So Long, Gideons

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  • Posted By: kanawah @ 12/03/2007 10:00:53 PM

    Hitler was "a christian??? As with most of the other atrocities through out history, religion has been at the root of it.

    Imagine, if you can.

  • Posted By: The Intellectualist @ 12/01/2007 1:56:10 AM

    The Bible is the number one best seller of all time. Only a non-intellectual would refer to it as a book of fiction, myths, and superstitions. Certainly every human being on earth can freely choose whether or not to open its pages for themselves. The informed and the scholarly are aware of the fact that the Bible is a history of Judaism and Christianity,(Old Testament and New Testament) documented by both archeological
    and secular historical evidence. The Bible also has great literary value in its offerings of poetry, wisdom, logic and love (Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon). Last but not least, the Bible is the
    greatest source of fulfilled pre-written prophecies known to mankind. The prophecies of Nostradamus cannot compare to the prophetic accuracy of the Bible. In and of itself without any religious agenda the Bible is a magnificent and time tested literary marvel. The Bible is literature that can relate to any intellect on an infinite number of intellectual levels.

  • Posted By: The Intellectualist @ 12/01/2007 1:55:46 AM

    The Bible is the number one best seller of all time. Only a non-intellectual would refer to it as a book of fiction, myths, and superstitions. Certainly every human being on earth can freely choose whether or not to open its pages for themselves. The informed and the scholarly are aware of the fact that the Bible is a history of Judaism and Christianity,(Old Testament and New Testament) documented by both archeological
    and secular historical evidence. The Bible also has great literary value in its offerings of poetry, wisdom, logic and love (Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon). Last but not least, the Bible is the
    greatest source of fulfilled pre-written prophecies known to mankind. The prophecies of Nostradamus cannot compare to the prophetic accuracy of the Bible. In and of itself without any religious agenda the Bible is a magnificent and time tested literary marvel. The Bible is literature that can relate to any intellect on an infinite number of intellectual levels.

  • Posted By: timm @ 12/01/2007 1:30:44 AM

    The word of God will survive, in or out of hotel rooms. It saved my life, though, and for that I am grateful. If anyone out there is sincere about delving more deeply into this collection of books, please email me and I'll do my best to meet you at your faith level. We'll figure it out together. My email address is (ASCII decimal): 116 105 109 109 95 97 110 100 101 114 115 111 110 64 109 115 110 46 99 111 109. Sorry for the cryptic form. I want to dissuade spurious responses.

  • Posted By: The Intellectualist @ 12/01/2007 12:49:54 AM

    The Bible is the number one best seller of all time. Only a non-intellectual would refer to it as a book of fiction, myths, and superstitions. Certainly every human being on earth can freely choose whether or not to open its pages for themselves. The informed and the scholarly are aware of the fact that the Bible is a history of Judaism and Christianity,(Old Testament and New Testament) documented by both archeological
    and secular historical evidence. The Bible also has great literary value in its offerings of poetry, wisdom, logic and love (Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon). Last but not least, the Bible is the
    greatest source of fulfilled pre-written prophecies known to mankind. The prophecies of Nostradamus cannot compare to the prophetic accuracy of the Bible. In and of itself without any religious agenda the Bible is a magnificent and time tested literary marvel. The Bible is literature that can relate to any intellect on an infinite number of intellectual levels.

  • Posted By: natpath @ 11/20/2007 7:54:47 AM

    I travel a lot and make a point of confiscating the bible from my room and throwing it out. I find it disturbing that Hotels feel obligated to support this type of activity. While it is an interesting novel...I would rather have something a little more contemporary.

    • Posted By: StephanieLynn75 @ 11/20/2007 12:45:56 PM

      So, because you don't find the book worthwhile, you feel that it is your right and responsibility to make sure nobody else can read that particular book either? Isn't that just as pigheaded as you seem to believe the hotels are being? I do not understand why you are operating in such a way, as it seems to serve noboyd's interests but your own. Whether you agree with it or not, the hotel has decided that there iss ome value in placing a Bible in the nightstand. If you want something more contemporary to read, here is an idea...bring it with you! Do not impede on the rights of the hotel to place the Bible, or the rights of the next guest to read it. If the BIble in the nightstand bothers you that much, why not try finding a hotel chain that doesn't have them? That certainly is a far mor reasonable route to take than what you are doing. Interesting...Christians are always referred to as being pigheaded and intolerant, yet I have never gone into any establishment and thrown out their property simply because it offended me and I did not see it worthwhile.

