A Rant of Biblical Proportions
I’m not the most religious person in the world, but I grasp the basics. Love thy neighbors? Check. Love thy enemies? Sure, why not. Funny enough, those are the same people.
I vaguely recall tales of a colossal ark and water that gets you drunk, but the finer points elude me. As a kid, my mom tried to indoctrinate me into Christianity. She’d lecture and threaten, hoping to steer me away from eternal damnation. I can’t blame her, though, for trying to literally scare the hell out of me.
I studied religion through hell and high water, but ultimately, it just wasn’t my cup of wine. There’s only one occasion in which I still see The Good Book, and no, it’s not at church. I’m talking, of course, about on vacations.
Which brings me to my rant of biblical proportions. Let’s talk about this bizarre tradition of finding Bibles in hotel drawers. Why in God’s name (ha) do they do that? Why prioritize scripture over, say, decent pillows? I have a couple of theories.
- Hypothesis #1: Hotels are playing the guilt card. They’re trying to scare us with good morals; figuring we’ll think twice before stealing their crummy towels, soaps, pens, shampoos, sheets, televisions, beds, windows, and even employees.
Sorry, but it doesn’t work. We’re all guilty of swiping a towel or two, and the Bible isn’t about to change that. Heck, it’s part of my unofficial travel guidebook. Besides, most people who check into motel rooms are already committed to doing something naughty.
- Hypothesis #2: It’s all about the money. Religious groups are cozying up with hotels to turn a profit.
Since God doesn’t pay priests until the afterlife, perhaps they’ve resorted to second shifts in the motel lobby. No longer do they live on donations placed in smelly straw hats. And brace yourselves, because this is likely only the beginning. Soon we’ll be checking into hotels like Saint Hyatt and Our Lady of Hilton.
Regardless of the motive, this practice feels problematic. It’s not politically correct. What about other religious books? Where are the Torahs? Where are the Qurans? Where are my unofficial travel guidebooks?
I suppose there are bigger fish to fry, but it’s still worth noting. With separation of church and state, and separation of church and school, there’s not really much time left for separation of church and bedside table.
113 Comments
Kate
😛 The clouds are no longer clean.
I know, it's creepy how theyput those bibles in the drawers. Especailly on boats. And yes, I've stolen some pens and shampoo (: My hair is silky smooth.. ;]
Well i can't wait untill you publish your official travel book. >< ><
Jill
Lol but I'll still view it as a joke.
Yeah.. I don't think slapping my mom would go over too well.
Last year I "borrowed" a decorative pillow because I was pissed at the lack of room service while everyone else got EXTRAS. This year I borrowed just the usual, like shampoo, soap, pens, etc. lol.. I'm thrifty I know.
Marissa
thanks! 😀
Jill
You see that would have worked, except it was my mom who took my shoes.
Ha you're funny. Me sexy. Funny.
I agree about the the whole Bible thing. I shared a room with two very Christian girls and let's just say I'm quite less. Seeing the Bible however, did not stop any of three of us from stealing "keepsakes" from the room.
Jessica
I completely agree with you… I don't think it's politically correct, either, to put bibles in hotel rooms. Because, for one, not everyone that stays in that hotel room is going to be a Christian. It's like forcing your beliefs on them, when you think about it. Like you said, they don't put the Torah or the Qurans in hotel rooms! So it's just like a one way street: Christian, or not Christian. Rofl xP I'm probably not making any sense, but yeah.
See, that's why I don't understand religions. I mean, Christians say that THEIR religion is the right one, right? Well, so do all of the other religions in the world. Urgh, I don't know. It's frustrating to understand >.<
My personal opinion is that SOMEONE created alllll of these "religions" just to create diversity amongst the world, and just to give people a story for their being here. Because what would people do if they didn't know how they got here? Well, besides make up a bunch of crap, that is.. They'd go crazy Cx Hahahaha, pretty good thinking, right? I'm so ignorant when it comes to religion xD
Ran
Religion can be scary. That's one of the things I find most scary. The history of the world, the devil, ghosts, death, things like that. I never knew Hotel had bibles in their rooms
Kat
yes i do mean cookies (british american thing lol) the complementary ones they give you with like the kettle and the cups
don't you mean I'm a stupid person haha don't feel bad they're so full of crap they just take your money and don't give you a serial they deserve to have their software hacked!!!
Rachel
I'm alright, thanks. And how are you?
Yeah, I've never understood why they put bibles in the drawers of nightstands either. I would say it was probably for those religious people who like to read it every night before bed, but then wouldn't those types of people bring their own bibles? >.>
Sophia
Thanks! 🙂
I love orange/sesame chicken with white rice!
What's your favorite about Chinese food?!
Swetlana
Hehe, kay 🙂 I will tell you.
I had this weird lil thingy underneath my left eye and my doctor told me I had to get surgery to get it away. So I got it and that lil scar is what left 🙂 Nothing dramatical or anything like that xD
Julianne
Thanks for the birthday wishes, and HAHA I love your reasons, they make a ton of sense to me!
Paige
Haha I will! I'll probably read more of it tonight during commercials while I watch George Lopez and The Nanny. XD
Camila
Aww, thanks for the nice comment. I love that about blogging..just being to share anything with readers 🙂 Especially when it's something related to eating haha (yummm!). I hope to be posting more recipes in the future.
I've always thought about that! It's strange and random that almost every hotel has a bible in those drawers. Not that no one would ever make use of it, but it definitely doesn't show separation of state and church (reminds me of this class I took on Israel).
For those who follow religions other than Catholicism..I'm sure they've already felt the criticism enough (with the pressure that there is to be catholic – and how "they" seem to deem all other religions inadequate or supportive of terrorism ><). Having that bible in every hotel they go to is like a cherry on top of the sundae :| Not very open-minded and at all welcoming.
Kat
LOLOLOLOLOLOL i've seen that lmao and i don't get it wither it's just taking up valuable drawer space lmao as if you'd read it while you're away anyway
psshhh you're paying for the room after all, you should be entitled to shampoo and biscuits and other things ya know
Paige
Haha yes I love that book!
But, I stopped reading it. I don't know why. I just stop reading things in the middle for a while.
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