Without some familiarity with the Bible, students encounter a wall when reading Shakespeare, Dickens, Milton, or Dostoevsky — and when interpreting Western art, architecture, law, and political language. Expressions like 'the writing on the wall', 'prodigal son', 'good Samaritan', 'turning the other cheek', and 'the salt of the earth' are biblical allusions that appear constantly in English-language culture. Students who don't recognise them are reading a map with the place names removed.
The Bible as Cultural Literacy
The Bible's Role in Moral Formation
Many of the moral frameworks that Australians take for granted — human dignity, care for the vulnerable, forgiveness, equality before the law — have deep roots in biblical thought. Understanding where these values come from helps students engage with moral questions at depth rather than treating them as self-evident truths with no history. This is true even for students who don't share the Christian faith.
SRE as Cultural Education
This is one reason why even parents who don't personally hold Christian faith may see value in enrolling their children in SRE: exposure to the central text of Western civilisation, told by people who love it, in a context where questions are welcome. This is not indoctrination — it is education in the full sense. Whether or not a student becomes a Christian, they will be better equipped to read the world around them if they know the Bible.
