The Gideons were out on the streets today, politely trying to hand out copies of the New Testament to passers by. Apparently I have some sort of mark on my head that allows me to buy and sell things, but I can’t be offered a free bible. I bet I could buy one, though thanks to that mark

When I was out stalking the Gideons (seriously, I passed a dozen of them at different spots, some of them as many as three times) I also saw our Krishna friend from Vancouver; it was nice enough today that he’s in full robes and has his head shaved (save for the topknot). He was wielding an accordion and had a couple of his peers with him; I didn’t stop to see what they were up to today. I’ve tried to read bits of the Bhagavad-Gita but I find it to be extremely dry; I prefer the veggie cook books they offer.

I’ve been thinking about picking up a selection of religious books to help me argue people who do nothing but quote from their religious books. One needs to know their enemy, and while I don’t see the Christian as the enemy in day to day life, in a debate it’s the sensible way to look on your opponent.

Sure, there are online versions that I use to look up specific quotes, but they’re not really conducive to straight-ahead reading, let alone highlighting and bookmarking. That said, I don’t want to pay a cent to support any of these religious organizations, so my options are find freely available copies or steal them from hotel rooms.

I’ve managed to order a free Quran and a “free” Book of Mormon (that will likely end with them showing up at my door), but somehow I can’t find a free paper version of the Bible. I’d prefer one of the tiny ones like they handed out to us back in religion class in sixth grade and one that isn’t written in ‘contemporary’ English “During lunch, Jesus took a dinner roll from the table and said to his pals ‘Dudes! Eat me!’”

I’ll keep poking around online… someone has to want to save Canadians…