Talanoa is a catalyst
Talanoa can inspire change. And talanoa can facilitate transformation.
Talanoa can inspire change. And talanoa can facilitate transformation.
Talanoa
The term ‘talanoa’ is used in several (but not all) Pasifika island groups to refer to three overlapping matters: (1) story, (2) telling (of story), and (3) conversation (around story and telling of story). One word refers to three matters: a story is talanoa; the act of telling a story is talanoa; and the event of conversation around a story and/or its telling is also talanoa.
Talanoa is an example of native Pasifika oral culture, and wisdom:
- a story (talanoa) is dead if no one tells (talanoa) it;
- the telling (talanoa) of a story (talanoa) is wasted if it does not inspire conversation (talanoa);
- and an effective conversation (talanoa) makes space for more stories, and more (re)telling!
“For real life” (to quote Bluey and Bingo), talanoa is a catalyst. In this reflection, i add to my previous catalyst reflections (see here on climate, here on bodies and contexts, and here on Gustavo Gutierrez and liberating theologies) a simple observation: We are surrounded, and sustained, by talanoa.
Bible
The term ‘Bible’ comes from the Greek ta biblia, which translates as ‘scrolls’ or ‘books’. The Bible is a collection of books, and each of those books contains or presumes a series of talanoa (stories, tellings, conversations).
In the first part of the book of Genesis, for example, two stories of creation (Gen 1, Gen 2) set the stage for a story of resistance and enlightenment (Gen 3), followed by stories of dysfunctional family (Gen 4) and collective (Gen 5) relations, which made the creator God angry to the point of seeking to destroy the creation (Gen 6–9).
Over many centuries, these primal stories (talanoa) have been told (talanoa) and engaged (in talanoa, conversations) for many purposes. The early emphases were on the goals of the creator God, the potential of human subjects to mess up, and the grace of God to redeem the creation.
The same stories have also been retold and engaged in the interests of creation, of workers, of women, of the expelled and marginalized, and so forth. Retelling (talanoa) and conversations (talanoa) have kept these primal (some say ‘primeval’) stories (talanoa) alive.
In the Bible also are sayings, proverbs, hymns, rules, teachings, and the like – behind which are stories that tellers and conversationalists have identified and brought into life. Put plainly: there is power in acts of retelling (talanoa) and in events of conversation (talanoa) around the Bible (as a collection of talanoa).
The Bible is an example of how we are surrounded, and sustained, by talanoa.
So what?
In church settings, one could assert that Talanoa keeps us going. We of course need real food and real drink to stay alive, preferably in reasonable housing with means for sustainable living, but talanoa is also nourishing for our churched souls. Talanoa is a catalyst.
The power that resides in acts of (re)telling and in events of conversation need to be administered justly. As we see in the media age, those who “control the narrative” in politics and in society can manipulate what pass as truth versus fake. They tend to be loud enough to shut out dissension and opposition.
The same applies in church settings: they who shape acts of (re)telling, and who condition events of conversation, control the narrative. They define the truth, in churchly circles.
Throughout the life of Christian churches, the Bible has had a big say in controlling the narrative and the truth. But how much does the Bible know what “for real life” (Bluey & Bingo) involves in the modern time? Could the Bible help us understand and face climate crises?
In January 2025 i will (in my role as “Mission catalyst: Stewardship of the Earth” and mindful of the dynamics of talanoa) share reflections on lectionary biblical texts that interrogate the intersection of Bible and climate justice.
These reflections will be available in the Mission Resources section of the website (and click on the "Climate" tag).
January Climate Lectionary resources are already available to download here.
More Information on Climate Action
The Climate Action Mission team are taking intentional steps to address climate change and its impacts on the environment and communities as an ongoing commitment to the stewardship of the earth. This may include:
- advocating for policies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions
- supporting sustainable practices within the church and wider community
- raising awareness about the importance of caring for the planet.