Oldest known version of this page was edited on 2006-02-11 09:12:46 by DrJCPhilip []

We all have heard stories from our childhood, thus we all know the excitement of hearing (and now, reading) stories. Yet most of us do not realize that there is more to stories than just the fun. It is a category of communication loaded with meaning and purpose, knowing which is essential before anyone can become a successful storywriter or even storyteller.

Thus, in this and the following modules we will study the flowing topics:

1. Introduction To The Philosophy
2. Stories And The Communication of Values
3. The Power Of Stories To Influence People
4. The Fruits Of The Present-day Radical Stories
5. The Techniques Of Radical Storytellers
6. Conditioning People To Accept/Desire Evil Through Stories
7. The Degeneration of Storytellers
8. The Important Of Heroic /Virtuous Stories
9. Fantasies And Storytelling
10. The Operating Philosophy of A God-loving Storyteller
11. Why Should You Write/Narrate Stories

Let us consider each of the above topics in detail:


In this section we will study the following topics:

A. Is there a philosophy of storytelling
B. Do stories provide anything more than amusement
C. Is it necessary/useful to understand the Philosophy of Storytelling
D. Does any Storyteller ever use such knowledge

Let us study each of the above in greater detail:

A-IS THERE A PHILOSOPHY OF STORYTELLING: All stories, whether meant for amusement or instruction, ultimately communicate a message. Since all such messages are laden with values -- good or bad -- it is definitely necessary to consider the Philosophy of Storytelling. Storytelling, its purpose, and its consequences have been explored by all human societies for thousands of years. In fact it is the most powerful, yet the easiest method for communicating values to children who are the eventual builders of any society. Not only children, but different techniques of Storytelling can be used to influence entire generations of adults -- and it is being done though most of us do not immediately realize it.

For example, the way in which TV serials, movies, and glossy magazines have been manipulating people demonstrates the influence of stories even upon adults.

Any medium of communication can be exploited for good as well as for bad, and we witness it right from the garden of Eden where the serpent used the technique of conversation to lead Eve into sin. Thus all communication media do have a Philosophy governing the medium as well as the communicators. since stories are a powerful medium of communication Storytelling definitely has a controlling Philosophy. Understanding it will help you to write/narrate stories that are constructive and edifying, while at the same time you would be able to check your own stories to see if they unknowingly communicate error. Also, when you advise people to avoid certain types of stories your knowledge of the underlying currents will help you to analyse and explain in a convincing manner the issue involved.

B-DO STORIES PROVIDE ANYTHING MORE THAN AMUSEMENT: Stories do provide an unending stream of amusement to those who enjoy reading/listening. However, this observation blinds people to the fact that amusement is not the only thing provided by stories. Much more than that is involved here. In addition to entertainment, stories also provide all the elements of communication. Many secular storytellers therefore use this method for influencing receptive minds with their philosophies. The same is the reason why the Lord Jesus made stories an essential part of his teaching. The same is the reason why stories can aid Bible teaching/preaching. This includes doctrine (teaching.), reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness.


DOCTRINE, TEACHING AND INSTRUCTION: Direct discourse and preaching is the main vehicle for the communication of doctrinal and instructional material to adults, but for children the first and the primary vehicle for this is Storytelling. Even adults relish listening to interesting stories, and an apt illustration used at the right place in one's message leaves a lasting impact. Lord Jesus, the master Storyteller, is our best example. He used stories and parables as part of all his teaching and instruction. Stories clarified his points, and multiplied the impact of his instructions. Who among the Christians does not know the story of the Prodigal Son or The Good Samaritan. What is taught through these stories is also taught at many other places in the New Testament, but almost none remembers those passages because they are straight prose while these are stories.

In the hands of a master writer or storyteller, stories are a powerful medium for imparting spiritual instruction. Not only Jesus, but also many secular teachers have understood this value of stories. They have given us Aesop's Fables, the Chronicles of Narnia, the Panchtantra, and the Jataka stories. Grandmas of all generations have instructed their grandchildren in Spiritual truths through the humble medium of stories. Their power for spiritual and doctrinal instruction is incomparable.


REPROOF AND CORRECTION: People who live in error become so blind and subjective about their involvement with evil that often no amount of direct instruction would move them. No sooner they hear a direct preaching related to their perversion, their defense mechanism gears up for self defense till the end. Stories, however, can quickly disarm them and provide reproof and correction.

The story of David and Bethseba is a good example. Once he fell into sin, David was in no mood to confess. Rather, he was trying to cover all his footprints clearly so that he might no be blamed. By the time Uriah was murdered, his heart had become so hard that Nathan the prophet could not have convicted him through a direct doctrinal discourse. Thus he used a small but powerful story to first arouse the spirit of justice in David's heart. No sooner was this done that David the just king made this pronouncement : that the man who had done this injustice would have to pay dearly. Nathan reminded him immediately that David himself was the the man whom he condemned ! The picture was so stunningly clear that David could not say a thing. He was totally disarmed and he immediately confessed, "I have sinned".

There are many examples where, like Nathan, people used stories to bring reproof and correction to their friends. Many Christian writers have used the same approach to bring correction and reproof to their listeners/readers. The novel IN HIS STEPS, written in the last century, and many of the popular Christian novels of our own generation are good example of spiritual reproof. Frank Paretti's novels, THE PRESENT DARKNESS and PIERCING THE DARKNESS, are two contemporary examples of spiritual instruction and correction through the medium of stories. These are not the only ones available these days, though. There has been a revival of good storytelling in the West, the fruits are available now in the form of short stories and novels for almost all ages.


