Each of Australia’s 244 Federal Members of Parliament has received a copy of the 2003 Christian Book of the Year, Islam in our Backyard, as part of a special project by the Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge to combat religious relativism.
The innovative plan was adopted after judges for this year’s awards com-mented that the book by Tony Payne “should be read by every politician, every church going person, and all thinking Australians”.
It is now hoped that the project might also extend to state parliaments, and a special deal from the publishers, making the book available for this purpose at $4 per copy, means the goal might not be unrealistic. A gift of just over $600 would allow the 156 state MPs in NSW to each receive a copy, while a special donation has already allowed South Australia’s 72 MPs to receive the book.
Copies of Islam in our Backyard, published by Matthias Media, were sent to Federal MPs in late October. Leonard Woodley, Secretary of SPCK Australia, said that in addition to formal acknowledgements of receipt, a number of positive responses had arrived.
“There’s quite a high level of genuine interest and appreciation,” he said. “Even if a third of them actually read it, I think we are a long way ahead. It will engage thinking [MPs], and I’m sure from the replies that we’ve received that those MPs who are Christians are feeling quite encouraged.”
Mr Woodley said that while the Australian public is ‘very engaged’ by the issue of Islam, most people had a negative impression ‘for reactive reasons rather than informed reasons’.
“We’re hoping that Tony’s book will not only give a much more informed picture of Islam and what it’s on about, but [MPs] will also be confronted with the necessity of moving to a truly tolerant society, rather than a relativist society.”
An accompanying letter to MPs has also encouraged them to recommend the book to others as a way of understanding Australia’s present religious climate.
“It’s very hard to find book that communicates Christianity in a credible way to the average Aussie. Here’s a title that engages people immediately because it’s an issue of concern to them,” Mr Woodley said. “While reading up to inform themselves on this issue of concern, they are also being confronted with the reality of the gospel.”