Bibles in Motels/Hotels

[Gaybaby94]

What do you think. I think it is wrong for a business to conform to just one religion and impose those beliefs cough*Chick Fil A*cough. If they are going to conform to the religious beliefs of all guests, they should have the Qur'an and the Torah in there as wel along with the books of the other 2000 religions. As an atheist I think it is wrong to have that crap in my room. Where are my rights of freedom FROM religion. Anyways. Give your input.

[Cicero]

What do you think. I think it is wrong for a business to conform to just one religion and impose those beliefs cough*Chick Fil A*cough. If they are going to conform to the religious beliefs of all guests, they should have the Qur'an and the Torah in there as wel along with the books of the other 2000 religions. As an atheist I think it is wrong to have that crap in my room. Where are my rights of freedom FROM religion. Anyways. Give your input.

*cough* Chick fil a is owned by a Christian Billionaire, so that's a big clue *cough cough*

And it's not freedom from religion, it's freedom of religion. Is it really that big of a deal? It's in the side table which no one ever goes in. It's not like they have it hung up or right in your face. From your other posts, I already know your Anti-Christian everything. But everyone's Entitled to their own opinion, even though it's wrong that your always attacking Christianity.

[FreeFall]

I'm atheist and it's never bothered me.
I think either a religious person requested it or it's just been something they've done since they opened. Frankly I ignore the bible or put it in a drawer. It's not being thrown in my face or tossed down my throat, so I don't have an issue with it.

I'm half certain non jews aren't truly allowed to touch the Torah, so they can't exactly place them all over if this is the case.
The Qur'an is highly revered. It's not universal but some Muslims believe they must cleanse themselves before touching the scripture. Defiling it, tearing it, folding it is desecration of the Qur'an and something that deeply and greatly offends most, not all, Muslims. They usually have their own if they're going somewhere too.

I suppose it can be seen as a lack of respect to other religions to only have the bible in a room, but there are circumstances where it's better to not have it than to have a child rip up their scripture and deeply offend someone of that religion.

But they're not forcing you to read the bible, they're free to put it in their rooms. You don't have to stay there if it's that unbearable.

[Gigablue]

And it's not freedom from religion, it's freedom of religion.

Are you saying that you can have what ever religion you want, but you can't not have one?

Is it really that big of a deal? It's in the side table which no one ever goes in. It's not like they have it hung up or right in your face.

And just because it's not that big of a deal doesn't mean there's nothing wrong with it.

From your other posts, I already know your Anti-Christian everything. But everyone's Entitled to their own opinion, even though it's wrong that your always attacking Christianity.

What's wrong with being Anti-Christian if you use facts to make a valid argument. He shouldn't have to respect your position if it's illogical. You also just assert that attacking Christianity is wrong. Why?

[Christheman]

exactly what you said i agree

[Cicero]

Are you saying that you can have what ever religion you want, but you can't not have one?



And just because it's not that big of a deal doesn't mean there's nothing wrong with it.



What's wrong with being Anti-Christian if you use facts to make a valid argument. He shouldn't have to respect your position if it's illogical. You also just assert that attacking Christianity is wrong. Why?

Attacking any religion is wrong. Attacking homosexuals is wrong, attacking Christians is wrong, attacking liberals is wrong (had to bite my tongue on that one :P). I was just correcting him, the saying isn't freedom from religion, but the saying is "freedom of religion".

[Smeagol]

I don't think that it's hurting anybody. If you don't want to read it, don't read it. The presence of a bible shouldn't impair you if you don't believe, and if you do believe, added bonus!

[Noirtier]

The Bibles are not put there by the hotel owners, they are placed there by a group called The Gideons. Hotels/motels simply allow them to do so because, frankly, it's a free book and if they want to spend their money buying/printing Bibles and having members drive around and put them in hotel rooms, the hotels aren't going to stop them. There is freedom of religion, and the hotels see nothing really wrong with it. In their minds, if you don't want to read it, don't read it. If you do, do. One can read more about the Gideons here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gideons

[Thunduhbuhlt]

I really don't see a problem with it. If you don't like it there, move it somewhere else where you won't notice it and forget about it. For any non-Christian, it's just a book.

[huginnmuninn]

Freedom FROM religion??? Where does that come from? You have the freedom of religion. "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof " which only applies to CONGRESS although the Establishment Clause made it apply to the states. So since basically the gov't can't make a law prohibiting the Gideons from distributing you can do what the majority of Americans do and ignore it.

