Tony Abbott says the Bible is at the core of Australia's civilisation and should be compulsory reading for students. He further reflected that people can read the Bible for its literary merits, without necessarily become believers.
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,1,26507226-5006301,00.html
M V Tronson says that there are so many Biblical quotations in common use within our language framework, it would be helpful if more Australians knew the original source.
He cites such ideas as the 'scape goat' which in the Old Testament where a goat was let loose in the wilderness on Yom Kippur after the high priest symbolically laid the sins of the people on its head. Lev. 16:8,10,26.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/scapegoat
Today, when someone is referred to as the scape goat, that person has taken the rap for something he or she has not done and more than likely unaware that they are the scape goat.
'He knew not Joseph' is another common phrase; often used when a new boss comes into the picture and doesn't know the background of someone who has been of instrumental value in the past. The Old Testament story is that Joseph had saved Egypt from starvation but as the years went on and a new King arose in Egypt who knew not Joseph; and whatever favours that had been extended to the Children of Israel had long been forgotten.
http://www.infoplease.com/dictionary/brewers/pharaoh-who-knew-joseph.html
There are many of these in the Old Testament. And from the New Testament, we get the 'Prodigal son' and the naming of a traitor as a 'Judas', to name but two of many.
"These have helped bind our culture together in its language and unspoken understanding," M V Tronson noted.
Arron Langmaid, writing for 'Adelaide Now' on 19 December 2009 (see the reference above), quoted a former Howard government Islamic advisor as saying, that Mr Abbott's remarks were "over the top".
"Again, what a remarkable place Australia is, where someone from a minority religion (2006 Census, Islamic-Muslim 2.6%) is able to make such a comment," M V Tronson mused. "And moreover, that the comment as an opposite view is then reported in a major newspaper."
That the King James 1611 version of the Bible has had an immeasurable contribution to modern civilisation of English speaking nations, including Australia, is undisputed. The issue Tony Abbott raised is whether it should be taught in schools as a literary tool. On this issue, Mark Tronson agrees.
The Letters of the Editors' columns across the nation saw huge numbers of people concur, while others acknowledged the Bible's huge contribution but were not as certain that it needed to be taught based on its literary value.
Australia's freedoms of both religion and speech are fundamental to our society. On this upcoming Australia Day, all of us, whatever our beliefs (or lack of beliefs), should be proud to be able to acknowledge the wisdom and lyricism of the King James version of the Bible as part of our wonderful heritage.
"We can only do this, if the literary worth of the Good Book is taught to the younger generation," explained M V Tronson.