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I stay in cheap hotels when I travel, and about half the time there is a bible in the nightstand drawer. So far, I have not been brave enough to throw it away or take it with me to destroy later. But I'm thinking about doing it in the future.

In my opinion hotels and motels should not put any kind of religious material in the rooms. Books and magazines of all sorts can be available in the lobby for people if they want to read them, but they should not be in the rooms.

I do try to destroy any Mormon or Jehovah's Witness stuff I find in hotels or in laundromats. I accept gifts of their books and throw them away as quickly as possible. If I have time, I tear out the pages and recycle the paper.

I believe that rational people have a duty to eliminate religious stuff whenever they can, so other people can't read it. (I live in an apartment house for seniors, and we have a "free book" table. I throw away the bibles and religious pamplets, and somebody else destroyed the copies of "Free Inquiry" I put on the table.)

So... who do we email to congratulate the hotel on their embracing of the 21st century !

I do thow them in the trash.

When at the doctors or dentists, I will take any religious material and put it on the top shelf in back of other material. This material always seems to find itself where children can easily get to it. Many times, they are cartoon which really irks me, with the cute little sheep and little kids on the cover.

Bibles in hotels or any other public places are just asking for warning labels. Their presence at the doctor's office bothers me far more than in hotels.

Bibles or "intimacy kits".

Given that hotels, motels, etc. are mostly bedrooms, I suspect that more folks go there for intinacy than for bible study.

Intimacy kits gets my vote!

Dorky Mommy,

Don't throw away Jehovah's Witness literature, they just print more, which is how they make most of their money. Instead, collect it, then drop it off at the front step of their place of worship.

ffrf has some pretty cool "Warning Labels" for the bible. Try putting one on the inside cover of the bible and leave the book there. That way the book (with the warning label) stays until someone actually reads it. If that ever happens (doubt it).

What's this...bibles in hotels "take 2"...?

Take about thought police...

It's clear one needs to be an elitist to try and be an atheist...

I hate to tell you, but the fact that almost ALL hotels contain bibles kind of proves the christian foundation of America...

You can twist it all you want...

My question is will Dave allow his 11 year old daughter to take the "intimacy kit" home to play with...

Hmmm...on second thought I'll bet he will...

I can think of no good reason why hotels should provide bibles for their customers. If people want one they can bring their own.

That American Family Ass petition is one-sided. Maybe American Atheists should post a petition to support the hotels who ermove the religious books.

As for intimacy kits -- sounds like a good idea to me. What does it include? It might be a good idea to keep them out of the reach of inquisitive youngsters.

I would rather my child take home the pleasure kit than a book of hate filled murders and ignorance. Better she learn the concept that sex is a natural act between two beings then to be taught it is an evil and dirty action.
People like phreedm who do mix dirty, sex, bible and christian could use the pleasure kit when thier god felt rapture over finding the good book in the drawr leads to a few of the more racy pages sticking together.

I have at various times taken the bibles and thrown them away someplace other than the hotel or motel. At other times I've put them in the waste basket in the room just before checking out--who knows what some irate maid might do if she knew the room was occupied by an atheist(gasp!)? I figure those were put back in the bedside drawer but at least I horrified a maid, which I confess, gives me a bit of satisfaction.

However, not long ago on this site someone mentioned the warning labels and I checked out the site. LOVE THEM!

http://www.zazzle.com:80/bible_warning_sticker-217586842335457670

So that's my next move, I'm ordering stickers and can barely wait to slap them on every bible I encounter in hotel rooms. It also really burns my grits when I find religious material in the offices of doctors, dentists and even in my insurance agent's office so I'll be adding those nifty warning labels where ever I encounter the holy word as soon as my labels arrive. Can't wait and wish I'd known about warning labels years ago.

In addition to the warning labels I'm thinking we need bible-sized atheist inserts that can be slipped between the pages. I've often wondered if anybody ever actually reads those hotel bibles but if they do, then why not a little exposure to reason?

