Comments on: Where Did the Hotel Room Bibles Go? http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2007/05/15/where-did-the-hotel-room-bibles-go/ by Hemant Mehta Sat, 26 May 2012 12:01:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: goyo http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2007/05/15/where-did-the-hotel-room-bibles-go/#comment-29049 goyo Thu, 17 May 2007 20:44:17 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/05/15/where-did-the-hotel-room-bibles-go/#comment-29049 Tim: I'm glad you didn't randomly open the bible up to any pages of numbers or deuteronomy with those endless geneologies. I've almost hanged myself after trying to read those. Seriously, the whole random nature of opening the bible to find meaningful passages sounds like an urban legend to me. I've heard those so many times, and the few times I've tried, have never had the luck of anything coherent. I'm glad you found something to stop you. Why didn't god himself stop you? Is that ok that he would have allowed you to kill yourself? How can you think that he is active in your life, when there is absolutely no evidence that he cares or does anything? Tim: I’m glad you didn’t randomly open the bible up to any pages of numbers or deuteronomy with those endless geneologies. I’ve almost hanged myself after trying to read those.
Seriously, the whole random nature of opening the bible to find meaningful passages sounds like an urban legend to me. I’ve heard those so many times, and the few times I’ve tried, have never had the luck of anything coherent.
I’m glad you found something to stop you. Why didn’t god himself stop you? Is that ok that he would have allowed you to kill yourself? How can you think that he is active in your life, when there is absolutely no evidence that he cares or does anything?

]]> By: Richard Wade http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2007/05/15/where-did-the-hotel-room-bibles-go/#comment-28605 Richard Wade Wed, 16 May 2007 17:49:37 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/05/15/where-did-the-hotel-room-bibles-go/#comment-28605 There's another story about a Viet Nam veteran who was in a firefight on the last day of his tour of duty. He was airlifted out of the battle with only one round left in his rifle. Back in the States he carried that "lucky bullet" in his left breast pocket for years until one day while walking down the street he passed by a really crazy street preacher. The street preacher was building up into a frenzy screaming at the top of his lungs and waving his arms with a Bible in his hand. The Bible flew out of his hand with lethal force and struck the veteran directly in the chest, but the bullet stopped the Bible and saved his life! There’s another story about a Viet Nam veteran who was in a firefight on the last day of his tour of duty. He was airlifted out of the battle with only one round left in his rifle. Back in the States he carried that “lucky bullet” in his left breast pocket for years until one day while walking down the street he passed by a really crazy street preacher. The street preacher was building up into a frenzy screaming at the top of his lungs and waving his arms with a Bible in his hand. The Bible flew out of his hand with lethal force and struck the veteran directly in the chest, but the bullet stopped the Bible and saved his life!

]]> By: Tim http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2007/05/15/where-did-the-hotel-room-bibles-go/#comment-28598 Tim Wed, 16 May 2007 17:23:03 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/05/15/where-did-the-hotel-room-bibles-go/#comment-28598 Here's another incident of a man being shot in the chest and a Bible saved his life. <a href="http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/news-article.aspx?storyid=68592" rel="nofollow"> http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/news-article.aspx?storyid=68592</a> Here’s another incident of a man being shot in the chest and a Bible saved his life.

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/news-article.aspx?storyid=68592

]]> By: Vincent http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2007/05/15/where-did-the-hotel-room-bibles-go/#comment-28560 Vincent Wed, 16 May 2007 15:59:05 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/05/15/where-did-the-hotel-room-bibles-go/#comment-28560 Richard, "I’ve heard a story for years about some guy who was carrying a Bible in his left breast pocket and it stopped a stray bullet from piercing his heart. Are you the guy? " That was Lt. William Preston Mangum at the First Battle of Bull Run in the American Civil War. The bullet was deflected from entering his heart where it would have killed him instantly. Instead it pierced his chest and lung and he lay in a hospital bed for a week before dying in agony from gangreen. Richard,

“I’ve heard a story for years about some guy who was carrying a Bible in his left breast pocket and it stopped a stray bullet from piercing his heart. Are you the guy? ”

That was Lt. William Preston Mangum at the First Battle of Bull Run in the American Civil War.
The bullet was deflected from entering his heart where it would have killed him instantly.
Instead it pierced his chest and lung and he lay in a hospital bed for a week before dying in agony from gangreen.

]]> By: Kim G http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2007/05/15/where-did-the-hotel-room-bibles-go/#comment-28538 Kim G Wed, 16 May 2007 14:25:11 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/05/15/where-did-the-hotel-room-bibles-go/#comment-28538 Thanks Hemant! Thanks Hemant!

]]> By: FriendlyAtheist http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2007/05/15/where-did-the-hotel-room-bibles-go/#comment-28526 FriendlyAtheist Wed, 16 May 2007 13:50:12 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/05/15/where-did-the-hotel-room-bibles-go/#comment-28526 Tim-- I still check to see if the Bible is in my hotel room. Though recently, I'e come across a non-Gideons copy and in one hotel room, there was nothing (someone beat me to it!)... Kim-- I'm not sure why my spam filter was catching you, but it was. It should be fixed now! Tim– I still check to see if the Bible is in my hotel room. Though recently, I’e come across a non-Gideons copy and in one hotel room, there was nothing (someone beat me to it!)…

Kim– I’m not sure why my spam filter was catching you, but it was. It should be fixed now!

