School of Theology

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    From System To Story
    (Tangaza University College, 1996-02) Tucholski, Henry
    "Once upon a time ", that is common phrase; easy to oppose a truth but impossible to resist a story. Many spiritual teachers of humanity, like Buddha and Jesus brought to light their teachings in stories. Through stories they warmed the way into hearts of their listeners, and broke dim n barriers hindering human hearts from "touching" the divine. In the light o the revival of story telling and increased interest of many for narrative theology I would like to give my thoughts to this subject. This research will be combined with my reflections upon the theological system used for the preparation of future ministers at Tangaza. I feel we are still dominated by creeds, catechisms which form our thought patterns. Our theological preparation for the near future ministry in Africa takes an analytical path which fits very well to our computer age. Our "knowledge energy" stressing rational and logical patterns in theology, stands in a dilemma with hungry people for experience of God and holistic vision of their lives. I think the revival of story-telling here in Africa calls louder than anywhere else . African culture fades away front its imaginative elements of life, from story-telling. People have stopped telling stories. Perhaps this fact too, has contributed to the lack of personal contact among the people. We are on the threshold of a new face of Evangelization of Africa. The recent post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation "Ecclesia in Africa" No.11 says that: "... the local Churches of Africa hold a right ful place in the communion of the Church, that they are entitled to preserve and develop their own traditions without in any way lessening the primacy of the chair of Peter." In connection with this quotation I think that storytelling is very much part of the African culture, as the preservation of values and its developments. The same concern For the revival of story-telling should find its place in theology. We should invi live in our theological studies the elements of imagination and feelings. Maybe in such an approach to theology we would find it easier to express it to the people without lessening its gist. in the world at large there is already a well-established section of theology called "Narrative Theology" with leading theologians such as John Shea, John Navone, William Bausch. This nanalive approach to theology raises many important issues. One of them is that story could be a very good means to transmit the intellectually elaborated theology to simple people who search rather for something to notuish their feelings and imagination. however, this requires preparation. 5 A Minister engaged in storytelling must be able to interpret stories, and must understand how the Christian story finds resonance in the hearts and minds of story-hungry people. The whole theme of storytelling covers a large field. In my paper I will be selective. I want to depart front the theological context, look at the narrative reality of a man, then looit closely at story itself and its teller and finally Twill bring story to a pastoral context. In the first chapter I will try to make a move from a theology embodied in system to story. The following chapter. "Tow ards theology of Story" will insert us in the broad context of a story. The third chapter is devoted to the pastoral application of storytelling in the area of Catechetics, Liturgy and moral teaching of the Church. At the end of this paper, in the appendix I would like to give some practical suggestions for the storyteller.