Well, let’s understand a few things. The Gideons do not force Bibles on anybody–I think you and I have agreed on that. They stand back and allow people to take their Bibles as they please. Otherwise, they depend on others to supply the Gideons’ Bibles to people: hotels, prisons (my inmate clients admit that they can receive Gideon Bibles if they wish; most don’t), and universities, as you and I have spoken of.
So are the Gideon proseletyzing? Yes.
Are they proseletyzing in the sense that they are being in-your-face obnoxious? I’d suggest no.
The image of a Gideon forcing a child to take a Bible does not accord with what I understand of the organization. They will give a Bible to anybody who wants one, true; but that person must ask for a Bible. While others may demand that the Bibles be read, the Gideons are content that the Bible has been distributed. If a Bible has been given out; well, the Gideons are happy. Whether is is read is another matter, that the Gideons are not concerned with.
So how do we resolve this with the fact that the Gideons supply the Bible to schoolchildren? Well, as has been said, Alberta schools can force prayer in the classroom. Ignoring Catholic schools; public schools, in spite of the fact that they can, generally won’t. And also, as has been said, the Gideons will not force anybody to take their Bibles. If a school board demands that schoolchildren take Bibles; then the school board is afoul of the Constitution, not the Gideons.
So what do we do? In spite of the fact that it would irk other Canadians. I’d suggest that we simply let it be. Yes, we will produce people who are woefully ignorant. I encounter enough in my practice. But one of the things that defines this part of Canada is that it doesn’t change.