I hate to tell you, but the fact that almost ALL hotels contain bibles kind of proves the christian foundation of America...

I hate to tell you phreedum, but the fact that almost ALL hotels contain beds kind of proves the bedmakers foundation of America...

/sarcasm

The only thing that bibles in hotel rooms shows is that christians are pushy with their beliefs. What do you think the reaction would be if we donated copies of "The God Delusion" or "The Origin of Species" to hotels to place in their rooms?

I for one will continue to throw away my unsolicited hotel room bibles. Maybe Ill get some of those warning stickers too.

subflea said: "Don't throw away Jehovah's Witness literature, they just print more, which is how they make most of their money. Instead, collect it, then drop it off at the front step of their place of worship."

No no! If you do that, children might get at it. Plus you're just giving it back to them to, and they'll just pass it out again. It needs to be destroyed, like a nasty virus. It's contagious.

Joe Zamecki
Austin

My girlfriend is the general manager of a certain Accor hotel, and she reports that there are no Bibles or any other religious items in any of the rooms at that hotel. Also no Gideons or any other religious group has ever approached her asking that the rooms have those books.

She said that only one person has ever complained, but wasn't adamant about it, and thousands of people from all over the world have stayed there. Also she says that Accor itself has never even mentioned it to her, even all through her manager training.

Regarding the "intimacy kits," she said since Accor is based in France and is a French-owned company, the intimacy kits probably got started in France, and probably won't go beyond that country.

I'd say intimacy kits would be helpful in Africa, where AIDS is out of control. And China, where birth control is so much more needed and accepted.

But the rest of the world...we don't have that much of a need for it, so we don't want it available where kids can easily get to it. This is my impression of Americans in general. Behind the front desk in the lobby is a better place. Just having them available there is a good idea, overall.

Joe Zamecki
Austin

For those who wanted a Bible in their room, and didn't get one, you can actually stand in the lobby of that hotel and look directly southwest, and see a small Christian church, within walking distance. Just like in most of urban America.

Joe Zamecki
Austin

alexatheist – great post.

As someone growing up in a Unitarian home I was never exposed to the religion virus; we didn’t have any bible in the home. So, for me at least, the first time I ever looked at one was in a hotel room. A quick thumb through confirmed my non-belief. Later I found that they were good to carve out for use as a stash box.

I travel a few times a year and maybe it’s just where I stay but it seems there are fewer bibles and other similar junk in hotel rooms than years ago.

The FFRF warning stickers are a good approach.

Business perspective...I don't think bibles in the rooms is a good idea. It makes me as an atheist feel "second classed", and I imagine folks who read other kinds of bibles also feel this way. Is this a "service" for xians, or an attempt to preach, or discourage non-xians from even checking in?

Legal perspective..I am not sure. I don't know enough about the laws of incorporation regarding discrimination. I know if a hotel operates under a certain private status (and pays their taxes accordingly) they can have swastika pillow cases if it so suits them. But what applies to these big chains?

Let's see, what have I done in a hotel...

Sleep, watch TV, eat, watch Porn, have wild sex.

Nope, not once had I had to open a bible, though an intimacy kit would have been nice.

It reminds me of those weirdos that wear ten gallon hats who distribute little new testament bibles outside of middle and high schools. They just love to push their crap on the unsuspecting.

At least the intimacy kits are useful.

I don't believe the AFA story for a second about replacing bibles with 'intimacy kits' in cheap motels. My guess it's another one of those "noble lies" meant to rile up their base. There will continue to be bibles in the Motel 6's and Super 8's as long as there's paper to print them on.

Dave I think you have it wrong - the Gideons aren't assuming that the hotel patrons are Xian and will read the bible - they're hoping (could I say praying?) that they are NOT Xians, will see the bible, read it, say HALLELUJAH, and send the Gideons some money.

cjn

I say throw the bibles away!

