Very interesting, thanks Graham. I had never viewed the Bible as such a developmental document, and have never actually read it, just appreciated its 'lessons' from early religious education mostly covering readings from the Gospels. That 'early learning' has never left me, and I continue to appreciate its significance to the subsequent formation of my wider 'world-view'.
(Whereas, I remember virtually nothing of 'The Magic Pudding'.)

Credit where due: I am a product of my early and continuing education and my upbringing in a Christian household - and have no regrets or doubts as to the adequacy or effectiveness of the 'life-preparation' afforded.

'Poetry' may be attributed to many early authors, but I wonder if the Bible may represent the origins of the novel - as well as providing great 'theatrical' material and ideas?

>>He also explores its [Christianity's] role in fostering the rise of universities, the development of science..>>

True of the Catholic Church. Less true of Eastern Orthodoxy. Protestant denominations are all over the place on this.

>>He also corrects some naïve views of what the Bible is. While fundamentalist Christians and atheists alike want to view it as the inerrant word of God – one group as a means of supporting it, and the other as a means of tearing it down under its own internal contradictions>>

Agreed with a quibble.

I accept that many Christians understand that parts of the bible cannot be taken literally. But many do and some like this idiot

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBy3MbP4WDo

are actually members of the House Science Committee in the US Congress.

So my plea to sensible Christians is to take on the literalists publicly.

>>militant atheists like Richard Dawkins who use quotes from some of the books in the bible to confound modern audiences because they conflict with the values those audiences have been brought up on, which are drawn from other (generally later) books in the Bible.>>

What is fascinating is the way the bible reveals the EVOLUTION of humanity's understanding of morality in the pre-scientific era. This is also something that escapes both literalists ad Dawkins' groupies.

>>And in language context is everything. While words have a meaning of their own, this is always modified and modulated by the words and ideas in which they are wrapped and surrounded.>>

I wonder whether most words do have a meaning that is independent of context. The phrase "you old bastard" may be a complement or an insult depending on context.

>>It strikes me as bizarre that we mandate knowledge of Indigenous beliefs and customs in all subject areas, when these beliefs and customs have virtually no relevance to contemporary Australian life, yet we completely ignore the Bible and Christian beliefs and customs, which have huge relevance.>>

Agreed

Glad you enjoyed studying English lit, Graham. Keep it up, and you may learn that it goes back a lot further than a chap by the name of Chaucer.
The claim that the Bible is the foundation of equality is weakened by the fact of an awful lot of inequality in the Middle Ages, during which it was the top book.
And when you ponder publishing it in the later Middle Ages or early Renaissance, bear in mind that possession of a copy might well have been illegal for a layman.
That said, I support your argument, though we must look at the Geneva Bible if we want the version used by Shakespeare.

"It strikes me as bizarre that we mandate knowledge of Indigenous beliefs and customs in all subject areas, when these beliefs and customs have virtually no relevance to contemporary Australian life, yet we completely ignore the Bible and Christian beliefs and customs, which have huge relevance."

Very true. If only the Green lefties in the media and education departments would take note.

The book appears to be a very interesting read.

A couple of years ago, as a rather silly amusement, I made up my list of the 12 books that were the best/most important/fascinating etc to me. It was hard especially at the margin and throwing some out of the list was really hard.
They are in no order but two that were listed immediately were the KJV version of the Bible and, associated with it, the BCP (Book of Common Prayer). The language in both is so beautiful; they are on the list for that reason.
Whether people like it or not the KJV in particular has influenced the language.

ponde,

"The bible is in deed a book worth reading.
So is Grimm's fairy tales and Harry Potter.
It only gets dangerous when you start to believe its contents."

The Israelis worked out roughly where Moses did his burning bush exhibition and drilled for oil. They found oil.

Then there is the Burning Bush itself, still around today and still capable of burning without being consumed.

See: http://www.ndsu.edu/pubweb/chiwonlee/plsc211/student%20papers/articles05/fiesel,%20carmen/PLSC%20211%20Web%20Page/burningbush.htm

Some of the Bible seems to be true.