I’m sure you’ve heard of Gideons International. They’ve been around since 1899 and have been dedicated to distributing free Bibles in hospitals, hotel rooms and countries around the world.
In fact, last year alone, Gideons International distributed 80 million Bibles!
However, there’s one hotel that has removed these Gideon Bibles from their 148 rooms and replaced them with Kindles.
e-Bibles
Now, before you think that Hotel Indigo in Newscastle kicked the Bible to the curb to become the first hotel in Britain to offer Kindle’s in every room, don’t.
Each and every Kindle has a copy of the Bible pre-loaded. In fact, the hotel will allow patrons to download other religious text, with a value of £5 or less, at no charge. Now, I’m not sure if that includes any religious literature — such as Pilgrims Progress — or if that simply means someone staying at the hotel can download the Quran and the Book of Mormon. Regular fiction books can be purchased, with the cost being added to the guests’ bills.
As of now, this is being done on a trial basis, but if found successful, will expand to over 44 hotels worldwide. Of course, if they find success, other hotels may take notice and try the same.
Why?
The rationale behind this idea can best be explained by Adam Munday, the hotel’s general manager:
“In the 18th Century, Newcastle was one of the largest print centres in Britain and we’re in Grainger Town, close to the Literary and Philosophical Society. We wanted to reflect this literary history in a very contemporary way, so are offering guests the use of cutting-edge Kindles pre-loaded with The Bible, instead of the more traditional hardcopy Gideon’s Bible that they would expect to find in a hotel.”
Do you think this will reduce the effectiveness of making Gideon Bibles available?
Thoughts?
[via The Telegraph | Image via Stian Olsen]
Adam Shields says
This is an article about Kindle, so I have to respond right? 🙂
I think that the method of Gideon is getting long in the tooth. Part of the purpose is putting a bible in a room is the assumption that people will be bored enough to read it.
I don’t know about you, but I never turn a tv on when traveling. But I am never bored. I always carry a kindle, usually another paper book (for the plane) and iphone with my music, an ipad, my computer and occasionally other things.
I don’t travel a ton, so maybe others have a different take on this. But how many people really do read the Gideon bible.
The kindle replacement may increase visibility, but probably not actual reading.
Eric Dye says
It may even INCREASE the Bible’s exposure, as those who don’t have a Kindle may fiddle with it.
Steve Jones says
In 1984 I was in a hotel room in Chicago … alone … empty … and in need of a touch from God. I opened the Bible provided by The Gideons and read scripture and began praying. God showed up and began changing my life that night. Fast forward to 2023 and I became a Gideon and now speak in Churches about how God’s Word changes lives. This isn’t a matter of what I think … It’s a matter of what I experienced. So yes, people do read The Bibles 🙏
Curtis says
It seems obvious to me that they are doing this for two reasons
1) To replace dead tree media with something more interactive and relevant.
2) To make religious text of any persuasion equally available, and remove any bias in favor of Christianity.
Welcome to our post-modern, post-christian world. Deal with it.
Eric Dye says
I don’t agree with the first point completely (http://vimeo.com/42599889), but I do with the second. Thank you for your comment! 🙂