Call the HazMat crew for safe and sane disposal.

i think it is ridiculous that they only accomodate christians. it would be like them not including toilet seats in the BRs which would only accomodate men. the way i see it is if someone is devoutly religious enough to be reading their text on vacation then they would not have forgotten it at home. the more you think about the situation the more offensive it is. i mean it wouldnt ruin my stay, but it def does "irk" me as well!

Does anybody else remember this? I think if you were an atheist that Best Western used to have a code you could give when making a reservation and get a discount.

I never used it and cannot remember now how I happened to know this. Also, can't find it. Does this ring a bell with anybody else?

Comment from: ga4ry

I would rather my child take home the pleasure kit than a book of hate filled murders and ignorance.

ignorance- the state or fact of being ignorant : lack of knowledge, education, or awareness.

Need I say more...

People like phreedm who do mix dirty, sex, bible and christian could use the pleasure kit when thier god felt rapture over finding the good book in the drawr leads to a few of the more racy pages sticking together.

Huh...?

GodFree&Glad,

I never used it and cannot remember now how I happened to know this. Also, can't find it. Does this ring a bell with anybody else?

Well - sorta, kinda. I have something in my files from AA about their "Savings Partners Program," which lists discounts from places like Avis, Flowers USA, North American Van Lines, etc. Doesn't mention Best Western, but it's probably not current information anyway. This program is still mentioned as a membership benefit on the AA website, but I couldn't find any details there. I also have a Hertz member savings card from AA, but I don't know if any of this is still valid. If they actually do update the website someday, it sure would be nice to have more info about this sort of stuff.

As far as the topic at hand goes, I don't stay at hotels often, but I have been annoyed at seeing a bible in the room. I've ever thrown one out, but I'll admit it's extremely tempting.

I usually take them with me and throw them away when I find a dumpster. Their also handy to have around if you run low on toilet paper:)

it would be like them not including toilet seats in the BRs which would only accomodate men.

Guys don't shit standing up.


The More You Know...

God Free, I think that's still active. I've used it a couple of times.

Japanese toilets are not designed to be sat upon. It's a unisex design, too. One squats and faces the other way, as I understand it. No contact.

the more you know...
____

I think those intimacy kits should not be kept from kids. Makes a good teachable moment. Under the age of three, there might be small items that present a choking hazard, but that's all the concern I could manage.

It wouldn't upset me at all if parental or school sex education included advice on ma$turbation techniques, including lube. Condoms should definitely be understood and available to children who would benefit from them. They should know exactly what causes pregnancy and why they should postpone it. None of this, "I can't be pregnant. We didn't kiss," stuff.

Most of the problems with our hang-ups over sex originate in religious foolishness of ancient origin. Maximizing the number of children born and raised in the tribe is no longer optimum for society.

Just how much shame is the correct amount to have over our bodies and the pleasures we find in them? For all I know, some shame might be healthy. I'm sure the Europeans are much wiser than Americans in this.

Oh the irony. Ma$turbation offends the net nanny comment code.

Woo Hoo!
I just went to the AFA site. They are offering a DVD that explains how Homosexuals are taking over towns. Places that used to have thriving Christianity paraphernalia businesses. They are getting democratically elected and that doesn't sit well with the AFA.

It's called They're Coming to Your Town. Silly theists. Trust me, they are already in your towns and churches. There's even a trailer there to laugh and cry over.

Suggested donation is only $15. I hope some of our resident LGBT types look into this. Not just for the laughs, but as a how-to inspiration to do the same. Wonder how little they'd let the DVD go for.

No excuse to complain about politicians anymore. Be one or support one. You don't even have to come out of the closet. In my opinion, stealth works too, as long as you don't lie by currying votes with homophobic statements.

And yes I have voted successfully for a fabulous candidate, in spite of not liking his party. Got re-elected a couple of times, too.

