There’s been some talk over recent months as to whether Gideons should be able to place Bibles at the bedside of patients in Australian hospitals.
While some media have run with stories about Bibles being banned from hospitals, they appear to be mostly beat ups. However, the issue is one that will probably continue to receive attention in the coming months and years.
What are your thoughts? Gideons Bibles have provided great comfort for many people over many years. Simply having a Bible available at a patient’s bedside doesn’t mean they’ll read it so it’s not as if anyone is having unwanted beliefs forced upon them. On the other hand you may object to having any kind of ‘religious’ material placed in hospitals.
The federal member for Warringah is running a poll to get an understanding of public opinion on the issue. If you’d like to participate in the poll that Tony Abbott is conducting just click here and select yes or no. Just make sure you read the question carefully. The question asks, “Should public hospital authorities be prevented from placing Gideons Bibles by patients’ bedsides?” So if you don’t think Bibles should be in hospitals you should select ‘Yes’. If you think that Gideons should be free to leave Bibles in hospitals you should select ‘No’.
Posted by Rodney Olsen
Technorati Tags: Gideons – Bible – Hospital
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“Simply having a Bible available at a patient’s bedside doesn’t mean they’ll read it so it’s not as if anyone is having unwanted beliefs forced upon them” – Exactly, and if any other religions want to put their holy book at bedsides, go for it.
That’s what the Gideons have been saying. If someone wants to place Korans they won’t have a problem with that.
If I was staying in a hotel room that had a copy of the Bible and and English translation of the Koran, I’d probably read the Koran out of curiosity, since I am far more familiar with the Bible.
Can’t God speak through both texts? Can God speak through almost any written text, for that matter?
I was going to say exactly what anon said… And I’ll add that I remember as a little girl growing-up in church, the wonderful stories the visiting Gideons would share with us once a year (or so)… true stories from many of the people whose lives had been saved (literally) because they’d gone into a motel room with every intention of committing suicide and then came upon a Gideon Bible and began to read…. and chose to give Life another chance. I would so hate to see these Bibles removed… Blessings, Debra
Here in the US they Gideons put Bibles in hotel/motels. If someone doesn’t want to read it – they certainly don’t have to. David has a point – if they are going to leave a Bible then other religions should be free to leave their holy books as well. I have read parts of the Koran and find it fascinating, but my personal belief is in the Bible.
Good topic.
Gideons used to be able to give out bibles at schools here in Canada … that was always a highlight to me as a youngster, to actually get a little new testament of my own …
i hope they will be allowed to continue with bibles in hospitals … even if a person doesn’t have faith – psalms and other books that speak of the human condition give hope and encouragement when it is most needed!
We have the Gideon Bibles placed in the drawer by the bedside table in most hotels here. Unfortunately – to my frustration – some people, obviously not Christian liking people, have smeared the Holy book with vulgarities and obscenities.
That launched my parents and I into a discussion. My dad said there was no need to place it there as in Malaysia, we are a multi-racial and multi religious community, and it could offend non-Christians ( I would think very childish and uneducated ones!) to have the Bible placed in their room. But I mean, they dont have to look at it if they dont want, right? No need to go vandalise it! My dad said they should just make it available at the front desk and the customer can ask for it over the counter if they wanted one. I guess that’s an idea too…