Also since you are atheist and have no religion you have no rights regarding religion except that a religion won't be forced on you by the GOV'T anybody else has the right to try to persuade you of their religion.

Honestly as a side note since Christians believe that you are going to burn in hell if you don't believe in their religion wouldn't it be rude for them not to try to make you a christian. Otherwise they are basically saying that you deserve to be tortured forever in hell. I'm agnostic btw.

[Gaybaby94]

anybody else has the right to try to persuade you of their religion.

Honestly as a side note since Christians believe that you are going to burn in hell if you don't believe in their religion wouldn't it be rude for them not to try to make you a christian. Otherwise they are basically saying that you deserve to be tortured forever in hell. I'm agnostic btw.

Actually no they do not. I do not need their "god" because I am not going to drink their kook aid. I have my reasons not to follow a cult (that's basically what all religions are). And how can I burn in some place that has been proven to not exist. Unless if they take me down to the mantle and throw me in, I will simply be a skeleton 6 feet below the ground.

[Cicero]

Actually no they do not. I do not need their "god" because I am not going to drink their kook aid. I have my reasons not to follow a cult (that's basically what all religions are). And how can I burn in some place that has been proven to not exist. Unless if they take me down to the mantle and throw me in, I will simply be a skeleton 6 feet below the ground.

So now religion doesn't have a right? Ok, guess that's how liberals are. Hell, they're proving it by taking away America's rights. You really need to learn your facts, your just getting stuff from La la land. Christianity isn't a cult. A cult means a small group of people having religious practices or beliefs regarded by others as strange or sinister. Christianity is a large religion not small. It's also not sinister. Sinister means evil or criminal. Learn your facts and stop spewing lies.

[Gigablue]

Attacking any religion is wrong. Attacking homosexuals is wrong, attacking Christians is wrong, attacking liberals is wrong (had to bite my tongue on that one :P).

Sorry, I phrased my point wrong. I agree that attacking a particular group like that is wrong. What I meant is that demonstrating why someone's belief is incorrect isn't inherently disrespectful. It doesn't matter whether that belief is religious or otherwise.

I was just correcting him, the saying isn't freedom from religion, but the saying is "freedom of religion".

I'm aware that the saying is freedom of religion, and I think he was too. The point is that no one should have religion forced upon them. If someone is religious, this is freedom of religion, but if they're not, it's freedom from religion.

[Stryker125]

I don't think it's really that big of a deal. I don't even think hotels do it, it's something like the Gideons or something. Besides, don't they put it in that little side table that no one ever goes in? If it's that big of a deal you can always just throw it out or move it.

[ImCoolBeans]

I honestly think that Americans (teens in specific) just like to find things to complain about. It is what it is, nothing to really do about it. If you don't want to read their Bible, then don't. If you want to, then do. If you have a different religion, then come prepared. I don't really think it's a big deal in any way.

[Amnesiac]

What do you think. I think it is wrong for a business to conform to just one religion and impose those beliefs cough*Chick Fil A*cough. If they are going to conform to the religious beliefs of all guests, they should have the Qur'an and the Torah in there as wel along with the books of the other 2000 religions. As an atheist I think it is wrong to have that crap in my room. Where are my rights of freedom FROM religion. Anyways. Give your input.

This is definitely one of the most insignificant and ridiculous things you could possibly complain about. Hotels are privately owned businesses and they have every right to put bibles, or whatever other books, wherever they want. There's absolutely nothing mandating that they have to promote "religious equality". Face it, a vast majority of this nation's citizens are Christian of some sort and it's perfectly reasonable for hotels to offer them a copy of the Bible so they can go about their daily spiritual activities. Stop acting like you're being oppressed. You're not. This is an issue that absolutely nobody does or should complain about, because it doesn't matter at all. You certainly have the right to not stay at hotels that have copies of the Bible.

Atheists who complain about insignificant shit like this are only hurting our cause and promoting the stereotype that we're all like Richard Dawkins, in-your-face assholes who want to eradicate every trace of religion from society. How does having a Bible tucked away in a desk affect you at all? What case could you possibly make against a hotel offering its spiritual guests reading material, besides an absolutely absurd assertion that your "rights" are being violated? There is absolutely no "imposing" going on. It's not like the hotel is making you read the Bible, or even putting it out in a visible place. This is a non-issue. Get over it.

