Posted on 09/12/2014 9:26:48 AM PDT by Phillyred
There are certain things everyone assumes will be in a hotel room. Tiny bars of soap. Clean towels. A Gideon Bible in the bedside table.
Guests at Penn State’s two hotels now will have to ask for a copy of the Good Book if they feel a late-night need for the New Testament, because of a new policy change.
“Penn State decided to remove Bibles from individual guest rooms in both of its hotels, The Nittany Lion Inn and the Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel, and to place them in public access areas,” Penn State spokeswoman Lisa Powers said.
The move was made not to limit the beliefs of one group but to be more inclusive of all, Penn State said.
“In the past few decades, the world and its people have changed dramatically. We wish to be respectful of all religions, and also of those who have differing beliefs, yet we still wanted to ensure the publication was available to those who desire to read it while staying with us,” Powers said. “This action was taken in the spirit of recognizing other religions and beliefs among our guests.”
The move also makes it possible for other groups — such as Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, etc. — to have their beliefs, and their religious books, be put on the same footing.
“It’s my understanding that those publications are certainly accepted if a group wishes to make them available at our hotels,” Powers said.
The religious tomes have been moved to the hotel’s libraries. Maybe not every hotel has its own book collection, but the university’s do. In fact, the Nittany Lion Inn has two of them. The Bibles are also available in some other public access areas. But that doesn’t mean they have to stay there.
Maggie Biddle, general manager of the Atherton Hotel in downtown State College, said her 149 rooms still have Bibles, but that she appreciated the motivation behind Penn State’s move.
“That’s something we might think about ourselves,” she said.
“We are an international university and we reach a large population of very diverse people from around the world,” Powers said. “Enough cannot be said about being cognizant and respectful of all peoples and their beliefs.”
As a Jew, I always check the Bible situation in hotels I visit. Their presence is a reassuring factor that I’m in a decent, moral, and pleasant establishment. Sometimes I read some passages as well. When the Bible is not present, I take a frowning stance and plan (or unplan) future stays at that hotel.
Can’t deal with the judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah.
It upset donors to the lockerroom fundraisers.
I saw that one coming.
“The move was made not to limit the beliefs of one group but to be more inclusive of all, Penn State said.”
Total Orwellian doublespeak.
It is the exact opposite of what they have done, explicitly and overtly claiming the opposite of what they did.
To be more inclusive one includes more.
Simple fact is they are talking about the Koran and I am not aware of a Gideons-type group making Korans available to any Hotel.
What about all of those empty drawers for Atheists?
Cognizant and respectful of all peoples and beliefs except Christians and those trying to inform themselves. If an Islamic version of Gideons wished to place Korans, would they be sent away?
Funny how many religions we’ve had in this nation up until Islam arrived, and how fast the Bibles were removed to accommodate “other religions”.
Lets just face it, Islam is the one true religion and all others need not ask for any privilege from the government, corporate, or other interests, because it won’t be forthcoming.
Allah be praised... /s
Good point.
and bedbugs....................
This is another small move towards the coming severe persecution of Christians. The pendulum is swinging hard in one direction, and it won’t be swinging back.
I have seen copies of the “book of mormon” and the “koran” in hotels, along with the Gideons’ Bible.
I forgot about book of Mormon.
There isn’t really a Buddhist equivalent of one holy book.
A Bible in a drawer—oh the horrible prospect. I’ve seen Korans, Buddhist books and such also at times in hotels.
Guess what—no one is being forced to read them. Lieberal universities are expensive garbage to the soul.
Actually, there is. While it is true that the many branches of Buddhism have additional scripture, they all have one in common, the original sutra which records the life and lessons of the founder, the original Buddha. I have it in my home library.
I assume this hotel no longer accepts US currency.
When I stay at a hotel, I want the three B’s—bed, bath and Bible. Since those hotels no longer offer all three B’s, I can’t stay there.
What is it called?
Thanks.
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