Atheists to have their books placed atop Gideon Bibles

A national atheist group is planning to put its literature into a hotel room near you, if given the chance. the atheists are already moving with plans to put their literature into Georgia lodgings.

ATLANTA, GA (Catholic Online) - Imagine settling into your hotel bed, almost ready to sleep. Before turning off the bedside lamp, you reach into the nightstand to get the trusty Gideon Bible for a few verses before dozing off for the night. Instead of coming back with the Bible though, you find in your hand a copy of a book entitled "God is Not Great," or "The God Delusion."

This is what's about to happen to visitors who stay in Georgia's state parks and lodges over the months to come. Atheists have seized upon an opportunity to put their literature into state facilities alongside Gideon Bibles.

Following a complaint lodged by an atheist earlier in the year, state park workers were instructed to remove Gideon Bibles from all cabins and lodges in state parks. The decision was brought to the attention f Gov. Nathan Deal and last week he overturned it saying the Bibles cannot be seen as a state endorsement of religion because the state did not pay for them.

The Bibles have been replaced.

However, Deal made the tactical error of saying that any religious group can donate literature. This has prompted American Atheists President, David Silverman, to come forward with an offer of books about atheism.

Silverman said that neither book should go into the rooms, but if the Bible will be there, then so should literature about atheism.

Silverman said that his group was only waiting for information on how best to handle the donation.

Since the atheists are enjoying success on supplanting the Bible in Georgia, there is some concern they could attempt to replicate it elsewhere. The eventual result could be the elimination of all complimentary literature in hotel rooms around the nation.

For now, it's only in Georgia state parks. Of course, donated literature can also be taken home and enjoyed, so it's unclear how long Silverman's books will last or if he will be able to keep up with demand.

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