Nothing scares the mindless sheep into handing over their dollars like the threat of queers infiltrating the schools and other institutions and recruiting their precious little heterosexual darlings (as if recruitment works) into our deviant and godless "lifestyle" of sodomy.

what do you guys not understand about private property.the hotel is a private enterprise if they want to place bibles in every room it is their right.those bibles are hotel property and you have no right to take it or destroy it.

btw
the hotels assume most customers are some kind of christian because drum roll here most americans are.you are not some kind of 2nd class citizen because a private business caters to its largest customer group.

reason - It's not just catering to a group of customers, it's insulting another group. Do Christians need Bibles so urgently that they're willing to insult non-Christians in order to get them? If so, I'd say not enough Christians go to church. That only means some churches should close up.

Now the secular hotels are catering to what appears to be the majority - non-religious people, and religious people who don't need a hotel to provide them religious literature. Sheesh...

Why don't we start our own version of an organization like the Gideons? We could call ourselves the Ingersolls, the Russells, or otherwise name ourselves after a well-known Atheist (and a better role model than Gideon!) and leave Atheist literature, such as the non-tracts available from ffrf.org or our own material that points out the errors/inconsistencies in the Bible, in hotel rooms? The Gideons encourage men who travel a lot or stay in hotels a lot to join their organization; why can't we do the same (and include women too)? Instead of merely "recycling" the Bible, why not contribute our own material, agreeing to leave those Bibles alone as long as our pamphlets are left alone too? Am I being too optimistic here? I don't stay in hotels often, but from now on I'm leaving some good Atheist literature behind when I do.

An older friend of mine in Florida has a rubber stamp with a quote by Thomas Paine which he stamps into hotel Bibles but like me he doesn't remove or destroy them. I am planning on having such a rubber stamp made or ordering some of the stickers from FFRF. Really the Bibles don't offend me tucked away in a drawer, but I would like to put stamps or stickers on them.

I'm with reason on this one. Nobody gets bitchy because the Mexican restaurant down the street doesn't sell sushi.

Substitute your own two favorite non overlapping cuisines for a personal metaphor.

This is still the land of pseudo capitalism, voice your displeasure with your wallet.

Personally I think it's insulting that these intimacy kits are provided.

I couldn't get laid in a monkey whore house with a bag full of bananas.

I like to read mythology and science fiction. I don't mind those bibles when in a hotel room. Actually it brings good memories of the seventies when we use to roll joins using the fine bible onion paper... and it was for free.

There are fewer hotel/motel chains putting out bibles these days, simple economics. That's why you'll not see bibles at restaurant chains. They want to sell food, not attract controversy.

Warning stickers are great but a hi-lite is I think much more effective. Hi-lite a bible at home and take it with you to exchange with the one in the room for future use. Put a couple colored post-it notes to catch attention. If there's no bible in the room then you have delivered a giddy-up bible. You can pick up bibles at thrift shops or goodwill for 50 cents.

I have noticed religious tracts in doctors offices but I think devout patients are leaving them. When I saw a bible at my proctologists office with his name stamped inside I stopped going to the asshole.

Haha - you called your proctologist an asshole. That's funny

When I go to a hotel with my wife I should consider reading the bible as there is sex, drugs, cheating and lies. Then I won't have to convince my wife to watch porn :)

The Bible.It contains little of interest. It has some poetry in it; and some clever fables; blood-drenched history; and a wealth of obscenity; and upwards of a thousand lies. -- Mark Twain

Yep,that about sums it up!!!!!

When I saw a bible at my proctologists office with his name stamped inside I stopped going to the asshole.

And at the same time, he stopped going to yours, right?

I kill me.

I guess this is like "Merry Christmas" in dept. stores. "Happy Holidays" is more inclusive, more friendly, and should reach a wider demographic. Trouble is, a petty fraction of one demographic has so much disdain for the others that they pitch a fit and twist the whole thing around to try to turn clients away, until they get their special treatment restored.

What can the businesses do? Their goal is to have MANY customers, not to have NICE ones. I guess they'll have to keep pretending they actually like the fundamentalist brats in order to take their money (just like the GOP does), and that's that.

reason

what do you guys not understand about private property.the hotel is a private enterprise if they want to place bibles in every room it is their right.those bibles are hotel property and you have no right to take it or destroy it.

