Hotel replaces bibles with "Fifty Shades of Grey"

[Crow]

Seriously? At least half the hotels I've stayed in have them, usually in the night table right next to the bed, where it's easy to find. Less so in Europe, though. Definitely everywhere in the US, and Jamaica.

I just don't look for them when I am on holiday, the hotel is where I sleep and wash that is it. I have been to the States a few times but never noticed one, but I am guessing that they did contain them.

[Sweetdeath]

Only seen a bible in one hotel room... But then, I didn't check for religious text at every check-in.

I haven't ever seen one either, but I have never looked. Last thing I am going to look for on holiday is a bible.

Every single fucking hotel i've stayed at for an anime or comic convention has had a bible.

Though,i went to a winery once with Mimi, and we found a bible AND the book of Mormon. X_x;....


It's really irritating to find that garbage so close to wear i sleep >_>;;
They really should stop that bullshit.

[hismikeness]

Though,i went to a winery once with Mimi, and we found a bible AND the book of Mormon. X_x;....

I've seen some BoMs too... Was it a Marriott?

[Ali]

I guess I don't understand the anger directed towards bibles in hotel rooms.  That falls squarely in the "super easy to avoid/ignore" category and gets a little too close to "I don't like it so I don't think it should exist" for my comfort.

[En_Route]

I guess I don't understand the anger directed towards bibles in hotel rooms.  That falls squarely in the "super easy to avoid/ignore" category and gets a little too close to "I don't like it so I don't think it should exist" for my comfort.

It's not necessary for a guest's comfort or convenience and it carries an assumption that Christians are entitled to encroach on anyone's space and to push their message at believers and non- believers alike. At one level it's a non- event, but I can see why it is an irritant for some. I think it's fair enough that if I want to be evangelised, I'll ask for it. I wouldn't be thrilled either if the owner of the hotel chain was a Neo-Nazi  and left a copy of Mein Kampf in my room.

[Firebird]

I guess I don't understand the anger directed towards bibles in hotel rooms.  That falls squarely in the "super easy to avoid/ignore" category and gets a little too close to "I don't like it so I don't think it should exist" for my comfort.

It's not necessary for a guest's comfort or convenience and it carries an assumption that Christians are entitled to encroach on anyone's space and to push their message at believers and non- believers alike. At one level it's a non- event, but I can see why it is an irritant for some. I think it's fair enough that if I want to be evangelised, I'll ask for it. I wouldn't be thrilled either if the owner of the hotel chain was a Neo-Nazi  and left a copy of Mein Kampf in my room.

Yes. It's also another example of Christians pushing their religion in my face and attempting to evangelize, which I resent.

[Ali]

I guess I don't understand the anger directed towards bibles in hotel rooms.  That falls squarely in the "super easy to avoid/ignore" category and gets a little too close to "I don't like it so I don't think it should exist" for my comfort.

It's not necessary for a guest's comfort or convenience and it carries an assumption that Christians are entitled to encroach on anyone's space and to push their message at believers and non- believers alike. At one level it's a non- event, but I can see why it is an irritant for some. I think it's fair enough that if I want to be evangelised, I'll ask for it. I wouldn't be thrilled either if the owner of the hotel chain was a Neo-Nazi  and left a copy of Mein Kampf in my room.

Yes. It's also another example of Christians pushing their religion in my face and attempting to evangelize, which I resent.

I guess I just don't see how leaving a book tucked into a drawer is really pushing their message or shoving it down someone's throat.  As respresented on the many people here who have never even noticed it there, it's the easiest thing in the world to not open up and read.  

Is leaving 50 Shades of Grey shoving pornography down people's throats, or would you advise them to simply not read it?

[Tank]

I guess I don't understand the anger directed towards bibles in hotel rooms.  That falls squarely in the "super easy to avoid/ignore" category and gets a little too close to "I don't like it so I don't think it should exist" for my comfort.

It's not necessary for a guest's comfort or convenience and it carries an assumption that Christians are entitled to encroach on anyone's space and to push their message at believers and non- believers alike. At one level it's a non- event, but I can see why it is an irritant for some. I think it's fair enough that if I want to be evangelised, I'll ask for it. I wouldn't be thrilled either if the owner of the hotel chain was a Neo-Nazi  and left a copy of Mein Kampf in my room.

Yes. It's also another example of Christians pushing their religion in my face and attempting to evangelize, which I resent.

I guess I just don't see how leaving a book tucked into a drawer is really pushing their message or shoving it down someone's throat.  As respresented on the many people here who have never even noticed it there, it's the easiest thing in the world to not open up and read.  

Is leaving 50 Shades of Grey shoving pornography down people's throats, or would you advise them to simply not read it?

