I'm not going to decide one way or the other, but I'm not prepared to accept the ONE as of now. Nor, am I going to let anyone dictate what I DO think. See that's why I keep mentioning random authors - because educating onself and reading a wide variety of opinions is the best way of making an educated assessment and part of being informed in our beliefs rather than blindly following anything.
I completely agree.
In a Catholic school, during Religion, Catholic Studies in year 9, my teacher stood up and told us that the Bible was a collection of myths, legends and other fictional narratives. We were told not to take the stories themselves as true, rather to understand the message behind them.
Now I don't identify with Christianity, though I think that these days, this is the case for many people. Just like we tell stories like "The Boy Who Cried Wolf", or "Little Red Riding Hood", the bible offers a selection of stories through which one might gain ethical guidance, if they so choose.
The fact of the matter is, it has given (and still does give) ethical guidance to people, and arising from a Christian colony we cannot escape that fact.
If we study the Bible in a way which both acknowledges this fact whilst understanding the teachings within it, then I don't have a problem with that. We might do the same for the Qur'an and the Torah, or even some of the lesser known religious texts, and then we might actually be able to bridge the gap between some divided cultures.
Though if they are going to teach the Bible as the ultimate truth, then I am completely opposed.
From Abbott's words, I cannot tell which side he takes, and I don't like that. Right now the government is pretty crappy.