Story Telling Imagination & Life

Introduction

I have been writing this post while at the same time writing my monthly post for my Literacy blog titled 'Literacy, Families & Learning'. This of course has a different audience, but nevertheless many Christians read that blog as well as other faith-based people from around the world who are not Christians. One of the largest groups of followers overseas are parents who live as Muslims in a wide range of Muslim countries. Their concern for their children's education and growth is similar to many Christian parents. A case in point is seen in this month's topic, it is of relevance to people of all nations. 

In the post, I want to revisit the topic of Storytelling and discuss just how critical it is for the development of our children. This should not surprise you because I devote a full chapter to 'Imagination & Life' in my Pedagogy book. The book addresses pedagogy and teaching quite broadly. Considering the role of the  human imagination is one of the areas examined. The varied outputs of life are often expressed through the imagination, or at a minimum influenced by it.

1. Keeping Imagination in check 

C.S. Lewis talked often about the relationship between imagination and reason. He stressed we must not let imagination shape us so much, that we misuse it or allow it to replace reason. Jeremiah warns us not to walk "in the imagination of our hearts". By this, most commentators believe that he is stressing that while God gave us imaginations we must use them properly. 

Above: C.S. Lewis in his Study

I was an atheist to this point in my life, but went to church one day 40 years ago. I did so (much to her surprise) simply to accompany my wife, who while not a Christian herself, had an interest in God. She had attended Sunday School as child and her Grandparents were Christians. 

We moved to Bathurst (NSW Australia) in 1982 so I could take up a University appointment, my wife stayed at home to care for our two daughters aged 5 and three at the time. She took our 5 year old daughter to a Playgroup at the local Baptist Church after a neighbour (not a Christian) encouraged her to go with her.

To my wife's surprise, when she told me one day that she wanted our daughters to go to Sunday School, and a week later that she wanted to go to church herself, I surprised her (and inwardly myself). I replied "what makes you think I don't want to go too?" To this point in my life I saw myself as an Atheist. I was impacted by the sermon in the service on Matthew 11:28-30.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light".

I was touched by the message and when I got went home to the bathroom, dropped to my knees and in tears cried out to God, "God, if you're real, reveal yourself to me". In that moment, I was deeply convicted, and committed my life to follow him then and there on my knees. My wife came to faith about two weeks later. 

2. But a warning!

Veith and Rustuccia in their helpful article "Between the Image and the Word" remind us that imagination can provide some of the "subject matter" and "impetus" for our feelings and choices (see also Trevor Hart's book that was a key source for Veith & Rustuccia). Ultimately it is God who must use the circumstances of our lives, the gift of the imagination and the work of his Spirit, in concert with His Word, to bring us to our knees, repent and believe.

The would be evangelist, who takes pride in "their work" saving people and leading them to Christ, must not forget that it is the work of God that drives all, not us.  

3. Where to from here?

C.S. Lewis helpfully draws the above ideas together in his work "Bluspels and Flanasferes" pp 10-11 (Oxford University Press, 1939). While accepting the above insights about the imagination and God's use of it in lives like mine, we must remember that our imaginations can just as easily lead us in unhelpful directions. We must battle not to be captured by imaginations to lead us to stray and away from the truth. Having said this, it is also wrong to fear the imagination which God gave us as a gift. So encouraging children's imaginations is not bad, rather it is a gift that must be nurtured, encouraged and used to help all grasp truth.

Above: A Playgroup that encourages children to explore 

As teachers, we are to create classroom environments and atmospheres, that encourage children to explore questions like "what if?" "how come" and of course "why"? Such questions might lead to the seeking of deep truths mirrored in God's word. 

As parents we shouldn't fear the imagination. It is good for children to experience all written and spoken genres, including fantasy, to rightly understand the place of God's word in our lives. Fantasy, and truth are not the same thing. We need to help our children to understand and manage both as they engage and live in the world. 

These are important challenges for teachers and parents, might God bless and teach you as you head down such paths. 

The Tricky Relationship Between Open-Mindedness, Critical Thinking and Indoctrination

In this post I want to address what I see as the tension for people of faith between three well known concepts, 'Open-mindedness', 'Critical thinking' and 'Indoctrination'. My specific focus will be on how Christian schools deal with them. For some of my readers who identify with other faiths, what I have to say has equal relevance to you too. Educating the whole child, involves many things, but the role of faith in their (and our) lives must be central and obvious.

Etienne Wenger in his book "Communities of Practice" suggests that living in the world is a process of "negotiated meaning". In saying this he isn't saying there is no such thing as "truth", but his comment is still a bit confusing. I also find his use of the term "negotiated meaning" as quite dangerous. 