I think the 50SoG book is a bit of a publicity stunt myself. However I do think that a bible in every bedroom is getting past what should be acceptable. Why should two people, the hotel owner and an evangelist theist, feel that it is socially acceptable to proselytise in this manner in this day and age? It may be a small thing, like a grain of sand, but get enough sand in one place and we have a desert a place of cultural and intellectual sterility. Bibles on hotel rooms can be ignored but should they be ignored?

[Ali]

I think the 50SoG book is a bit of a publicity stunt myself. However I do think that a bible in every bedroom is getting past what should be acceptable. Why should two people, the hotel owner and an evangelist theist, feel that it is socially acceptable to proselytise in this manner in this day and age? It may be a small thing, like a grain of sand, but get enough sand in one place and we have a desert a place of cultural and intellectual sterility. Bibles on hotel rooms can be ignored but should they be ignored?

In this manner?  It's leaving a book in a drawer.  You know what I hate?  When they actually bug you...like when they come to your house or try to stop you when you're walking down the street to tell you what all they think about religion.  I liken leaving a book in a drawer to having a Christian channel on television.  I have zero desire to watch a Christian channel and I'll probably make fun of it if I stumble upon it, but I don't think it is somehow infringing on me because all I have to do is just not watch it.  Same with a book.  Just don't read it.  I would say the same if theists were complaining about an atheist hotelier who left The God Delusion (or 50 Shades of Gray) in the drawer. 

[OldGit]

I don't really like the idea of having Bibles pushed in my face, so I always remove the hotel ones and bin them.  If we all do that the Gideonites will soon be broke.

[Firebird]

I think the 50SoG book is a bit of a publicity stunt myself. However I do think that a bible in every bedroom is getting past what should be acceptable. Why should two people, the hotel owner and an evangelist theist, feel that it is socially acceptable to proselytise in this manner in this day and age? It may be a small thing, like a grain of sand, but get enough sand in one place and we have a desert a place of cultural and intellectual sterility. Bibles on hotel rooms can be ignored but should they be ignored?

In this manner?  It's leaving a book in a drawer.  You know what I hate?  When they actually bug you...like when they come to your house or try to stop you when you're walking down the street to tell you what all they think about religion.  I liken leaving a book in a drawer to having a Christian channel on television.  I have zero desire to watch a Christian channel and I'll probably make fun of it if I stumble upon it, but I don't think it is somehow infringing on me because all I have to do is just not watch it.  Same with a book.  Just don't read it.  I would say the same if theists were complaining about an atheist hotelier who left The God Delusion (or 50 Shades of Gray) in the drawer. 

I don't think that's an equivalent example. What if your hotel tv only allows you to view religious programming? Sure, you can turn your tv off and just not watch it, but would you not feel that the hotel was using its business to proselytize? How is providing a bible, and only a bible, any different?
If the hotel provides a library of different books and one of them happens to be the bible, then I would not have a problem with it.

[En_Route]

I guess I don't understand the anger directed towards bibles in hotel rooms.  That falls squarely in the "super easy to avoid/ignore" category and gets a little too close to "I don't like it so I don't think it should exist" for my comfort.

It's not necessary for a guest's comfort or convenience and it carries an assumption that Christians are entitled to encroach on anyone's space and to push their message at believers and non- believers alike. At one level it's a non- event, but I can see why it is an irritant for some. I think it's fair enough that if I want to be evangelised, I'll ask for it. I wouldn't be thrilled either if the owner of the hotel chain was a Neo-Nazi  and left a copy of Mein Kampf in my room.

Yes. It's also another example of Christians pushing their religion in my face and attempting to evangelize, which I resent.

I guess I just don't see how leaving a book tucked into a drawer is really pushing their message or shoving it down someone's throat.  As respresented on the many people here who have never even noticed it there, it's the easiest thing in the world to not open up and read.  

Is leaving 50 Shades of Grey shoving pornography down people's throats, or would you advise them to simply not read it?

I think the 50SoG book is a bit of a publicity stunt myself. However I do think that a bible in every bedroom is getting past what should be acceptable. Why should two people, the hotel owner and an evangelist theist, feel that it is socially acceptable to proselytise in this manner in this day and age? It may be a small thing, like a grain of sand, but get enough sand in one place and we have a desert a place of cultural and intellectual sterility. Bibles on hotel rooms can be ignored but should they be ignored?

I think this is the point. There is a symbolic significance that far outweighs the practicalities here, namely an a ceptance  that Christianity ishould be allowed to intrude itself even where it may not be wanted. This is symptomatic of a arrogance and sense of entitlement that characterises some elements of the Christian establishment and for those of us who think society would be a healthier place without it, is worth resisting.

[Tank]

I think the 50SoG book is a bit of a publicity stunt myself. However I do think that a bible in every bedroom is getting past what should be acceptable. Why should two people, the hotel owner and an evangelist theist, feel that it is socially acceptable to proselytise in this manner in this day and age? It may be a small thing, like a grain of sand, but get enough sand in one place and we have a desert a place of cultural and intellectual sterility. Bibles on hotel rooms can be ignored but should they be ignored?