      • Posted By: natpath @ 11/30/2007 8:59:10 PM

        I don't want any one else's agenda or myths shoved down my throat. I have no problem with the Bible being at the front desk that one so inclined can request. It is inappropriate, naive and condescending to assume that this work of fiction should be in the room that I paid to live in for the evening. I would rather see the Diary of Anne Frank or Animal farm at the Hotel (front desk , of course). I am very tolerant, actually. I am saving people through my actions....so, it's pretty much selfless.

      • Posted By: MarieF @ 11/23/2007 11:13:44 AM

        If I found a sex kit in the drawer, I would toss that in the trash. But wait, I'm not a Christian... the bible would be in the trash also.

  • Posted By: natpath @ 11/20/2007 8:02:37 AM

    I travel a lot and make a point of confiscating the bible from my room and throwing it out. I have probably disposed of 3 or 4 hundred. I find it disturbing that Hotels feel obligated to support this type of activity. While it is an interesting novel...I would rather have something a little more contemporary.

    • Posted By: r8502233448 @ 11/25/2007 4:25:12 AM

      Yo sound like someone I know he will do anything toget attention. We know you dont really do that.

    • Posted By: abbaschild @ 11/20/2007 3:24:19 PM

      If the Bible in your hotel room is not hurting you - and if you don't read it, it can't possibly - why throw it away when hard-working people just like yourself paid good money for it to be there? Do you also throw away the telephone book in the room? Why not leave the Bible there for someone who WANTS to read it (no harm done to you)? Because YOU are forcing YOUR beliefs on all the other hotel tenants by deciding on their behalf that they should not have a Bible! Don't you see that that is morally WRONG?

  • Posted By: timm @ 11/30/2007 5:10:34 PM

    I would hate to see Bibles leave hotel rooms. They've comforted me on more than one occasion. They don't hurt anybody. If people aren't interested, then they just won't pick them up. But you know, it wouldn't be a bad idea to read the thing, seeing as we'll be judged by it on the last day (Romans 2:16, John 12:48 and others).

  • Posted By: timm @ 11/30/2007 4:43:13 PM

    I don't want to see Bibles go. They can only help, and can't hurt. In fact, everyone should acquaint themselves with the words that will judge them on the last day (John 12:48, Romans 2:16, John 5:22, etc.) so that they can't say they were caught unawares.

  • Posted By: Motomouse @ 11/29/2007 5:10:05 PM

    I travel occasionally on business, and spent the last week in a hotel in Atlanta. I was pleasantly surprised, that for the first time I didn't see a bible in my room upon check in. I smiled, and thought to myself how nice it was to not feel that we as Americans, are finally taking steps to leave these cultural restraints behind. Let's continue to move forward in our thinking.

  • Posted By: Riolion @ 11/16/2007 7:09:00 PM

    We have found that some motel / hotel operators have discovered that the Gideon Bible often discourages thief. One Jewish motel in souther Maryland made that comments after accepting Gideon Bibles in their room after years of refusal. He claimed he lost far less to theives than ever before.

    Interesting that people become very afraid of a book in these days particularly if it goes against their aberrant lifestyle.

    • Posted By: cyberkermit @ 11/20/2007 6:53:41 AM

      I've found the fear of books to be prevalent. Just look at the various Christian groups attacking Harry Potter, which never deals with the subject of religion at all. It generates more hatred than books like "The God Delusion" which is written with the purpose of demolishing the Christian concept of "God."

      • Posted By: Riolion @ 11/27/2007 3:59:27 PM

        I have read the Harry Potter books and find really nothing wrong with them. Unfortunately there is a great diversity within Christianity that we can respect. Tom Jefferson once stated democracy is the safest when there is diversity within Christainity and I believe him to be correct on that one.

  • Posted By: Cannoneer2 @ 11/08/2007 6:46:19 PM

    Will the Quaedans now be placing copies of the Quran in hotel rooms, and will Newsweek celebrate that??