[LouBerry]

Well, the bibles in hotel rooms thing is done by specific organizations. They don't do it to impose, they do it just in case someone is in need of that bible, it's there for them. If an organization of a different religion wanted to put their religious books in said hotel room, they would be able to. And as for the "chick-fli-a" issue, I agree that businesses should not get involved, for the sake of their employees and consumers, but you're not going to see me giving up my Oreos just because they support gay pride. Tolerance goes both ways, and both sides are entitled to their opinions.

[Abigballofdust]

I have no problem with finding a Bible in a hotel room. I know Gideons do it, and most probably hotel owners let them do it so they get them to fuck off instead of having them coming back all the time in their crusade to make everybody Christian.
Besides, Gideons are evangelists and you can only find the New Testament in hotel rooms. So it's like, a third of the Bible...

[GaryKTM250]

You are as free as you want to be - maybe you just do n't want it enough.

by even considering the question - posting it here - you have shackled yoursef to the very thing you seek to escape.

[DerBear]

I personally don't see what is wrong with it.

To me it is such a trivial issue, I mean to say why is it a problem? In today's society if you go anywhere certain religions get neglected. It will always happen. I also find it has been a traditional thing for years upon years to have the bible in a hotel or motel especially in the USA (you don't see it much, if at all in the UK) as at one time Christianity was a very very large religion (it still is but has decreased considerably).

[Sugaree]

What do you think. I think it is wrong for a business to conform to just one religion and impose those beliefs cough*Chick Fil A*cough. If they are going to conform to the religious beliefs of all guests, they should have the Qur'an and the Torah in there as wel along with the books of the other 2000 religions. As an atheist I think it is wrong to have that crap in my room. Where are my rights of freedom FROM religion. Anyways. Give your input.

First off, you're absolutely idiotic to think that Chick-fil-A is "imposing" its beliefs on you. You're free to not eat or even acknowledge the existence of Chick-fil-A, just as they're free not to acknowledge you. They are a private business, and how they conduct their business is NOT the public's realm. They only donated money to anti-LGBT groups. Not once, not ONCE, has Chick-fil-A outright DENIED the rights of LGBT persons to eat at their restaurant. Get a grip, T_L.

Second, this is an incredibly stupid topic to debate. Once again, most hotels are private businesses. If they want to place Bibles in their hotel desks or night stands, they have every right to. You have every right to not stay at those hotels and conduct your business elsewhere. Also, learn how to read the Constitution. It's freedom OF religion, not FROM religion. Even as a non-spiritual individual, I can say fully that you make me ashamed of all non-religious persons.


Actually no they do not. I do not need their "god" because I am not going to drink their kook aid. I have my reasons not to follow a cult (that's basically what all religions are). And how can I burn in some place that has been proven to not exist. Unless if they take me down to the mantle and throw me in, I will simply be a skeleton 6 feet below the ground.

Now you're just nitpicking. If you don't like it, just move along. Is it that hard for you to just ignore the spiritual activities of some people? I mean, what the hell do you DO all day? Do you go around looking for a Christian to yell and scream at because they apparently oppress you JUST because they're Christian? Seriously kid, you need to get a grip and learn some basic principles of the country. You make atheists look as bad as religious extremists. It would do you best if you actually took your head out of your ass and realize you're free to ignore the actions of others and MOVE ON.

[Neptune]

I personally don't care. If you don't like a certain company supporting a certain thing, stop doing business with them. It's that simple.

[Haufen]

And how can I burn in some place that has been proven to not exist.

Though I do not believe in hell, and I am atheist myself, you can't say it's proven that it doesn't exist. It was never proven and will probably never be.


Also there is no such thing as 'freedom from religion' and it's good that it doesn't exist.
What would you think if people said "Alright, gay people have freedom of their orientation, where's my freedom from gay people?"


There are bigger problems in the world, if you were a true liberal like you claim with your username, you would understand that.

But you are not a 'true liberal'. You seem to be one of those morons who think they're cool by screaming "OBAMUH 2012 GAY RIGHTS 99% WALL STREET REVOLUTION FREE STUFFZ FOAR EVURYWAN NAO!".

Stop making issues out of non-issues you dumbass.

[Jess]

I don't really care about there being Bibles in hotel rooms...I just ignore them. But if I ever see them I just hope that my mom won't grab it and make me read it....(she's not really Christian but she's not atheist either)

[havingfun]

What do you think. I think it is wrong for a business to conform to just one religion and impose those beliefs cough*Chick Fil A*cough. If they are going to conform to the religious beliefs of all guests, they should have the Qur'an and the Torah in there as wel along with the books of the other 2000 religions. As an atheist I think it is wrong to have that crap in my room. Where are my rights of freedom FROM religion. Anyways. Give your input.

