So the National Secular Society doesn't want to put the world's best-selling book into school libraries - www.secularism.org.uk/news/2012/05/why-is-the-government-promoting-a-particular-religion-in-state-schools

Why not? What is there to be afraid of? Bible Society says that the Bible doesn't just open up the Christian faith, it also reveals our history, culture and language.

The National Secular Society has revealed its not-so hidden agenda: to stop Britain's children reading the Bible. It's ironic on the day when it launches its Section 5 campaign for freedom of speech.

How can we define ourselves as Britons today if we deny our children the opportunity to discover their heritage? The idea that kids need to be protected from the Bible is an insult to their intelligence.

The Bible should be available and well taught in schools, alongside other texts that have formed the basis of the English canon. The scheme doesn't cost the tax payer anything. It's free. The Bible is a great read and will benefit Britain's children.

As one of the partners in the scheme to place the King James Bible into Britain's schools, we applaud the government's initiative. It is however, just the first step on a long road to opening up this great book to today's children.

"The position of the National Secular Society is remarkable," said Paul Woolley, Bible Society's executive director of charity.

"On the day that they are calling for the liberalisation of free speech laws, it's an irony that they are opposing the privately-funded distribution of Bibles in schools.

"The Bible is not only a tremendously significant religious and cultural resource, it is also the single most influential text in British political history being foundational in many of the liberties we enjoy today.

"In the words of Richard Dawkins, 'We are a Christian culture, we come from a Christian culture, and not to know the King James Bible is to be, in some small way, barbarian.'"

At Bible Society we believe passionately in encouraging kids to read and understand the Bible. This is why we have developed the free resources like Cross Ref It for schools
www.crossref-it.info