Holy Bibles in hotel rooms

50 replies

Covvers

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 19 Jan 2018

Total posts 64

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).

sgb

Emirates Airlines - Skywards

Member since 30 Nov 2015

Total posts 419

I think they are going the way yellow and white page telephone books vanished.

David

Member since 24 Oct 2010

Total posts 1,016

An interesting observation, Covvers. I can't recall the last time I even looked in the top draw of any hotel room's bedside table for anything... my routine is to unpack, take ownership of the desk (as it'll be a de facto workstation for the length of my stay, which means moving all the hotel crap off it and sometimes even repositioning the desk itself!) and that's as far as it goes. But I'd certainly agree with SGB that if anything, they're headed down the same path as phone books. Maybe it's also that any traveller with a religious inclination can have their preferred holy text loaded onto their iPhone or iPad, with morning scripture emails delivered to their inbox.

David

Member since 24 Oct 2010

Total posts 1,016

PS Readers are reminded as always to comment on the topic, add value to the conversation and refrain from personal attacks: intolerance towards other readers and their views on religion (be those for, against or 'meh') will result in suspension without notice from the AusBT community.

MarkJohnSon Banned

MarkJohnSon Banned

Member since 19 Jan 2018

Total posts 41

I think they are certainly going the way of the Dodo, particularly in modern hotels. That said, I know Gideon’s maintain a big presence with country town motels and motor inns.


While unrelated to hotels (but nonetheless, on topic in my view), it’s interesting to note that the so-called “ME3” carriers routinely have copies of the Qu’ran available.

Quite an interesting contrast in cultures.

Ryan K

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 30 May 2013

Total posts 155

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.

Covvers

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 19 Jan 2018

Total posts 64

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!

Steve987

Member since 23 Feb 2015

Total posts 268

I think they are going the way yellow and white page telephone books vanished.

The bible app?!?

Steve987

Member since 23 Feb 2015

Total posts 268

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!

Couldn’t agree more. The provision of reading material, religious or otherwise, is hardly offensive.

StuParr

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

Member since 01 Mar 2012

Total posts 203

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!


I agree Covvers. It is not actively promoting it. It is usually stored away in some shelves. I have seen the Qur'an in rooms when I have been in Islamic countries and didn't feel that it was being pushed at me.

As per your original comment, I heard of people in the US reading their bibles on their Kindles and iPads, just another area where electronic copies are taking over I guess. I hadn't seen it until I went to a friend who is a JW's wedding and they all pulled out their iPads during the readings. For someone who hadn't been in a church since I was 9 it was interesting to see the change.

Last editedby StuParr at Feb 27, 2018, 12:25 PM.

StuParr

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

Member since 01 Mar 2012

Total posts 203

I think they are going the way yellow and white page telephone books vanished.

The bible app?!?


yeah there are Bible Apps... JW's have them.

MarkJohnSon Banned

MarkJohnSon Banned

Member since 19 Jan 2018

Total posts 41

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.

To that end, hotels shouldn't have televisions automatically placed in hotel rooms. If people wish to watch the evils of mass-market consumerism in their hotel, then they should bring their own television.

David

Member since 24 Oct 2010

Total posts 1,016

I'd suggest a TV is more in the realm of 'mainstream entertainment' than a religious text, but each to their own. However, how many people even use those big-screen TVs these days? It's always the first thing I turn off when I enter the room and it rarely goes back on again. That said, I've stayed at some hotels with an Apple TV box and being able to stream downloaded videos from my MacBook to the Apple TV for a big-screen telly experience is rather damned cool!

MarkJohnSon Banned

MarkJohnSon Banned

Member since 19 Jan 2018

Total posts 41

I'd suggest a TV is more in the realm of 'mainstream entertainment' than a religious text, but each to their own. However, how many people even use those big-screen TVs these days? It's always the first thing I turn off when I enter the room and it rarely goes back on again. That said, I've stayed at some hotels with an Apple TV box and being able to stream downloaded videos from my MacBook to the Apple TV for a big-screen telly experience is rather damned cool!

Apologies David, my dry sense of humour doesn't always get well-telegraphed in the written medium. I was making light-hearted fun of the other poster's comment by using the reductio ad absurdum method.

blingwad

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 04 Jun 2015

Total posts 74

Interesting topic. I know Shangri-la have them in their hotels, at least all the ones i've stayed in. Might have to start looking proper and come back to this in a few months!

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