In this manner?  It's leaving a book in a drawer.  You know what I hate?  When they actually bug you...like when they come to your house or try to stop you when you're walking down the street to tell you what all they think about religion.  I liken leaving a book in a drawer to having a Christian channel on television.  I have zero desire to watch a Christian channel and I'll probably make fun of it if I stumble upon it, but I don't think it is somehow infringing on me because all I have to do is just not watch it.  Same with a book.  Just don't read it.  I would say the same if theists were complaining about an atheist hotelier who left The God Delusion (or 50 Shades of Gray) in the drawer. 

I totally agree with your right to disagree with me 

Religion should stay in the home and place of worship in my opinion. When it does spill out from there I do do my best to ignore it, but that doesn't mean I like it any more than any other form of advertising (all be it hidden in a drawer).

[Ali]

I think the 50SoG book is a bit of a publicity stunt myself. However I do think that a bible in every bedroom is getting past what should be acceptable. Why should two people, the hotel owner and an evangelist theist, feel that it is socially acceptable to proselytise in this manner in this day and age? It may be a small thing, like a grain of sand, but get enough sand in one place and we have a desert a place of cultural and intellectual sterility. Bibles on hotel rooms can be ignored but should they be ignored?

In this manner?  It's leaving a book in a drawer.  You know what I hate?  When they actually bug you...like when they come to your house or try to stop you when you're walking down the street to tell you what all they think about religion.  I liken leaving a book in a drawer to having a Christian channel on television.  I have zero desire to watch a Christian channel and I'll probably make fun of it if I stumble upon it, but I don't think it is somehow infringing on me because all I have to do is just not watch it.  Same with a book.  Just don't read it.  I would say the same if theists were complaining about an atheist hotelier who left The God Delusion (or 50 Shades of Gray) in the drawer. 

I don't think that's an equivalent example. What if your hotel tv only allows you to view religious programming? Sure, you can turn your tv off and just not watch it, but would you not feel that the hotel was using its business to proselytize? How is providing a bible, and only a bible, any different?
If the hotel provides a library of different books and one of them happens to be the bible, then I would not have a problem with it.

I thnk the difference is that most people bring books they want to read with them (if they are readers.)  You can't really bring your TV programming with you.  Okay, I guess with technology now you can, but I don't know how.     It's not like you're not alllowed to read other books in a hotel, they just don't provide other books.   

I don't know, the whole thing just seriously reminds me of some of the worst arguments against homosexuality, like "Ugh, I don't want to see it or know it's there."  I think in general the world is a better place when we don't take offense at every tiny thing.  So, there's a book you don't like in a closed drawer across the room.  Just seems like a weird place to get up in arms.

[En_Route]

I think the 50SoG book is a bit of a publicity stunt myself. However I do think that a bible in every bedroom is getting past what should be acceptable. Why should two people, the hotel owner and an evangelist theist, feel that it is socially acceptable to proselytise in this manner in this day and age? It may be a small thing, like a grain of sand, but get enough sand in one place and we have a desert a place of cultural and intellectual sterility. Bibles on hotel rooms can be ignored but should they be ignored?

In this manner?  It's leaving a book in a drawer.  You know what I hate?  When they actually bug you...like when they come to your house or try to stop you when you're walking down the street to tell you what all they think about religion.  I liken leaving a book in a drawer to having a Christian channel on television.  I have zero desire to watch a Christian channel and I'll probably make fun of it if I stumble upon it, but I don't think it is somehow infringing on me because all I have to do is just not watch it.  Same with a book.  Just don't read it.  I would say the same if theists were complaining about an atheist hotelier who left The God Delusion (or 50 Shades of Gray) in the drawer. 

I don't think that's an equivalent example. What if your hotel tv only allows you to view religious programming? Sure, you can turn your tv off and just not watch it, but would you not feel that the hotel was using its business to proselytize? How is providing a bible, and only a bible, any different?
If the hotel provides a library of different books and one of them happens to be the bible, then I would not have a problem with it.

I thnk the difference is that most people bring books they want to read with them (if they are readers.)  You can't really bring your TV programming with you.  Okay, I guess with technology now you can, but I don't know how.     It's not like you're not alllowed to read other books in a hotel, they just don't provide other books.   

I don't know, the whole thing just seriously reminds me of some of the worst arguments against homosexuality, like "Ugh, I don't want to see it or know it's there."  I think in general the world is a better place when we don't take offense at every tiny thing.  So, there's a book you don't like in a closed drawer across the room.  Just seems like a weird place to get up in arms.

Would you feel the same if the book was a virulently homophobic tract?