    • Posted By: Roanwulf @ 11/20/2007 10:59:30 AM

      If you do not belive in God then that is up to you. But trying to ridicule those who do belive in God as just as wrong as the acts of the inqusiton types. To discount the existance of something because you can not see it or measure it is foolish. This same kind of thinking occured in early medicene when the 'atheist' so to speak, doctors laughed at the 'religious' ones for beliveing that sicknesses could be caused as a result of infection by tiny 'invisible' creatures. The invention of the microscope shut those 'if I cant see it, it dont exist', types up.

      Not all that is here can be seen, or all that of God and be touched, our senses are limited yet if you can find that 'microscope' you will discover that for yourself.

      • Posted By: A_little_dose_of_sanity @ 11/20/2007 1:17:52 PM

        In hopes of some logic here- the Bibles are placed by the Gideons who pay for it- so lets not talk about hotels having to buy and stock or about them having to provide other religious texts, let the other religions pay for and place if they so choose.

        I am ALLERGIC to coffee, it is often in my hotel. I do not drink it, but I also do not throw a fit about how inappropriate it is to be there. Mormons don't drink it as a religious thing, should we take out the coffee because it will offend a few?

        What I think is your all too easily offended. EVERYONE. Atheists and Christians. Running around pissed off all the time because you don't get things the way you exactly want it, your like a bunch of 3 year olds. Americans seriously need to toughen up a bit, and stop crying so much.

        • Posted By: A_little_dose_of_sanity @ 11/20/2007 1:19:18 PM

          I say, let the Gideons leave their Bibles. Let Muslims and Sikhs and whoever else leave their books. If I don't want it, I won't read it. Let them have condoms and alcohol and coffee in the rooms- I won't use it (seriously I would be bringing my own condoms, I don't know how long that one's been there). You know, I probably won't use the pizza ads left in there either- and I bet if I were jewish I wouldn't throw a fit because the pizza advertisement involved pork product.

          If your going to take and burn the Bible left, why don't you go ahead and take the pizza ads, coffee, television etc, and just burn it all for it's potential to offend. Do you all REALLY realize how ridiculous your being? Oh and all of you Christians who are spouting verse like thats going to change these people's minds... it isn't, they are just going to use it as backup to say how illogical you are, because you are arguing not facts but a morality they don't subscibe to. I understand it's an evangelical religion and you have to, in order to practice your faith, try and tell others. But that's best left to in person exchanges with people you know and they respect you already- then they can see that you are more than just "another Crazy Christian".

          Are we over it yet? Can we feel some calm with the people who live in our neighborhoods now, Christian or otherwise?

          Now a little on your writer- Christain, non-denominational. I don't have a problem with Gay people, sure it's considered a sin, but isn't coveting also? I'm guilty of that, I really would like to have my neighbors high def TV, but I can't afford it. Bad me. All people sin, so quit trying to act like they are worse than you. The sin they choose is merely different than the one you do. Politically, a moderate. I dislike both extremes, democrats and republicans. Seriously people, do we HAVE to always choose one end of the crazy spectrum or another? I hate abortions, don't mind Gay marraiges, would love to see healthcare easier to obtain, I don't think taking guns away from people will make the world a safer place, I think the war we currently are involved in was a huge mistake but I'm glad Saddam is gone, and I love our troops, and I hope that people find some interest in saving their environment, whether you consider it God given or a product of evolution.

          You can choose sanity. I don't care if your an atheist, Christian, wiccian, muslim whatever- nothing on this earth is a big enough deal for you to live your entire life miserable just because there is a Bible in your hotel room (or a condom, or a coffee pot). Shrug it off, it's there to make people who choose to use it comfortable, not there to make those who choose not to uncomfortable.

          Seriously, who goes and has a tear fest over a book being in a drawer?

