What Our Stories Tell Us
David Turnbull, SA/NT State Director and intercultural studies expert (he has a Doctorate in it!),
investigates how the stories of our culture shape us.
Have you ever lived in a place where TV is not available?
For the first sixteen years of my life TV was a novelty.
Apart from sport, my spare time outside school centred
around engaging with stories via books and storytellers.
This was especially true during our six years in Port
Moresby, Papua New Guinea. At the kitchen table or in
the lounge room we listened to guests share stories of
their adventures in remote parts of the country or to my
mother relaying stories to us of people she had met or
times she had seen God at work. These stories became
embedded into our family life.
But speaking more broadly, how do stories shape
communities and reflect cultures? I see three main ways.
First, stories are a medium in which communities reinforce the
core cultural values and principles underpinning them. Stories
are a way of consolidating tradition and ensuring the key
elements are passed down from one generation to the next.
We can see this in the Aboriginal Dreaming accounts which
communicate laws, define relationships and explain existence.
Second, the shared stories within a social group or
community build unity and shape identity. The role of unity
is significant in ensuring the life of the community into the
future. These shared stories often feature in rituals and
ceremonies. Think of ANZAC day recounts of the Gallipoli
story and the way they build our identity around the concept
of mateship and being the underdog.
Third, stories can be used to challenge perceptions and
cultural practices in a non-confrontational manner and
introduce new ideas. Where direct speaking can alienate and
build walls, stories can cut through, be heard and transform.
Jesus in Palestine provides an excellent model through His use
of parables to bring difficult to accept truths to those listening.
Whether in an Australian neighborhood or among a leastreached
people group, when engaging with people of
other cultural backgrounds, ask yourself three questions:
1. What are stories of my own culture that have shaped me
and my values?
2. What are stories of my friend’s culture that have shaped
them and their values?
3. How do God’s stories connect with or contrast to their
cultural stories and values?
Thanks David! Ok, let’s give it try.
To keep it level one, we’ll go for an
Australian cultural context.
Celebrated Cultural Story: Ned Kelly
Cultural Values Highlighted:
• Anti-authoritarian (somehow he’s seen as the
underdog)
• Individualism (part of a gang but he’s the
enduring figure)
• Innovation (that armour!)
• Traditional masculinity (strong, wild and free)
• Male stories (pulling out and seeing Ned in
the context of Australia’s history of celebrated
heroes… where are the females?)
Points of Connection:
• Stories of Jesus challenging the authority of
the day (flipping the tables at the temple etc)
• God is our creative creator God who created
us to be innovative!
Points of Contrast:
• Jesus honours the authority of God and we are
to honour His authority (and the authority of
our worldly leaders where this doesn’t conflict
with Him)
• Godly men are humble, compassionate and
servant-hearted
• Jesus elevates women and listens to their
stories
resonate · issue 35 · page 9