Religious items in shared spaces

[Julie1525]

I had something of a nightmare last night. It was a dream in which I hosted a same sex couple (which doesn't bother me in the least). But when they saw my one small wall shelf in a corner of the living room with a few religious items on it, they were highly offended because they were atheists.  Remember, this was a dream. The shelf is real, though.

I have removed most any reference to religion in my living room, and there is none at all in any other shared space. Really, I think it's rather inconspicuous. No one has mentioned it and I don't bring up religion at all.  This is my home and not a hotel, and I'm reminded that in several hotel chains there are Bibles in the beside drawer. I am curious, though, about what other religious hosts do, regardless of denomination.  Could this set me up for any sort of problem as a host? 

[David6]

If my partner and I were guests are you were friendly and accepting, then your religion is your business & it’s not our concern in any way what items you choose to display in your personal home. Only if a hosts was predjuidiced or very vocal about their religion. In a way that I felt they were judging or attacking. Then yes, I’d have some comment to make and politely call a host out in it. 

[Lisa1831]

@Julie1525 I agree with @David6 it is the way you treat people that matters. 

Remember Hebrew's 13:2

When it comes to strangers and hospitality. 

Remember Matthew 10:33 when it comes to denying God.

Remember Ezekiel 16: 48-50 in general .

Leave your religious items up. Make it clear in your listing that ALL are welcome. It could make the difference in that someone could feel separated from God because of their sexual orientation but because you welcomed them they could feel the love of God through you.

Be Blessed

[Bryan10]

I guess this would be OK as long as the religious stuff is kept to yourself. As you see above some people like it, but actively spreading it is where the problems lie. You only have to look at all the tears, terror and wars that organised religions are the root cause of, to see we'll be better off without them. 

[Ange2]

@Julie1525    It could set you up for a problem, but that's always a risk whatever the subject matter.  I have read posts where guests and hosts have made something as banal as the color of sheets a subject of controversy.   However,  I would not display my personal beliefs in a guest room (or shared spaces). I see it as a neutral space that guests can make their own and feel comfortable in for however many days they are staying.  But guests also need to take responsibility,  if they do not like what they see then do not book that listing. À Chacun Son Goût - "To Each His Own".

[Julie1525]

@Ange2 , thank you for your input on this topic. I'm still rather torn about it. since it's my home, and I live here full-time, I thought that if I kept it not very obvious that I could have a couple of things on display in an out of the way corner. I asked my last guests about it. They said they had not even noticed them, but that they understood they were coming into my home and had no expectations of it reflecting their own lifestyle.

[Joy298]

Oh, being a Chinese myself and I have some decorations in my room align with feng shui principles. I may check with my guests next time if they feel any uncomfortable with the stone lions...

[May1587]

As a queer pagan person this kind of thing has made me super uncomfortable in the past. One Bible in a drawer is one thing, but kitschy jesus decor everywhere shoving bible verses down your throat is not appropriate. If you want people to feel at home, you have to make space for people of other religions and beliefs. If you came to my air bnb and there was a Quran and Islam imagery everywhere, how would you feel? If you came to my space and there was bone art hanging on the walls and a book of black magic spells on your dresser how would you feel? What about a Satanic Bible, or satanic imagery? How about if you went to look on your side table and The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins was sitting there? I'm guessing you wouldn't like that much.

It's also really important to remember that while you may love xstianity, xstianity can mean oppression, pain, or even danger to other people. As a queer person xstianity has deeply scarred me. Crosses and other xstian icons mean "you are hated here", "you're a freak" and "you don't deserve rights". You might think, "but I'm a loving, accepting xstian!". That's wonderful, but unless you show verbally or nonverbal that you accept queer people and people of other faiths, I'd never know the difference. Because it's a matter of safety for me, I have to assume the worst. People are still killed in the US all the time for being gay. Traveling is a life and death experience for us. We can be murdered without cause in most US states (see "gay panic laws").

So if you want to keep the Jesus stuff up, make sure to add some other decor that says that you love and welcome people of all faiths, races, orientations, genders, etc.