Are the buybulls the property of the hotel? If somebody leaves their dirty underwear in my room am I required by law to leave it there?

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Polygamous sects that have spread throughout the United States and beyond are "a form of organized crime," largely unchecked by law enforcement, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Thursday.

When I pay for a motel room while travelling, all I want is a place to sleep during the night and shower in the morning. I'm not paying them to proselytize me. Therefore, if a room has a Gideon's bible, I remove it and leave freethought literature in its place. If I decide to throw it away, I take it to an outside trash can or dumpster. Sometimes, I'll keep it; the pages make good fireplace kindling, bird cage liner, etc. For reference, I highlighted some of the more violent passages (Numbers 31, for example) in one of them. Any other suggestions?

I once spent the night in Van Horn, Texas (I'm not proud of it, I was tired). The bible in that motel room had an FFRF Gideon sticker on it, but it had been mostly torn off so that only those who know about the sticker would know what it is. Such stickers might seem like a good idea, but if some Christian objects, it won't last.

Has anyone else been in a room that has something other than a Gideon's bible? When I stopped in a small town off I-40 in eastern Arkansas, that motel room had a copy of the Christian Science holy book Science & Health.

The intimacy kits would also do some good in Latin American countries that are Catholic controlled. I'd rather the motel sell them at the desk than add the cost to every room.

So long as they're keeping bibles out of their rooms, I think the Accor chain deserves our financial support. I'll be seeking their motels when travelling. If Christians need to read a bible so that they can experience the desired nightmares, let them bring their own.

Phreedm said:

I hate to tell you, but the fact that almost ALL hotels contain bibles kind of proves the christian foundation of America...

But when the United States was founded neither the hotels nor the bibles were there. If you're going to use the Gideon bibles in hotel rooms as evidence for saying we have a Christian nation then you have a problem.

I'm with Reason on this one. Nobody should be removing stuff from hotel rooms unless it really wasn't meant to be there in the first place.

If I tear down the curtains because they're ugly and I don't agree with them, should I be able to get away with that? Can I justify that by saying that I didn't want the curtains there in the first place?

From what I've heard, the Bibles are donated by whomever and are the property of the hotel. They're not free for the taking unless it explicitly says that somewhere.

On the other hand, putting post-it notes in there pointing out errors is a great idea. That doesn't damage the books. The same could be said of hiding anti-religious tracts (can we call them Jack Manly tracts?) in between the first couple of pages.

The United States was also founded on slavery as well, does that mean that we should we put slaves in every room too?

Religion is no more a part of the constitution than is slavery, making women do all of the housework, or abusing the poor.

On the topic, I was amused by the comment Cynic made a few days back about bibles in hotel rooms:

I usually toss it out into the hallway. To paraphase a too-oft quoted statement, a rude gesture left unexamined is not worth doing.

If they end up in the trash can or otherwise destroyed then there is nobody to observe the rude gesture (and it is meaningless). Tossing them into the hallway roughly enough to leave the battered piece of crap for someone else to find, that's just priceless. It sends a message: This country does not belong to you alone. Keep your preaching in your churches where people came to hear it.

Nobody should be removing stuff from hotel rooms unless it really wasn't meant to be there in the first place.

The bibles are donated free of charge to the hotels by the Gideons and as such it is not legally or morally wrong to do what you wish with this unsolicited and unwanted literature. Just dont steal the towels which are hotel property.

Alatham

Nobody should be removing stuff from hotel rooms unless it really wasn't meant to be there in the first place.

You appear to be suggesting that the giddy buybulls are hotel property. I have found no legal precedence or case ruling that says they are. Maybe there is such a ruling but I have not found it.

Comment from: alexatheist

Nothing scares the mindless sheep into handing over their dollars like the threat of queers infiltrating the schools

Wow...

Why do blacks get to use the word nigger when talking about each other...?

Why do gays get to use the word queer when talking about each other?

Seems to me if a word is so offensive to the group it's used to describe, then even that group wouldn't use it...