]]> By: Kim G http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2007/05/15/where-did-the-hotel-room-bibles-go/#comment-28437 Kim G Wed, 16 May 2007 05:44:19 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/05/15/where-did-the-hotel-room-bibles-go/#comment-28437 This is what I've been trying to post for the last hour: <blockquote>I think Bibles are given free of charge to the hotels by The Gideons. If they want other texts, I don’t expect the Gideons will pony up for them. I think it’s becoming more and more curious in a diverse society why (except out of tradition) Hotel chains allow the Bible to be put in the room. Could I contact Holiday Inn and donate a million copies of Atheist Manifesto? I’m guessing not. How about the Satanic Bible, or the Egyptian Book of the Dead? </blockquote>Good points Siamang <blockquote>Just to whet your appetite, I highly recommend the eulogy that Ingersoll delivered at the funeral of poet Walt Whitman It’s lovely and lyrical. To read more about these guys and other sadly-little-known American secularists, pick up Susan Jacoby’s “Freethinkers.” It’s a fascinating book. </blockquote>Thanks for the additional info Karen. <blockquote>people who regard it as their Holy Book shouldn’t have a problem with getting their own, or going downstairs to get one. Also, I totally agree with having other Holy Books in the rooms. As a Christian, I should be getting to know at least a little bit about every religion and belief. Even the Bible tells me to do that.</blockquote>Well said Tim. Sorry you went through what you did. I'm glad you found something to keep you with us. We're better off with you around dude. (sixth attempt to post this) This is what I’ve been trying to post for the last hour:

I think Bibles are given free of charge to the hotels by The Gideons.

If they want other texts, I don’t expect the Gideons will pony up for them.

I think it’s becoming more and more curious in a diverse society why (except out of tradition) Hotel chains allow the Bible to be put in the room.

Could I contact Holiday Inn and donate a million copies of Atheist Manifesto? I’m guessing not.

How about the Satanic Bible, or the Egyptian Book of the Dead?

Good points Siamang

Just to whet your appetite, I highly recommend the eulogy that Ingersoll delivered at the funeral of poet Walt Whitman It’s lovely and lyrical.

To read more about these guys and other sadly-little-known American secularists, pick up Susan Jacoby’s “Freethinkers.” It’s a fascinating book.

Thanks for the additional info Karen.

people who regard it as their Holy Book shouldn’t have a problem with getting their own, or going downstairs to get one. Also, I totally agree with having other Holy Books in the rooms. As a Christian, I should be getting to know at least a little bit about every religion and belief. Even the Bible tells me to do that.

Well said Tim. Sorry you went through what you did. I’m glad you found something to keep you with us. We’re better off with you around dude.

(sixth attempt to post this)

]]> By: Kim G http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2007/05/15/where-did-the-hotel-room-bibles-go/#comment-28435 Kim G Wed, 16 May 2007 05:38:29 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/05/15/where-did-the-hotel-room-bibles-go/#comment-28435 Have I been magically block from this website? I've tried 5 times to post and failed each time. I'll be lucky if this goes through. Have I been magically block from this website? I’ve tried 5 times to post and failed each time. I’ll be lucky if this goes through.

]]> By: Kim G http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2007/05/15/where-did-the-hotel-room-bibles-go/#comment-28433 Kim G Wed, 16 May 2007 05:36:28 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/05/15/where-did-the-hotel-room-bibles-go/#comment-28433 Good points Siamang. Thanks Karen. Well said Tim (your response to me). Sorry you went through what you did. I'm glad you found something to keep you with us. We're better off with you here. (this is my fifth attempt to post this) Good points Siamang.

Thanks Karen.

Well said Tim (your response to me). Sorry you went through what you did. I’m glad you found something to keep you with us. We’re better off with you here.

(this is my fifth attempt to post this)

]]> By: Robin http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2007/05/15/where-did-the-hotel-room-bibles-go/#comment-28432 Robin Wed, 16 May 2007 05:34:18 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/05/15/where-did-the-hotel-room-bibles-go/#comment-28432 I wonder if the hotels buy the bibles or if churches donate them? I would guess the hotels buy them and in that case I find it discriminating. While it never bothered me on a personal level to see a bible in my hotel room being an atheist. (probably out of conditioning) It occurred to me, just now, that it might be to people of other faiths. So maybe the hotels should stop buying them and inform the religious that they will allow them to donate their choice/s of religious propaganda to be placed in the rooms, and atheists also be allowed to donate an informational pamphlet etc as well. I wonder if the hotels buy the bibles or if churches donate them? I would guess the hotels buy them and in that case I find it discriminating.

While it never bothered me on a personal level to see a bible in my hotel room being an atheist. (probably out of conditioning) It occurred to me, just now, that it might be to people of other faiths. So maybe the hotels should stop buying them and inform the religious that they will allow them to donate their choice/s of religious propaganda to be placed in the rooms, and atheists also be allowed to donate an informational pamphlet etc as well.

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