Hotels And Gideon Bibles... WHY??

[arwalden]

... I've never visited a hotel that *also* offered a complimentary copy of the Koran or "Age of Reason". Why is that?

-- Allen

[Iris]

1. I suppose if a group of Muslims wanted to donate the copies, there'd be no

reason why they wouldn't be there.


But that could just be me clingy to the last remnants of multi-culturalism.

[arwalden]

3. I Also Wonder Why Hotels Permit That Type Of Proselytizing At All?

:shrug:

[Agnomen]

17. A book on Buddhism is in every room

of the hotel i usually stay at in San Francisco - guess some Buddhists provide them.

[crikkett]

24. which hotel?

I want to pass on that info to friends to stay in SF on occasion.

[classof56]

2. The Gideons place the Bibles for free.

I've also seen the Book of Mormon in some hotels/motels, I'm guessing placed there for free as well. These books are complimentary to the hotels, etc., but are to be kept there, not taken by customers. Maybe if the Koran or "Age of Reason" was offered gratis they would be placed in the nightstand drawers, too. Would probably be at the discretion of the owners/operators of the establishment, however.

Just my take on this.

Tired Old Cynic

[DBoon]

5. I think Hilton is owned by Mormons

that's why you see the Book of Mormon in that chain

[classof56]

10. Didn't know about the Hilton, but I've heard Marriotts are Mormon owned

I rarely stay in either of them, but have seen Books of Mormon in motels in Utah and Nevada. Always with Gideon Bibles, too. Sounds like it might be okay for guests to take the Gideon Bibles with them, so probably is for Book of Mormon, too. I learned something today. One reason I love DU--truthful and educational, too. :-)

Blessings!

[DBoon]

11. You are right!

I got my hotel chains mixed up.

Sincere apologies to the Hilton Hotels.

[ResRedneck]

22. It also depends on...

Geographic region.

In Syracuse, NY, you are more likely to find hotels with the Book of Mormon in addition to the Bible, as the Mormons are FROM Syracuse.

It kinda' weirded me out when I opened up the desk drawer to see both books in one place, one placed by the Gideons and one by the Mormons...I certainly hope they weren't there at the same time...

On another note, as I work at a hotel, the Bibles are placed at no charge to the hotel, so we could really care less if people take them. The Gideons typically come through every few months and do a check to see if any rooms need them, and then they'll give us a few extra.

[arwalden]

6. In The Case Of The Gideon Bibles...

<< These books are complimentary to the hotels, etc., but are to be kept there, not taken by customers. >>

... it's my understanding that they WANT people to take them. I remember reading a Dear Abby letter from a reader wondering if it was okay to take a Gideon bible from the hotel room. Abby responded by telling the writer that it was indeed okay to take the bible. (I presume that Abby had checked with Gideons, but I'm not sure. I just sent them a quick email to find out myself, I'll let you know if they respond and what they say.)

-- Allen

PS: I own a Gideon branded bible myself.

[classof56]

9. Thanks! Let me know what you find out from the Gideons.

Gideon Bibles were donated by friends/relatives in memory of both my father and my mother when they died. They'd have been pleased to know it's okay for guests to take them, since they both loved the scripture and were very big into spreading the gospel.

Look forward to the Gideons' response. Thanks again!

[arwalden]

12. Six Of One...

I received a reply from someone at the Gideons organization. It appears that they want them to stay BUT anyone who needs a bible is welcome to take one.

-- Allen

==========================================

Subject: RE: Am I Allowed To Take Hotel Bibles?
From: "Richardson, Gary" <[e-mail]>
To: <*******@xemaps.com>

* Replies will be sent through Spamex to [e-mail]
* For additional info click -> http://www.spamex.com/i/?v=

Allen,

We place Bibles in hotel rooms with the intention that they
remain there. However, if individuals need a Bible we are
more than happy for them to take one. They are easily replaced.

God Bless!

Gary Richardson
Special Assistant to the Executive Director
The Gideons International
P.O. Box 140800
Nashville, TN 37214
[e-mail]

>From: *******@xemaps.com
>Sent: Saturday, August 13, 2005 10:30 AM
>To: TGI
>Subject: Am I Allowed To Take Hotel Bibles?
>
>Hello. Am I allowed to take a Gideon bible from a hotel room?
>
>Regards,
>-- Allen

[smirkymonkey]

14. What are Gideons? And what's so special about their bible?

Seriously, is it the same as a bible that you would find in church or are these somehow special?

