The central text of Aussie culture

For broadcast on 2CH Sydney, 8 Dec 2013.

There’s a new book out this month titled, The Great Bible Swindle… and What Can Be Done About It.  The book, published by Bible Society Australia and written by CEO Greg Clarke, is a light-hearted look at a serious topic – the need to know the Christian Bible in order to be properly educated.

Dr Clarke believes it is nothing short of scandalous that Australian children emerge from their formal schooling with almost no grasp of the central text that has shaped their culture. He insists that a basic knowledge of the Bible is essential for making sense of our shared history, literature, music, architecture, art and more.

Sydney University Vice-Chancellor Dr Michael Spence agrees. “A basic knowledge of the Bible is an essential part of the toolkit of any educated person. Without it, so much of the last two thousand years of Western culture is either inaccessible or only poorly understood.”

I’m Rod Benson for the NSW Council of Churches.