          • Posted By: A_little_dose_of_sanity @ 11/20/2007 1:30:39 PM

            Oh one more thing- those of you who don't believe in God are being just as bad as the Christains. Many of you are sitting there typing like maniacs to try and convince people that their faith is wrong and that yours is right. Your being evangelical too- except not for believing in a Christian God. Your trying to convert everyone to your particular breed of atheism. Congrats- both sides are the same :)

            • Posted By: pennyln @ 11/20/2007 3:20:48 PM

              Ok...thank you. Your post was refreshing, even if I am a crazy evangelical. =)

              • Posted By: A_little_dose_of_sanity @ 11/20/2007 5:17:33 PM

                Earlier you posted this statement- for this, I do not think you are crazy.
                "Comment: Believeing homosexuality is morally wrong is in no way 'hate'. I believe it is morally wrong for people to live together before marriage. I don't hate my best friend who lives with her boyfriend. What would be hate is if I said I believed that homosexuals are somehow worth less than others, or that they are not worthy of life. That would be hateful and repugnant. That is not how most Christians feel. I believe homosexuals are worth just as much as me in Jesus' eyes, because that's what the Bible says. I hope that clears things up for you. It is possible to disagree with someone but still offer them the same love you'd offer others. And, this comes from a Christian with a gay family member, so I do have a valid perspective. "

                • Posted By: A_little_dose_of_sanity @ 11/20/2007 5:23:51 PM

                  In fact- I've gone through and read a bunch of your posts... and I don't think your crazy at all!!!! You snuck in and pretended to be crazy :) haha

                  • Posted By: Bricktopp @ 11/20/2007 10:37:50 PM

                    Faith is deciding to allow yourself to believe what your intellect would cause you to reject, otherwise there's no need for faith

                    • Posted By: A_little_dose_of_sanity @ 11/27/2007 11:41:37 AM

                      I do not neccesarily agree that faith is allowing yourself to believe what your intellect would reject. Abscence of proof is not proof of non-existance. There is no reason for your intellect to out and out reject the possibility. The faith is in knowing you can never obtain your proof in this lifetime, not in looking at something that you can say "here are all the reasons it should be false" and continuing to believe. That's like comparing religion to the notion the world is flat, while we know and have proof that it is not. Give your religion a little more credit than that.

                    • Posted By: alachuapotter @ 11/24/2007 9:47:11 AM

                      It's so sad, that the very same people who hate the Bible so much, are the very people to which God so desparately loves.

  • Posted By: MK Kim @ 11/26/2007 1:30:31 PM

    I adore a night out at a comfy hotel with my family, and I do appreciate the Bibles in the room--I don't always want to pack my heavy study Bible. I also thought it was odd about the "guest inquiries regarding provision of other religious literature" and the hotel's 'OMG we don't want to offend someone-remove them all' reaction. Many lonely people have spent a despairing night alone in some hotel room and found hope and faith to carry on because of those Gideon's Bibles! I think it's just another excuse to try and remove God from their pretty picture.....which will eventually backfire. Just look at our public schools!

  • Posted By: MK Kim @ 11/26/2007 1:23:26 PM

    I just adore a night away from home in a comfy hotel...and I do appreciate the Bibles they keep in the rooms. Sometimes I don't want to pack my study Bible--it's heavy! I found it odd as well about the "guest inquiries about the provision of other religious literature..." MCB is right: the Gideons GIVE them to the hotels! So why should a hotel feel they need to remove them? They could just tell the guest that the Bible was a gift, and if they don't want to use it, it can be left conveniently out of sight in the drawer. Many people have had a lonely night of despair, alone in some hotel room, and found hope and faith through God's Word, that just happened to be next to their bed. It looks like an excuse to try to remove God from their pretty picture to me. Unfortunately, that plan will eventually backfire....just look at our public schools!

  • Posted By: bobbyshane @ 11/20/2007 11:54:08 PM

    You know its too bad. The bible is a wonderful book to read. Its full of all kinds of action, sex, and murder. Just read Genesis chapter 34. After Joseph's sister Dinah gets raped, Joseph and the gang get revenge......
    By killing every man in the town and then taking their women, children, and riches for themselves. Now that's a righteous man of god! How will we wile away the days in a hotel without such glorious literature?

    • Posted By: WallyGollyOxenFree @ 11/26/2007 5:29:06 AM

      And in later books, we see that God keeps offering ways for man to become right with God and each subsequint time, man screws it up.
      Get to know Jesus!!!

  • Posted By: shortjames @ 11/09/2007 12:37:03 PM

    Whenever I find a Bible in a hotel room, it goes in the trash before I leave. This is 2007, not the Dark Ages.

    • Posted By: WallyGollyOxenFree @ 11/26/2007 5:20:55 AM

      So, filling a landfill makes you happy?