Thanks Alex...I'll use the word "queer" from here on out...

I'm sure you'll sit quietly by and listen...

Hmmm..."What do I know"...

That was a tongue in cheek comment...

Comment from: VegeBrain

But when the United States was founded neither the hotels nor the bibles were there.

Duh...

However, the bibles were used in EVERY court in early America...

Vege

And don't forget that air was breathed in every court in early America.

Yah, and slaves outside every court, as well.

I travel all the time and print out normalbobsmith.com pamphlets and put one inside every bible that I can find. They're awesome, check'em out:

http://www.normalbobsmith.com/publicity&promotion/pamphlets.html

how many of you have the guts to go and trash a koran in a majority muslim nation or a torah in israel.

Hey...who was the village idiot who thought a gas tax holiday was a worthless idea...?

I'm sure one was "What do I know"...

Maybe his sock puppet ((tom))...

However, the bibles were used in EVERY court in early America...

And it was legal to own another human being in early America...whats your point?

Thanks Alex...I'll use the word "queer" from here on out...
I'm sure you'll sit quietly by and listen...

I dont mind when straights use the word queer or faggott at all so long as it isnt used in a threatning manner. Its just a word after all. Have at it phreedum.

Comment from: reason [Member]
what do you guys not understand about private property.the hotel is a private enterprise if they want to place bibles in every room it is their right.those bibles are hotel property and you have no right to take it or destroy it.

I agree totally.

The bibles are usualy given to the hotel by the Gideons. The Gideons want you to take the bible if you wish. It says so in a Gideons bible. If they offer the bible for your use they havve no say in how you use it. Do with it as you see fit.

Well if LarryGeater is correct then there is nothing legally or morally wrong with treating the refuse any way you want. I will continue to bend, fold or mutilate it as I see fit.

Reason

how many of you have the guts to go and trash a koran in a majority muslim nation or a torah in israel. How many have the guts to exercise their constitutionally guaranteed rights right here in the USA? What's your point? It's best to just come right out with it.

Reason

how many of you have the guts to go and trash a koran in a majority muslim nation or a torah in israel.

How many have the guts to exercise their constitutionally guaranteed rights right here in the USA? What's your point? It's best to just come right out with it.

Reason
A belief is not responsible for the people that hold it?

If you trash the bible or throw it away, few will know of your opposition. I say lay the offensive thing outside your door, so that all who pass by not only know of your rejection of religion, but some of your courage to go against the grain may rub off on them.

Or they'll burn you door down and lynch you.

Oh come on people, the law is very clear:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gift_(law)

A gift, in the law of property, has a very specific meaning. In order for a gift to be legally effective, the grantor must have intended to give the gift to the grantee. The gift must actually be delivered to and accepted by the grantee.

Once the gift is transferred to the grantee, legal ownership is transferred as well. Taking Bibles out of hotels is theft. There is no way around that. If you want to take the Bibles, just ask at the hotel desk, I'd bet most of them would let you have it.

The argument that the Gideon Bible is OK to take because the Gideons want you to have one would not hold up in court. Once legal ownership has passed from the Gideons to the hotel, the Gideons wishes are no longer relevant.

Remember the book Steal This Book? It certainly isn't legal to take that one without consent of the bookstore or library either.

I'm all for criticizing religion, but I can't stand back and let you folks commit misdemeanors without realizing it. Sure, stealing Bibles out of hotels isn't going to hurt the hotel (and probably won't put much of a dent in the Gideons bank accounts either), but it's still illegal.

I spoke a bit too quickly, but my older post still stands. I need to add this, however:

If the Gideons specifically say that their Bibles are not legal gifts to the hotel then it's ok to take them.

In that case, the Bibles are the legal property of the Gideons and the hotel is merely holding the Bibles, as such, the Gideon's wishes that the Bibles be freely taken should be considered acceptable.

