
The mere placement of a Bible in a room is not forcing any particular religion down someone’s throat. If you aren’t religious or of another creed, simply don’t open it!
so should they put the koran in the drawer too ?
If someone is prepared to deliver it and to put it in the drawer too, yes.
James Barker
James Barker
Member since 13 Sep 2016
Total posts 10
I always thought the Bibles were placed there more 'in case of emergency' for travellers on their own who are down or lonely, in the hope that reading it might help them out of a bad place. I figured that if you are a 'believer' you would carry your own little pocket Bible anyway.
Andrew Barkery
Andrew Barkery
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 21 Mar 2011
Total posts 433
I like the fact that in Ibis Budgets, there are just no cupboards ergo no space to put the Book.
I don't read it.
And even in the non Ibis Budgets, as mentioned above, less and less of the Book are seen, as my paw goes looking for the minibar/restaurant compedeum in the cupboard/drawer, I no longer find the Book.
Sibelius
Sibelius
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 06 Aug 2017
Total posts 181
I heard someone give a talk once (no, not in a Church -- in an RSL club) about how she was literally saved from suicide by having a Bible in her hotel room: opening that Bible and reading about the life and sayings of Jesus turned her life around.
jdog88
jdog88
Member since 03 Jul 2017
Total posts 1
Its always entertaining to flick through a few pages of the book of mormon when staying at a Marriott. Reminds me of scenes from the funniest musical ever written.
lind26
lind26
Member since 24 Apr 2014
Total posts 231
I think it is dwindling, it may be because Australia is becoming a Post Christian country.
JKH
JKH
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 23 Sep 2017
Total posts 11
Two traditions and one admonishment : 1) Gideons placed Bibles in hotel rooms so that those staying there could hopefully get some comfort and hope when away, alone, perhaps struggling.
StudiodeKadent
StudiodeKadent
Member since 20 May 2015
Total posts 109
I'm a militant atheist. But I don't get offended at the mere presence of a religious text. It doesn't burn me or make me scream in pain. Even if I do want to roll my eyes a little over it, I don't feel personally offended or excluded or "micro-aggressed" against.
brettepi
brettepi
Member since 10 Jul 2017
Total posts 86
As I stated earlier, I am not religious but I don’t agree with this statement. If a charitable organization wishes to provide complimentary copies of the Bible for placement in hotel rooms, what is the problem?
so should they put the koran in the drawer too ?
drgmarshall
drgmarshall
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 10 May 2012
Total posts 106
Many hotels in the Muslim World have an arrow pointing to Mecca pinned to the ceiling. And many Muslim airlines put the arrow on the tracking map at Prayer times. I couldn’t care less. I’d far rather have a (silent) bible in the draw by the bed than hear the catawhaling of the call to Prayer in most Muslim cities. Truely not my cup of tea.
Morgan
Morgan
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 23 May 2017
Total posts 1
I personally like that it appears to be being phased out - religion is the cause of most of today's issues - so the less of it, the better.
OzTraveller
OzTraveller
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 21 Feb 2012
Total posts 5
As I recall, Marriott used to place of copy of L. Ron Hubbard's book "Dianetics" in the same drawer as the Gideons Bible. Since the Marriott founder J W Marriott and family are Mormans, perhaps they feel they can.
AmbroseRPM
AmbroseRPM
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 25 Apr 2017
Total posts 6
I'm a non-observing Anglican but it seems to be a tradition that has been in place for many years.
Blake
Blake
Member since 03 May 2017
Total posts 39
This is due to political correctness, the unrealistic view that the Gideon bible might offend someone from another religion so some hotels decided to remove them. Its possible some militant complained about its presence, but despite the occasional rantings online I think its unlikely any hotel would pay attention to that, and there is special counselling available for these people.
The Gideons have not and will not stop handing out free bibles for hotels and the like. Its what they do.
rebekkap
rebekkap
Member since 27 Sep 2011
Total posts 2
This is due to political correctness, the unrealistic view that the Gideon bible might offend someone from another religion so some hotels decided to remove them. Its possible some militant complained about its presence, but despite the occasional rantings online I think its unlikely any hotel would pay attention to that, and there is special counselling available for these people.
The Gideons have not and will not stop handing out free bibles for hotels and the like. Its what they do.
Have you actually got an evidence that hotels decided to remove them because they're scared of offending someone? Because that sounds like the sort of nonsense people make up without evidence.
Steve987
Steve987
Member since 23 Feb 2015
Total posts 268
As I stated earlier, I am not religious but I don’t agree with this statement. If a charitable organization wishes to provide complimentary copies of the Bible for placement in hotel rooms, what is the problem?
so should they put the koran in the drawer too ?
If someone is prepared to deliver it and to put it in the drawer too, yes.