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Original poster

Calling all Atheists, Agnostics, Muslims, Pagans, etc etc......

36 replies

Gwenick · 02/06/2005 17:11

in others words anyone who ISN'T a Christian.

When you're in hospital/visiting people in hospital do you find it 'offensive' when you find a copy of the Gideon Bible inside your bedside cupboard????

Please answer the question before looking at the link

here

OP posts:
Newbarnsleygirl · 02/06/2005 17:14

Don't know what to think about that one.

I don't believe but...

Tissy · 02/06/2005 17:15

Actually I am a Christian, but wouldn't object to finding a copy of the Koran in the bedside table, as long as it was in English, so I could read it!

assumedname · 02/06/2005 17:20

No, I don't find it offensive. I've even read a copy that I found in a hotel bedroom on holiday.

How can it be offensive? It's a book, read it or don't.

Newbarnsleygirl · 02/06/2005 17:23

I can see how it would offend christians but I have often wondered that it must offend those of a different religion.

Twiglett · 02/06/2005 17:23

I find it far more offensive not finding a nurse/midwife anywhere near for most of the day

Marina · 02/06/2005 17:24

Agree with Tissy AND Twiglett on this.

Tinker · 02/06/2005 17:25

Don't find it offensive, just irrelevant.

LemonDrizzle · 02/06/2005 17:26

I wouldn't find any religous book/document in a hospital draw. now am off to click on link

jessicasmummy · 02/06/2005 17:28

there wasnt a bible at my bedside when i was in hospital a few weeks ago....

LemonDrizzle · 02/06/2005 17:28

of course that should read - I wouldn't find it offensive.

Original poster
Gwenick · 02/06/2005 17:32

here wasnt a bible at my bedside when i was in hospital a few weeks ago....

Someone probably nicked it LOL - when I was in hospital after having DS2 I saw a few women browsing through them and went to find the copy out of my bedside cabinet...........it wasn't there - so I asked a MW who told me "Oh people are always stealing them"!!!!

OP posts:
Blu · 02/06/2005 17:32

Spreading MRSA!!!! LOL.
Not offensive, but it is a bit 'pushy'. (I always assume it is for non-Christians, because any committed Christians would have brought their own well-thumbed tome!) I can see it now - NHS having to fund 10000's of enlarged bedside cabinets as every religion donates texts to hospitals!!
And actually, to some religions the Bible (and new testament in particular) might be more of an issue?
If I needed the drawer space for novels and chocs, I would simply ask someone to take it away - but they would be too busy, and so we arrive at Twiglett's point!

SenoraPostrophe · 02/06/2005 17:33

no. Nor would I be offended by any fictional hospital reading matter

Original poster
Gwenick · 02/06/2005 17:33

(I always assume it is for non-Christians, because any committed Christians would have brought their own well-thumbed tome!)

Ermm - I'm afraid I didn't think of putting that in my hospital bag when I had DS's -wasn't expecting to stay long.........and if you've been rushed into hospital in an emergency I doubt any Christian would be thinking "Arghh where's my bible" - no matter how committed they are

OP posts:
SaintGeorge · 02/06/2005 17:34

No, not offended. Would never actually read it though.

SenoraPostrophe · 02/06/2005 17:35

I do read it sometimes though, BTW. I'm not a christian, but there's some good stuff in there.

Original poster
Gwenick · 02/06/2005 17:38

It's interesting reading the comments here - you have to wonder who told the NHS trust it could be offending people........from this 'small' selection of people here it would appear there's no real 'offence' (and those of you that don't like Christianity being pushed on you will probably agree that a bible hidden at the back of a cupboard isn't really 'pushy') so is the PC brigade deciding for 'other' people what they find offencive??

Or did one person complain and from that they assume everyone is offended... You'd think they could find more important things to do with their time (and money( than to talk about whether they should remove the books or not LOL

OP posts:
SenoraPostrophe · 02/06/2005 17:41

Not necessarily, Gwenick. Nobody has posted whether or not they are atheist/agnostic or a member of a minority religion. We a/as are used to being ignored (rather than actively discriminated against) and I for one don't care really. That might not be the case for members of minority religions who do feel discriminated against - do you see what i mean?

Original poster
Gwenick · 02/06/2005 17:44

That's true - never thought of that.

I do find it odd that it's only been brought up as an issue now. I know it's only really in recent years that we've had a LARGE number of minority religious people in the UK, but the Gideons have been putting bibles in hospital/hotels etc etc for over 50yrs!

OP posts:
assumedname · 02/06/2005 17:45

Large population of people of other faiths in Leicester, though, so possibly more chances of offending someone there?

SaintGeorge · 02/06/2005 17:45

Sorry - used to people already knowing. I'm Pagan

Janh · 02/06/2005 17:50

Is there not a Gideon's Koran then?

Blu · 02/06/2005 17:56

Gwenick - you're right, of course people don't pack a Bible - will go and look for lost brain cells . In that case, I think I am pleased for Christians that there are people who thoughtfully provide Bibles for people who feel in need. And as for the other religions, if there is a group amongst them who would like to take the equivalent initiative, good for them, too.

But, NHS hospitals are state institutions, and there to cater equally for all...I don't quite know how to put what I think - something alomg the lines of the fench insistence that schools remain secular (tho' I don't agree with their headscarf ban), and the fact that christian groups have the history, money and gravitas to be able to provide Bibles, and that some minority religions don't - or that if everyone wanted to provide for their beliefs, the bedside drawers really would be bursting open.

I do wonder who has actually mustered the energy and concern to complain, though!

ChaCha · 02/06/2005 18:49

I don't think it's discriminating at all. What next?!? Why can't they provide books for all faiths if they feel that strongly about it and I quote 'In a statement, the trust said it was, "committed to religious diversity and equality". So where is the equality then? Is an insult to Christians to remove their holy book if you ask me - not to non-Christians.

If it comes down to the whole MRSA issue then that's another story altogether!

The 2001 census for religous identity in Britain showed 71% of Christians - shouldn't it be there right then? Why can't they go into a hospital and find the Bible there? Ridiculous - whatever next?

and I'm a Muslim by the way.

Janh · 02/06/2005 20:59

I am astounded that 71% claimed to be Christian in the census, ChaCha.

According to this 27% of "adults surveyed" claimed to attend church once a week or more but it doesn't define "church", and the figure for India is 42%.

Latest figures for Church of England:

"Usual Sunday attendance 900,000." Hm. Not exactly 71% of the population...