tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post1474085758727684192..comments2024-02-17T17:59:25.010+10:00Comments on Christian Writers Downunder: BEWARE of STEREOTYPESJeanette O'Haganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057798704247611224noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-16978098022727423582013-09-23T06:25:33.726+10:002013-09-23T06:25:33.726+10:00That's a good thought.That's a good thought.Dalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14217918666756258037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-8651546178289180512013-09-23T06:24:56.988+10:002013-09-23T06:24:56.988+10:00That's a good thought.That's a good thought.Dalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14217918666756258037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-28338584714310492462013-09-20T16:33:38.611+10:002013-09-20T16:33:38.611+10:00Thank you. I appreciate that. (I had a peep at you...Thank you. I appreciate that. (I had a peep at your interesting blog and enjoyed the story of Fyshwick!)Rita Galiehhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14586506137798711397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-62676396897477500782013-09-20T15:59:53.288+10:002013-09-20T15:59:53.288+10:00A well-written and convincing piece, Rita. A well-written and convincing piece, Rita. Rhonda Pooley - Writerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18267933289137123263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-89528759530935049272013-09-20T15:16:35.624+10:002013-09-20T15:16:35.624+10:00Thanks for your comment Margaret. And I happen to ...Thanks for your comment Margaret. And I happen to know you are also on call for many speaking engagements at the present time. It reminds me that with our different gifts and talents our Lord is a God of variety. He uses us all in so many ways.Rita Galiehhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14586506137798711397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-8844247546896410432013-09-20T15:11:39.641+10:002013-09-20T15:11:39.641+10:00And I think you do have the gift of story-telling,...And I think you do have the gift of story-telling, Anusha. Keep those parables coming!Rita Galiehhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14586506137798711397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-91399466377896164402013-09-20T13:48:07.171+10:002013-09-20T13:48:07.171+10:00A timely (and humorous) reminder of what NOT to be...A timely (and humorous) reminder of what NOT to be guilty of :) The same goes for Christian clichés found all too often in books, tracts, and people's minds. <br />I know that you are extremely busy at the moment, Rita, so am especially appreciative of this post. Margaret Lepkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08147233663724759684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-24822519009926004272013-09-20T13:13:38.166+10:002013-09-20T13:13:38.166+10:00Thanks Rita. You are right. We all do create stere...Thanks Rita. You are right. We all do create stereo types and are too judgmental too quickly aren't we? That's a wonderful story of what the missionaries did - so much ignorance in the world and perhaps our lives as story tellers is to uncover some of the blinders that are across many eyes today. Thanks for sharing and God bless you.Anusha Atukoralahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00859837228901127984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-44255700583169600072013-09-20T12:43:50.073+10:002013-09-20T12:43:50.073+10:00Thanks Dale. Well maybe it's our privilege to ...Thanks Dale. Well maybe it's our privilege to change that a little with the stories we write.Rita Galiehhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14586506137798711397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-14901547802095096812013-09-20T10:53:06.848+10:002013-09-20T10:53:06.848+10:00Too true about the stereotypes,Rita. And not just ...Too true about the stereotypes,Rita. And not just with missionaries. Look at nearly any movie or book with a Christian minister and they are mostly portrayed as weak and ineffectual. Sad, isn't it? I loved reading your story of the changes God makes. Dalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14217918666756258037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-69554529787284346792013-09-20T09:34:34.556+10:002013-09-20T09:34:34.556+10:00Yes, I saw those films and read the original book....Yes, I saw those films and read the original book. In fact it challenged us both to go to Bible College. We never ended up as missionaries...not practical enough...but a ministry of the arts in Evangelism. God can use anything if we're willing.Rita Galiehhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14586506137798711397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-998072574240272922013-09-20T09:31:17.674+10:002013-09-20T09:31:17.674+10:00BTW I did receive your intriguing book, Cora Villa...BTW I did receive your intriguing book, Cora Villa on my kindle and am taking it to Thailand in our month long ministry where I can't find a scrap of paper in English to read!Rita Galiehhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14586506137798711397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-9237715005691414322013-09-20T09:28:58.082+10:002013-09-20T09:28:58.082+10:00So right on all counts, Meredith. And there are su...So right on all counts, Meredith. And there are surely many stories of faith in action that only the Lord knows about!Rita Galiehhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14586506137798711397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-30957794409898816502013-09-20T08:39:59.829+10:002013-09-20T08:39:59.829+10:00Thanks for your post Rita. I hear so much about th...Thanks for your post Rita. I hear so much about the evils of colonialism, and while I know that first contact often did involve the introduction of disease, and sometimes some cruel and violent behaviour, it is good to remember that God did and does have a purpose in bringing his love to all peoples of the earth, and that sometimes the original culture is not all wonderful. I'm sure missionaries have made mistakes in their naivete at times, but I am also sure that there are a lot of different native peoples who thank God for the bravery and sacrifice of missionaries who have brought to them the message of salvation, forgiveness and love.Meredith Rescehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13119649437940781847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-50731516354824954782013-09-20T08:20:43.710+10:002013-09-20T08:20:43.710+10:00What an interesting and informative comment, Jenny...What an interesting and informative comment, Jenny. I met two men of the Huaorani tribe at the Billy Graham conference back in 2000. They were such happy well adjusted fellows.<br /><br />Re writing, this is something I work hard at. It irritates me when I come across obvious stereotypes. The perfect hero or an evil antagonist without the slightest redeeming feature.Rita Galiehhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14586506137798711397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-2198987796786567482013-09-20T00:53:00.068+10:002013-09-20T00:53:00.068+10:00Hi Rita
That is so often true that characters are...Hi Rita<br /><br />That is so often true that characters are stereotyped. <br /><br />I chuckled at the two stereotypes of missionaries you mentioned - as Kingslover's popular Poisonwood Bible has both stereotypes in it's pages. As I spent much of my childhood in Zambia just a few miles south of the Congo (where the book is set) and just a few years later - I will say our experience of the Southern Baptist missionaries and Australian Baptist missionaries was vastly different from the very cardboard, over the top stereotype, thoroughly unpleasant stereotype of Nathan Price! <br /><br />I also chuckled at the response of the anthropology students with their preconceived ideas. There is both a film The End of the Spear and also a documentary Beyond the Gates of Splendor which retells the deaths of the 5 missionaries & the transformation of the Huaorani tribe (including the son and grandson of one of the original missionaries killed). It's an amazing story and both are well worth watching. Many would know the original story written by the widow of one of the other men - Elizabeth Elliot Gates of Splendor.<br /><br />A great reminder to look beyond the stereotypes.Jeanette O'Haganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11057798704247611224noreply@blogger.com