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
Allie
Hey, I've been good. 🙂 The weather was actually pretty nice today. I thought it would rain again. xD
Fia
LMAO. I have nothing against Bibles in hotel drawers, but of course, the management should put into consideration that not everyone who checks in are Christians.
Mandie
would you still like your site reviewed by mine?
AnneMarie
No I'm not back yet, but I have brought my laptop and check on the site and the comments when I can… which as you may see isn't very often.
I'm a pretty stricct Catholic but I too always wondered why Bibles were put into the drawers of hotels. I use to think, people forget them… but then I realized.. the maids would have taken them out, so I have no idea.
Lee
Lol, can they really hack you with CuteNews? I tried it once and they kept warning me about it.
I'm busy with homework… how about you?
Thuyy
D: NOOO….
Er…nevermind, haha! I know what they are. phew, 2012 isn't my fault. haha….eh..
Graciesdesigns
The country is getting to politically corrected as it is…leave the Bibles alone! LOL! Nice blog!
Kyah
Hahaha, nice blog. I agree with it.
One time my mum told me that my dad went for a job interview once and was gone for ages, so mum sat down in the hotel and read about a quarter of the bible.. I wouldn't. Boring.
Oh, and I can't wait to read that official travel guide you've mentioned so much 🙂 haha.
Ben
I'm not religious at all. I completely agree with you about this issue, and I do think it's a rather serious issue. Okay, well maybe not global warming serious, or middle eastern war serious but it's still an issue that needs to be resolved.
It's stupid really, I mean just cause you're going to a hotel, that in no way means that you're Christian. Your reasons do make sense. I highly doubt that they do it because they think everybody loves to read the bible before bed. I like your reason number 1, never thought of that before but it's so true!
Elizabeth
I did better than expected, and yeah I feel better.
I don't really know why they put bibles in hotels either. I know they put the Christian bible and the Mormon bibles.
Masoud
Hey 🙂
yes, Sweden. But it isn't as awesome as it might sound.
Nothing ever happens here.. atleast not where I am 😛
And yeah, You're the reason I won't put affiliates in my recent updates.
You see; it is so embarrassig if I have to put you up there 😛
Just kidding.. So, what have you been doing for the last couple of days I've been offline? 🙂
Krystal
Agreed. Agreed. Agreed. I don't know what else to say except that I agree. Whole heartidly. Agreed.
Felicia
Jesus. They still do the bible-in-the-hotel-drawer thing? I thought that stopped in the 60s.
They might as well just nail a giant, talking cross on every bedpost in the rooms. That way, every time you sat in your bed, or were about to do something bad with a hooker, you'd hear a line of scripture from a random passage in the bible, and feel really awkward about it.
I added you too! 🙂
Eka
That bothers me too! If they're going to have the Bible, the Torah, Quran, and whatever other holy books should be in there as well.
And most people who need a bible while they're on vacation (or a business trip) take their own with them. I don't know what it is with those things, but it seems like people develop this emotional attachment to their bibles. It's creepy. THIS IS MY COPY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT! GET YOUR OWN!
If I ever start a hotel chain, I'll put Satanism books in the drawers just to freak people out.
I've added you to my affiliates by the way! 😉
Axi
That is actually pretty interesting. From the couple of hotels that I have been to, I have never seen a bible at all. So this is sort of out of my expectations. That's weird, bibles in hotel rooms… wouldn't people already bring their own if they are religious? Doesn't make sense. Heh.
And sure I'll be affiliates, I'll add you after putting up this comment.
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