At this point, we need to know more about how the hotels have come to possess the Bibles. In the absence of a statement like "this is not a legal gift", I assume-I'm no lawyer-that legally the ownership of the Bibles would be with the hotel. However, it could be different from hotel to hotel depending on the circumstances. The only safe assumption is that it is illegal to take them from hotel rooms without the hotel's consent.

Alatham

If LarryGeater is correct then the gift is to the room occupant not the hotel. If this gift stays in the hotel for a certain amount of time then the hotel could possibly choose to take ownership under the law. But I think they would need to establish that they have made that choice. This would be especially the case if the Giddies have an agreement with the hotel which states that the hotel will simply allow them Giddies to distribute their "gift" to patrons and in no way implies hotel ownership. This would appear to be what the agreement is since as Larry has stated the Giddy Buybulls do encourage you to take them with you if you like.

Again, it would be nice to have a legal scholar weigh-in and, more importantly, obtain some case law on the matter.

Bend, fold, mutilate, kick to the curb.

I think that bibles and hotels were both in the United States when it became the United States.

What,

I'm only the son of a lawyer, so my analysis has a good chance of being at least partly flawed, but I feel that I'm reading this law correctly.

If this gift stays in the hotel for a certain amount of time then the hotel could possibly choose to take ownership under the law.

This is not how the law is spelled out. Once the Gideons give the Bibles to the hotels and the hotels accept them, ownership transfers immediately. At that point, the opinion of the Gideons about whether or not you can take them becomes irrelevant.

If I were to legally obtain a Gideon Bible you couldn't take it from me unless I gave you permission, regardless of what the Gideons have to say about it. In normal cases, it's no different with a hotel.

However:

This would be especially the case if the Giddies have an agreement with the hotel which states that the hotel will simply allow them Giddies to distribute their "gift" to patrons and in no way implies hotel ownership.

I agree here. This would constitute a special case and the hotel could not claim ownership of the Bibles. Ownership remains with the Gideons and their position is that anyone can take them (though their website is vague on this). But I'm not certain that just putting a message inside the Bibles would lead to this special case. I think it's beholden on anyone wishing to take a Bible that they ask the hotel if this special case exists.

Where's that Rusty character? Somebody get him on the phone.

Alatham

But I'm not certain that just putting a message inside the Bibles would lead to this special case.

If the hotel knows of the "message" and agrees to allow the Giddies to put them in rooms with said message then the hotel is stating that they claim no property right. If the hotel has not agreed then the buybulls would become discarded items of previous tenets. I do not think the reasonable person (in the abstract legal sense) is obligated to exercise any care in the handling of items willfully discarded.

Bend, fold, mutilate, kick to the curb, then recycle.

I doubt any hotel chain is calling up the Gideons asking for a few dozen more. Those bibles like any piece of religious literature laid about are public domain and have no legal status. Those Gideon bibles in that top drawer next to my pillow is a childish desire to enter my dreams. That offends me, that represents mild insanity. You Christians have to imagine what it would be like to find a Koran in your room after driving down the highway looking at billboards of Islamic text and listening to references to Allah on the radio. It is the invasive nature of all organized religion which necessitates its demise. Keep your religion in your churches where it will die and be buried. The bible is not moral, there is nothing positive in the bad book. The hucksters pushing the bad book give you guilt, fear and sorrow only so they can then sell you salvation. The pope is a sleazy pimp in a silly costume.

thx1138 That's not what I've heard from hotels after I've asked them about their Bibles. They all said the same thing: It's like toilet paper. It's there for the use, and if it's not there when you leave, that's okay, it was there for the use, and you used it. So okay.

I've disposed of dozens of hotel Bibles, and never once has anyone at any hotel ever complained or even mentioned it.

The Bible is like toilet paper, legally. I like that.

Joe Zamecki
Austin

reason - You asked: "how many of you have the guts to go and trash a koran in a majority muslim nation or a torah in israel."

I have the guts, just not the money. Of course those other holy books were never forced on me. Only the Bible.

It strikes me as bizarre and laughable that a Bible would be considered sacred to anyone. Not just because I've read it, but also because it's still forced on innocent people.