As a Christian, I am not opposed to having the holy books from other religions in a hotel room. You are aware that the majority of hotel franchises are owned by Middle Easterners (who I doubt are Christians)?

They own the business, so they are well within their right to allow any kind of book they want in their rooms, and any rejections/acceptance of this will be reflected in their sales.

Calling it "Crap" however shows how "Open minded" and "Tolerant" most liberals truly are. </sarcasm>

Keep making posts like this, so we conservatives can add to our ranks.

[Puma_concolor]

Although I'm not Atheist, you are the type of person who gives true Atheists a bad name. You just look for insignificant crap tied to religion so you can cry foul and stir up some controversy. Atheists are fine by me - it's up to the individual to chose whether he or she wants to join (or remain free of) a religion; neo-Atheists like you really need to shut up and realize tolerance goes both ways. You are free to speak your mind, but acting superior to others over religion makes you as scummy as the oppressive, religious-zealots you whine about dealing with all the time.

[johngotti]

shit the more the merrier. i tear the blank sheets without the ink from the bibles and use em as rolling paper. yes im going to hell i know

[Mob Boss]

I don't think that it's hurting anybody. If you don't want to read it, don't read it. The presence of a bible shouldn't impair you if you don't believe, and if you do believe, added bonus!

I agree. I don't think it is really hurting anyone if it's put away in a drawer. I know it's the principle of it, but I'm not bothered by it. No one is forcing me to read it.

[Christine.]

I don't really think it hurts anybody, but I guess they shouldn't really have only bibles.

[FreeFall]

Atheists who complain about insignificant shit like this are only hurting our cause and promoting the stereotype that we're all like Richard Dawkins, in-your-face assholes who want to eradicate every trace of religion from society.
Next up, the issue of seeing places of worship. They're imposing their beliefs on me by being in my line of sight. It's wrong!
But seriously, even though we don't believe in their religion we should at least have the decency to have respect for those that respect us. A book by the bedside or on the dresser is nothing to make a fuss over.

[Puma_concolor]

Next up, the issue of seeing places of worship. They're imposing their beliefs on me by being in my line of sight. It's wrong!
But seriously, even though we don't believe in their religion we should at least have the decency to have respect for those that respect us. A book by the bedside or on the dresser is nothing to make a fuss over.

Don't forget having to walk past the religious section in the bookstore. I shouldn't have to be oppressed like that. I have religious freedom, but you can only practice yours in private.

[Cicero]

Don't forget having to walk past the religious section in the bookstore. I shouldn't have to be oppressed like that. I have religious freedom, but you can only practice yours in private.

I hope this is a joke or sarcasm.

[WaffleSingSong]

So? Big Whoop. It's not like the Bible is choking me, forcing me to read it.

The only way Religion can offend someone if it is forced apon them, like the Teutonic Order/Lithuania conflict in the 1200-1400's. The worst thing a bible can be used for in a motel/hotel is beating up a hooker.

[FreeFall]

I hope this is a joke or sarcasm.
I was joking, I think that poster was too since it was in reply to mine.

I really have no issue with items of religious connection being around me or close to me so long as they're not being forced upon me.

[LouBerry]

It's not a big deal, read it or don't. Believe it or don't. Support it or don't.

[Maverick]

Businesses and hotels don't actually purchase these Bibles and place them in the room. They are actually left by a Christian group called the Gideons.


Gideons don't preach; they just leave Bibles. "We let the Bible do the work," said Raul Laughlin, who has been a Gideon since the 1930s. "We don't do anything with doctrine. We just offer the Bible to those who want it and ask them to read it. We're not obnoxious about it. Our objective is to win men and women to Christ by placing the Scriptures around the world."

And place them they have, to the tune of 45,000,000 Bibles annually in prisons, hospitals, military bases, and hotel rooms. Those Bibles are provided without charge, and although some do end up "taken" by those in need, none have ever been "stolen," according to the Gideons.

It wasn't the Gideons, however, who initiated the practice of leaving Bibles at the bedsides of travellers. That honor goes to the International Bible Society, a group founded in 1809. In 1823, 77 year before the Gideons started their ministry the IBS took to putting Bibles in hotels.

[Jupiter]

I don't think that it's hurting anybody. If you don't want to read it, don't read it. The presence of a bible shouldn't impair you if you don't believe, and if you do believe, added bonus!

she took the words right out of my mouth.

if you don't want to be christian, then don't.