    • Posted By: rgjk @ 11/12/2007 10:22:19 AM

      Yes it is 2007 and we are closer to the judgment than in 2007 BC/BCE. The Bible is the story of our Creator and his love for his creation. If you ever want to find out about your Creator who loves you more than anyone else ever could, then you might want to take the Bible and read it. In any case folks, maybe the Bible needs to be thrown into the trash in certain circumstances so that someone down and out will find it and read it who may never have obtained access to it. Never know what God is up to. =)

    • Posted By: Winter360 @ 11/10/2007 10:56:11 PM

      It's a book. I wouldn't go throwing it in the trash. I have been known to take them, and those books or mormon, on a regular basis for travel reading and leave them elsewhere later. My husband keeps calling it stealing and thinks that I shouldn't, but I keep insisting the religous groups that place them *want* me to take them with me.

    • Posted By: epsinke @ 11/09/2007 2:13:20 PM

      This sounds to me like you are destroying public property because you are not comfortable with a Gideons Bible in a drawer.. Does this mean that you also throw an uncomfortable pillow in the trash before you leave? Or perhaps the American Flag? I think not. What makes a Bible so uncomfortable for you? I pray that whatever has caused you to feel this way toward the Bible (or what it stands for) doesn't continue to torture you. Inside the pages of this very Book is forgiveness and restoration for all of us. I have found the gift of Light , Peace and Restoration as promised in the Bible. I pray that you, also, will give yourself a chance to possess, through the Light of the Word, these same gifts.There are also so many more gifts therein, just waiting for you to claim them
      Posted by: A concerned Grandmother not living in the Dark Ages..

      • Posted By: William.Demuth @ 11/09/2007 2:30:34 PM

        Wrong, the Gideon's WANT the Bible to be taken. Although I doubt they want it destroyed, once they give it up, it is no longer their choice. Good work on chucking them, hopefully we can spare future generations the mental enslavement.

        • Posted By: mickeydee @ 11/10/2007 4:08:39 PM

          you really are stupid. and here you are talking about others having a "bad attitude". mind telling me what you call yours? I guess when I stay in one of YOUR motel/hotels and you have SOMETHING I dislike (your coffeemaker, tv, etc) then you can expect to find it in the trash as I leave. Sounds reasonable to me.

    • Posted By: rayandkerry @ 11/09/2007 3:28:31 PM

      I am not a Christian, but I wouldn't throw out a Bible. Give me a break and show a little more "faith" in you beliefs by allowing Bible readers to have their beliefs. What, did the Bible bite you or something? Relax, dude. ;-)

  • Posted By: MCB2751 @ 11/25/2007 5:07:55 PM

    I find it odd that the hotels don't know how to answer inquiries about the provision of other books of faith. The Gideons provide bibles free. The hotel merely allows them to do that. If there were a Muslem minsitry that distributed the Qu'ran then that book might be found as well. I carry my own Bible when I travel, but considering the alternatives being offered, I think I'll start asking if they provide Bibles and choose ones that do.

  • Posted By: r8502233448 @ 11/25/2007 4:12:56 AM

    I have always looked forwared to that bible in that drawer to compfort me when I needed answers to lifes daily problems. Prayer alone without Gos word can be decieving. I'm sorry that our country is not ours no more. Maybe the muslums feel the same way in Iraq. But it is not the end of the world it would be nice if they did offer one on request just for oldtime sake.

    • Posted By: r8502233448 @ 11/25/2007 4:19:59 AM

      Sorry about the misspelling Gos God

  • Posted By: Mariposa @ 11/24/2007 11:17:45 AM

    perhaps this way of thinking is a little old fashioned, but if want to risk my reputation and be thought of as cheap, easy or sleasy.i know where to go now. Thank you for the warning! good old cheap hotels :) A bible in the hotel room just makes it seem a little safer, a little nicer. It adds a touch of class to any establishment. These sex boutique hotels however, glorify the perverse and diseased, how could something so wholesome and healing as a Bible be permitted in an atmosphere of hedonism.

  • Posted By: alachuapotter @ 11/24/2007 9:51:05 AM

    It's so sad, that the very people who hate the Bible so much, are the very same people who God so desparately loves. Even though you hate or don't acknowledge God, does not mean that He does not love you. He does.

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