It's ironic that some Freethinkers would never want us to burn Bibles by the hundreds, knowing that's exactly what so many Christians have done to legitimate books. The difference ought to be that we actually read the Bible, and most Bible pushers simply don't.

For the good of the future of humanity, all Bibles should be burned, and forgotten forever.

Joe Zamecki
Austin

Bend, fold, mutilate, kick to the curb, recycle, then wipe.

It seems to me that the Bible is not being forced on to you when you are in a hotel. I have never heard of anyone being forced to read the Bible when they check in. Hotels/motels are private businesses and are fully entitled to have any thing that is legal displayed. I am personally offended that certain programming are available on the T.V set. The deal is this, I don't throw away the T.V. set when I enter the room. I, instead ask the Hotel to block all access to all channels that may offend me. If the Bible offends you so much, simply ask the someone to remove the bible when you make a reservation, or check in.

You know, Jesus Lover makes a damn good suggestion: requesting the bible be removed from my room when I make a reservation. Make them take it out for me.

I kinda really like that idea.

Some of you have some serious issues. A book sitting on a table is not being forced on you...it is AVAILABLE for you. If the housekeeper comes in and reads it to you without your request, or if there is a P.A. speaker above your bed reciting verses throughout the night, THAT would be being forced on you. It being in your presence is not it being forced on you

uoflcard

What!? Not being forced on me? It was forced into my room for which I am paying 200 bucks a night!

They Giddies say it's a gift. So I will do what I want with my gift. Thank you very much.



JeebusLover

The Buybulls are not like hotel TV sets. They are gifts to us from the Giddies. If you freaks start passing out free TVs just let me know where I can pick a couple up. I would like to trash of few of those too.

uoflcard

If you leased a car and found that the giddies left a buybull in it would you feel obligated to leave it in the car?

What-

Your right, it is a gift. Do with it , whatever you want. It seems to me your complaint should be focused on the hotels, not the Gidians. as far as I know, the Gidians don't force the Bibles on the hotels. They're just marketing their "product". Just call it a free sample! There are alot of things that are pushed or given to us that we may not like. It is what it is.

I wonder... Joe's comparison of the bible to toilet paper got me thinking: Would a business be able to sustain itself recycling bibles donated to them by hotel patrons (the same way the Gideons donated the bibles to the patrons) into toilet paper?

Could said toilet paper be made cheap enough to sell for use on a regular basis?

An enterprising atheist might make a pretty penny collecting these giddy buybulls at drop-off locations and recycling them into toilet paper. The promotional ads could be hilarious.

joe and what
i don't doubt you two have the guts to trash a koran in mecca but that would not be any more right than trashing a bible that is not yours.the issue here is property rights no more or less.taking or destroying state property in soviet union was a crime were soviets bad atheists of course not.public or private we must respect property rights.

Reason

i don't doubt you two have the guts to trash a koran in mecca but that would not be any more right than trashing a bible that is not yours.

I doubt you have the guts to exercise your constitutionally guaranteed rights right here in the USA. So who is the bigger wuss?

the issue here is property rights no more or less.

The buybulls are gifts to the hotel patrons. The property is mine once I take possession.

Got it? This isn't Quantum Field Theory

What
the bible in your hotel room is not a gift.as for being a wuss i didn't call you or joe one and could care less if you call me one.if you can't see that this society is full of bigmouth spoiled brats then you are blind.

if you can't see that this society is full of bigmouth spoiled brats then you are blind.

We call them republicans.

tear out a few pages. use them for toilet paper. then put them back.

If you find religious material in your room, simply put it out in the hall just like you would do with a used room-service tray.

That way, it's perfectly clear that you don't want it in your room. Other non-religious people who see it will know what they can do with theirs, too. I think this simple measure would suffice if it caught on.

Hotel cleaning staff probably won't want to store bibles and cart them around. When replacing the bibles becomes too much trouble, they'll be given away or thrown out.