I suppose I could look up Gideons, but I'm too lazy. Could somebody just tell me? Thanks! :hi:

[arwalden]

15. Go Here

www.gideons.org

[Botany]

4. So the Beatles could write Rocky Raccoon

Beatles - Rocky Raccoon Lyrics
Now somewhere in the black mountain hills of Dakota
There lived a young boy named Rocky Raccoon
And one day his woman ran off with another guy
Hit young Rocky in the eye Rocky didn't like that
He said I'm gonna get that boy
So one day he walked into town
Booked himself a room in the local saloon.

Rocky Raccoon checked into his room
Only to find Gideon's bible
Rocky had come equipped with a gun
To shoot off the legs of his rival
His rival it seems had broken his dreams
By stealing the girl of his fancy.
Her name was Magil and she called herself Lil
But everyone knew her as Nancy.
Now she and her man who called himself Dan
Were in the next room at the hoe down
Rocky burst in and grinning a grin
He said Danny boy this is a showdown
But Daniel was hot-he drew first and shot
And Rocky collapsed in the corner.

Now the doctor came in stinking of gin
And proceeded to lie on the table
He said Rocky you met your match
And Rocky said, Doc it's only a scratch
And I'll be better I'll be better doc as soon as I am able.

Now Rocky Raccoon he fell back in his room
Only to find Gideon's bible
Gideon checked out and he left it no doubt
To help with good Rocky's revival.

[Lefty48197]

8. Guns and bibles - a wonderful combination

Never trust anybody that preaches with a gun in their hand.

[DIKB]

7. I circumcise them

Every time I see one.

There was a page in the back that contained a "salvation prayer" that if you said it, would guarantee your spot in paradise, with a place under it to write in your name and the date. Some gideon was handing them out on campus. Every friend of mine who got one, I asked to see it, and ripped that page in the back out, and handed it back to them afterwards.

[GOPFighter]

13. The Gideons used to pass out Bibles in my elementary school

in northern Indiana (back in the '50s). I wonder how many ever made it home?

[progressoid]

16. Seems to me there was a thread on here a few months ago

that mentioned some hotels (California maybe?) that had copies of the I-Ching or some other non-western religious text

[NMMNG]

18. Probably because only the theists feel the need to proselytise.

I was in a casino hotel recently and almost looked in the provided Bible to see if they blacked out or ommitted the verse denouncing gambling. :evilgrin:

[arwalden]

19. Funny!

You should have taken your little sharpie marker (or X-acto blade) and carefully blacked out (cut out) all references to gambling.

So... why is church BINGO okay? That's gambling.

[opiate69]

20. From thestraightdope.com

The Gideons (www.gideons.org), formed in 1899 in Janesville, Wisconsin, are the oldest Christian business and professional men's association in the United States with 130,000 members located in more than 170 countries.
In the early days, most of the Gideons were traveling salesmen who wanted to be effecitve Christian witnesses while on the road. They decided to place a Bible at the reception desk in each hotel they frequented so patrons could borrow it. The Bible also served as a silent witness in these hotels after the Gideons had checked out. Today, the Gideons place more than 45,000,000 bibles annually in prisons, hospitals, military bases and, of course, hotel rooms.

[madeline_con]

21. Because the publishers of those tomes don't supply them.

That's all. No big conspiracy or anything....

[Montauk6]

23. That doesn't bother as much as the subway preachers here in NYC

For those not familiar with Manhattan, the A-Train is an express train that runs on 8th Ave. From 125th St to 59th (and vice versa, of course), she runs non-stop. At either of these stations, I always get these loud-ass preacher guys and you're a captive audience because most of the A's have locked car-to-car doors.

I'm just grateful that Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, etc. aren't so heavy into the "recruiting," otherwise I'd have to take the bus!

[NAO]

25. Freedom From Religion Foundation won some partial victories in this area

Freedom From Religion Foundation
http://ffrf.org/

From The Motel Room To The Classroom:
Nobody Escapes The Gideons
http://ffrf.org/fttoday/back/gideon.html

Gideons Run Afoul of First Amendment
http://ffrf.org/fttoday/1996/april96/gideons.html

Gideon Distribution Halted
http://ffrf.org/fttoday/2000/december2000/gideon.html

*****

Non-Tracts from FFRF - Freethought Literature to Counter Religious Ideological Marketing You can view some non-tracts here:
http://ffrf.org/nontracts/

There are more "non-tracts" available for order here:
http://ffrf.org/shop/nontracts/

The best one IMHO is the one called "Dear Believer".