Visitors to a hotel in Tennessee won’t find a Bible in their nightstand. It appears that the long standing tradition of placing a Bible in a hotel room may be coming to an end, at least in this hotel.
Instead, hotel guests will have to call room service in order to get a Bible. And they will be given the option of ordering from a “spiritual menu.” They can order a Bible, a Book of Mormon, the Qur’an, or even books on Scientology. The public relations director says: “Our guests come from different places and they definitely come from different cultures, backgrounds, ethnicities, so we want everyone to feel welcomed and comfortable.”
The hotel (whose hotel chain is based in Oregon) has decided to break away from the tradition of allowing the Gideons to place a Bible in each room. They want to offer a variety of spiritual options to travelers who are not Christians and may be looking to learn about different faith traditions.
People in the hotel industry don’t know if this is a coming trend or an isolated example of a hotel recognizing the pluralism of our society. I suspect that it will become a trend unless Christians express their opinions. Perhaps Gideon International will make a statement.
I might mention that this year marks the 100th anniversary of Gideon Bible placement in hotels. Just last year alone, the Gideons distributed more than 1.1 million Bibles in the United States. They also distributed another 700,000 around the world. Most of these Bibles were placed in hotels and motels.
I think it is interesting that when the Gideons first tried to place Bibles in hotels, the hotel owners had to be convinced of the value in having the Bible in each room. Now placing a Bible in a hotel room is almost automatic. But this recent decision by this hotel to alter the practice might be the beginning of a different philosophy concerning Bible placement.
I don’t know about you, but I would be sad to see God’s word removed from hotel rooms. I’m Kerby Anderson, and that’s my point of view.
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Mr. Anderson doesn't tell us what his sources are, nor the name of the chain, as has already been noted by other readers. It makes one wonder whether this is just a big hoax. Click here to reply to this post
Give Us Information
Posted On: 04/23/08 07:50:12 AM
Age 52, OH
Mr. Anderson, your otherwise good article is almost worthless to your readers as you neglected to give the name of the hotel and hotel chain involved. We need this information to write letters of protest, etc. and in support of a long-standing American tradition of Gideon Bibles in hotel rooms. Please do not write any more articles that do not give us the information we need to fight for our Christian heritage. Click here to reply to this post
Gideons
Posted On: 04/23/08 04:58:30 AM
Age 80, MD
Could this be an opportunity? You state placement of Bibles has been automatic. Have we become complacent.
You say that they will bring a Bible or what ever book peopole want. It might be instructive to poll the hotels after a year or two and find out which book is most requested. Click here to reply to this post
Hotel Bible Placements
Posted On: 04/22/08 10:11:00 PM
Age 78, MS
Since 1889, we Gideons have placed an overall total of 1.3 billion Bibles, worl-wide, with 73 million placed last year. We are now in 188 countries with Bibles translated in 83 languages. Click here to reply to this post
Hotel Bible Placements
Posted On: 04/22/08 10:05:24 PM
Age 78, MS
Actually, we Gideons placed over 73 million Bibles in 188 countries last year. The Bibles are translated in 83 languages. Our goal this year is 75 plus million Bibles.
Since our our orginization was established in 1889, we have placed 1.3 billion Bibles world wide.
The one billionth Bible was a Dignitary Bible given to President Bush. Click here to reply to this post
Why do we let this happen?
Posted On: 04/22/08 03:16:36 PM
Age 55, KS
As Christians we boycott Ford motor company, McDonalds and other business because of the stand they take on different issues. Why do we not boycott this Hotel for the stand they have taken? Click here to reply to this post
I am suprised that
Posted On: 04/22/08 01:03:25 PM
Age 35, MI
he didn't equate this with the holocaust. I am not sure what the big deal is, if I want to read a bible on vacation, I bring one. I find it refreshing that there is a choice if literature for those of other, or no faith at all. Our Lord reigns not our own concept of right and wrong. Click here to reply to this post
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