A "truth" IS something that is known to be true. We can of course argue about such things with others, but in reading a book like the Bible, which seeks to shape the lives and beliefs of Christians, we need always to be seeking the truth. But what is a 'truth'?

An application of this relationship between truth & life

The implications of the above for Christian life are significant. I DO believe in "truths" and clearly this is what the Bible teaches. But ensuring that we understand how we live by faith and seek the truth as believers, requires attention to the Word of God and the mutual support of others. 

I want to illustrate this by looking at the relationship between the three key words in my title, the difference between "open-mindedness", "Critical Thinking" and "Indoctrination".

What Wenger DOES NOT mean in his statement is that we can arrive and believe in a specific truth by negotiation (and perhaps convenience). As Christians we have little trouble answering the question "is Jesus the Son of God"? But what about "does being a Christian require us to meet together as believers"? And, "is the Bible really truth or can we leave out the bits we don't like"? I recall a teenager in a young adult group I led once, who tore Romans from her Bible because she didn't like its teachings on Homosexuality.

As we unpack these questions about truth, indoctrination and so on, we might also keep in mind some of the practical matters we deal with constantly as parents, and also as parishioners. For example, at a time when we are still emerging from three years of the COVID pandemic, we might ask is watching my church services online every Sunday okay? My answer is no if members are healthy and can get to church. 

Above: Image of the COVID-19 image

But why? Because the Bible teaches us that while we should worship and pray privately (Matthew 6:6) it's also clear that we should not give up meeting together to worship and pray (Heb 10:25). Involvement in our Christian community is important and an imperative. Technology enabled us to 'meet' as churches during the global COVID 19 pandemic, but now it is much less of a threat, we need to meet together as much as possible. As Hebrews 10:25 reminds us, we should NOT

 "... give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, encouraging one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

Surely this isn't essential for salvation? Of course it isn't, but we need to meet with one another. But is it essential for salvation? No! And yet in the Catholic Church the attendance at Sunday Mass is seen as an imperative. But why? One frequently used justification for it is, that it's our obligation to meet to pray, listen to the message from the priest, and go to communion to keep in a 'state of grace'. The last bit of this Catholic view is what is most problematic. Christians are commended and encouraged to gather together. Not simply to take part in the "sacraments" but to learn from God's word, grow in faith and serve one another as we learn, worship our God and rejoice. Devotion to attending Church and taking part in Mass does NOT save anyone. Only faith in our God and the only true access to forgiveness and salvation, Jesus!

Above: St Mary's Cathedral Sydney

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, so that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

So what about the "Tricky relationship between these three things..."?

My post is meant to be a cautionary word to Christians and in fact all people of faith with belief in God. 

a) Open-mindedness

The dictionary meaning of "Open-mindedness" is not the acceptance of anyone's views about God and salvation. Rather it is "the willingness to search actively for evidence against one's favoured beliefs, plans, or goals, and to weigh such evidence fairly when it is available". It has nothing to do with being humbly accepting everyone's views of the world and their views on what faith in God looks like.  

b) Critical thinking

Again the Oxford Dictionary meaning is "the objective analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to form a judgement". This has nothing to do with accepting the beliefs of others and allowing this to reshape your own view of God and our obligations before him. No, we must examine the Bible and read it to seek the truth for ourselves.

c) Indoctrination

Finally, what is the meaning of "indoctrination"? This might surprise you. "The process of teaching a person to accept a set of beliefs uncritically".

Summing up and a few warnings

So, what implications do the above have to those of us who support religious schools of any type. 

First, as teachers in all religious schools, our task is NOT to indoctrinate. Rather, as Christians it is to present our beliefs as they are reflected in the Bible, and challenge our students to consider these for themselves. And of course, as teachers, we are to live our lives in a manner that is based on our beliefs. Children very quickly see through hypocrisy.

Second, as parents we should not simply send our children to a faith-based school to ensure their salvation, no matter what our faith might be. If we want our children to accept and follow the faith we profess, we must live this life ourselves. Children once again see through hypocrisy. 

Third, we should not simply seek to enforce our beliefs on any child, whether your own or one you teach. Our children must be taught and encouraged to have faith, but ultimately they must accept this for themselves.

Hopefully, our schools as institutions, and their teachers and leadership, demonstrate their faith is genuine in their lives and actions. As well, in all aspects of what the school demonstrates as most important, should offer the most powerful demonstration of the value and truth of the faith they accept.