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1. Unbelievable. On what planet are these editors living? Could we say that this is a form of discrimination? It's more important today to have these very words included in the Oxford Junior Dictionary for the very reason given above the 'growth of multiculturalism'. How can our young people ever discuss multiculturalism without including religion and its practice?

   Posted By: Anne Ryan

2. To remove words from humanity's spiritual and natural worlds in favour of words from the world of information technology, is paramount to removing something of our human nature, and as we move away from the spiritual and natural we begin to cease to be human.
   Why isn't there room in our language for both/and, rather than either/or.

   Posted By: mary murphy

3. It is very sad. Children should learn new words as they are growing. We try to add new words in the dictionary. Some remove them. Christianity is still one of the major religions in the world. Removing the words connected to Catholics is something to think about. Ms Gupta’s reason is baseless. And moreover she seemed to come from a Hindu background

   Posted By: joy

4. Good grief, what next? "Multiculturalism" is a weak excuse. Most of the words mentioned are NOT specifically Christian. (Even "bishop" is also used by Mormons.)
   
   And you don't have to "go to church" to need to find out what people mean by "sin", "bishop", "saint" etc. The dictionary claims it is "Ideal for children aged 7 plus". Apparently the push to privatise religion now extends to keeping young people in ignorance of what terms used by religious people even mean. Apparently it's more important for them to know about "celebrities".
   
   (I wonder if the dictonary includes imam, mosque, koran, ramadan, mantra, sufi, temple, the names of the astrological "signs" etc.)

   Posted By: Ronk

5. Is Oxford now copying the former Communist Albania and the still Communist North Korea in removing historical recognition from our heritage and the memories of future generations?
   I would say they are.

   Posted By: Michael Webb

6. It's right,Gupta is an Indian name.I think Ms.Gupta might have even been influenced by Indian fundamentalists and politicians. But the 'Word of God will remain forever.'

   Posted By: Dominic

7. A few weeks ago there was an article in the newspaper mentioning that the word "meh" is now included in the dictionary (can't remember which version though).
   
   By eliminating real words that are still in use from the dictionary (be it terms from Christianity or nature) we will create a very "meh" generation - I rest my case.

   Posted By: annemie

8. What about words like islam, sharia law, koran. They would be too afraid not to include anything involving Islam lest they "offend" islamics.

   Posted By: Dean Williams

9. What can you expect when non-Christians are editors of the dictionary. They are just narrow-minded people who want to deprive our children of a broad education and wider understanding of humanity. Please Oxford Dictionary wake up and see the damage that is being caused and get rid of your editors who appear to have an agenda.

   Posted By: Nev

10. I must admit I find this a totally loopy decision. I presume Chess is still in the dictionary, so why deprive new players of the origins of one or more of the pieces?
    
    And what are young people to make of great one liners when they are deprived of the rich humour in classic such as "as the Bishop said to the Nun"
    
    I must admit that most of my younger friends do not yell "get thee to a nunnery" now that the collolquial "f' word has become de rigueur. (is that one in the dictionary or is it too foreign?)
    
    Oh dear, this response possibly puts me alongside Ronk and Michael Webb!! Please don't report me to the thought police for this post

    Posted By: Tony Robertson

11. Adding new words makes it richer, while deleting existing words makes it poorer

    Posted By: Denislobo

12. According to the Daily Telegraph???
    Has anyone read all the crap that goes on in that rubbish paper!?
    
    Some posters here are using racist overtones citing Gupta's race and religion- that is just uncalled for.

    Posted By: TJ Lawson

13. If Oxford is in denial about religion there is little reason to worry.Practically there is still time to act in Australia.All you good people who make up student textbook lists could suggest parents buy an alternate dictionary more in tune with modern Australia.As Oxford could not express 'a rolling stone gathers no moss' you may help future generations at least understand such sayings,not to mention who a bishop is. Looks like chess is out of fashion at Oxford. Gone are the days when the English language was that language spoken in the south of England reflecting whatever cultural problems it may have. Even google recognizes Australian and NZ English as being separate from other parts of the world.If no really good dictionary is available, pick the best and commission your own for publication in future years.

    Posted By: lewis p buckingham

14. Deconstructionist Philosophy is responsible, not some populist rendering of the word 'multiculturalism.'
    
    For the editors of the Junior OEG to cite a populist rendering of a word in preference to the etymological rendering shows a true betrayal of what was once a trustworthy project.
    
    It seems now Catholic teachers will have to battle not only with marxist critique against the catholic Shakespeare, but now secularist critique of the very language which was definitively written down to allow the King James Bible to be produced.

    Posted By: Fr Mick Mac Andrew Bombala-Delegate NSW

15. TJ, the secular press may be unreliable especially on religious topics, but that doesn't mean EVERYTHING it prints is totally false. (Btw this is the London DT not the Sydney one). Do you have any evidence that these words have NOT been excluded or that Miss Gupta did not say her reported comments?
    
    Apart from Nev's sweeping statement that (by implication all) "non-Christians ...are just narrow-minded people who want to deprive our children of a broad education and wider understanding of humanity", there has been no overtone of religious bigotry displayed here, and certainly no racism.
    (In any case it's by definition impossible to be "racist" about somebody's religion.)
    I'm sure if somebody who was obviously an Anglo Christian was in charge of producing an Indian children's dictionary, and removed words relating to Hinduism, there would be plenty of comment about his race and religion.
    
    

    Posted By: Ronk

16. Mick Mac Andrew, the scriptures were from the hebrew tradition. Strictly speaking, we hijacked them with the anglo-latin language and culture. Let's stay in perspective shall we.
    
    Jesus is middle-eastern and Jewish too.

    Posted By: TJ Lawson

17. TJ Lawson, even apart from your absurdity of some supposed "anglo-latin language", your comment has no relevance to the topic.

    Posted By: Ronk

18. It seems Britain is well on the way to the "Newspeak Dictionary" of Orwell's "Nineteen Eighty-Four", from which "Big Brother" excluded all words relating to religion, so that even if the young generation chanced to see hear or hear any religious language, the words would just seem like so much gibberish to them.

    Posted By: Ronk

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