INSTRUCTION IN RIGHTEOUSNESS: Instruction in righteousness comes primarily through doctrinal teaching, but stories play a very important role here too. For children stories serve as the primary medium for this, while for the grownups stories provide a strong reinforcement to what instruction they receive through expository Bible teaching.

Who does not know the story of the Good Samaritan ? So much so that now the word SAMARITAN has even become synonymous with charity, though at the time of Jesus the same word evoked nothing except contempt. A single story can sometimes change the perception of generations !! Even today Pilgrims Progress enjoys sales next only to the Bible. It is a story that has given instruction in righteousness to countless millions of God's children for generations. Similar stories (and their larger counterparts) can continue to play an important role in instructing generations in righteousness.


SATANIC COUNTERFEITS : Satan is a master strategist, and he is the first to use almost every invention to for attaining his goals. He uses stories with radical and rebellious themes for spreading erroneous doctrines, for eliminating reproof, for supporting sin, and for initiating people into unrighteousness. Witness the increase of glossy romance magazines that lead more and more of the young into sin.

Many of the present day magazines contain stories that initiate readers into forbidden territories through fantasy manipulation. Also, once they wipe out the reader's aversion for sin, people find it easy to experiment with forbidden things. This is all the more reason why Christian writers should show an increased presence in the media through stories that advocate Biblical values.


C-IS IT NECESSARY/USEFUL TO UNDERSTAND THE PHILOSOPHY OF STORYTELLING: The term philosophy scares most people. What is worse, when this term is used in connection with stories, people naturally get afraid because there seems to be no connection with the sheer joy of storytelling with the heaviness of philosophical discourse. One does not have to be scared. What is more, every writer and storyteller should understand the underlying principles (called Philosophy here) to best utilize and exploit this medium.

You must understand the philosophy of storytelling first because ignorance will prevent you from the effective use of a powerful medium of communication. A tool is only as good as the skill and perception of the user. Unless he understands it well, it is vain to employ it. Just as the use of an electronic typewriter does not improve the appearance of a carelessly typewritten manuscript, writing stories without understanding the underlying principles will not make the story better -- even after you undergo a course in the art of writing and communication.

A more serious problem of ignorance is that one is unable to go to the root of it all. Unless you are familiar with the philosophy of Storytelling, you will never be able to fight the modern degenerate storytelling at its foundational level. Since you are a Christian, you will be able to perceive that something is probably wrong with all these radical stories, but you will have no way of understanding, defining, or pinpointing the problem precisely. All you attempts to counter such evil will be similar to the person who tries to suppress the pain induced by a cancerous tumour by taking in aspirin. While this might relieve the pain for some time, only a correct diagnosis and proper medication will produce any real change, but then that requires a knowledge of the basics of health and sickness -- available only with trained personnel.

Another serious problem resulting from ignorance is lack of power. All stories communicate some message, and I presume that you already know that much. However, a simplistic knowledge of this fact will not be sufficient to unleash the power inherent in stories even if you are a trained writer. The message will have dynamism and the ability to convince people only if you clearly recognize the underlying principles.


D-DOES ANYONE USE SUCH KNOWLEDGE: Christian writers and publishers often continue to function in ignorance of the basic facts of their chosen field. Fortunately the situation has been changing under the dynamic leadership of many trained editors, writers, trainers, and professionally run publishing houses. However, a large number of smaller publishers and untrained writers still continue to labour under illusions and ignorance. They definitely show great zeal to serve the Lord through the print media, but the deficiency in one area is not compensated by plenty of misplaced zeal.

One thing ignored by many is the philosophy of storywriting and storytelling. What is worse, many of them even assume that since we are not using such knowledge, probably no one else is using it. Nothing could be farther from truth. It seems that these days almost everyone except the advocates of righteousness are using such information for the sole purpose of exploiting others.

Deviant cults use stories effectively to attract people, influence them, and ultimately to bring them into their fold. They use stories to break down your resistance, to create doubt about spiritual principles, and to convince you that only they teach truth. Most of them weave unusual stories around the birth, upbringing, enlightenment, and greatness of their gurus. Most of these false stories are loaded with the miraculous so that you might accept these leaders as supernatural heros or messiahs.

Deviant philosophers, political groups, and all kinds of radical activists use stories and related approaches for spreading their ideas. Since they are aware of the power of storytelling, and since they realize that 'planting' an idea in human minds is better that reasoning with them, many of them give considerable time to writing stories, drama, novels, and similar items of fiction. Many of them even pick up real incidents and weave a web of incidents around it so that you would not be able to distinguish between fact and fiction. The ultimate result in brainwashing.

The Indian philosopher Raavi of Agra has used short stories powerfully to win converts to his immoral or amoral philosophy. Most faith healers use this technique to win blind followers. Ayn Rand is another person who has spread her philosophies powerfully through her mammoth novels. Christians of the last centuries and also a large number of non Christians have used stories to give moral and ethical instruction. Some well known stories are as follows:


These are but just a few of the age old stories that have built up virtuous people for millennia. If people of a bygone era could do that, we too can do that.

Before ending this point I must remind you that Jesus the greatest storyteller used this medium effectively, It is only natural for the greatest communicator in the Universe to understand the philosophy of storytelling. His stories were simple, yet they hid in them profound truths. Most of his stories and parables have gone down into literature to become well known proverbs and allusions.

So, does anyone understand and use the philosophy of storytelling ? Yes, a lot of people do. Jesus used it effectively. Christians of past generations did it. Non Christians and errant movements always do. Christian writers went through an eclipse in the present area, but a revival can be discerned in our generation. Many trained writers and editors seem to have picked up a keen interest in using stories and its other variants for communicating truth. However, much is yet to be done. In the field of storywriting and storytelling we have lost leadership through neglect, and now that has to be recaptured.

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Original article contributed by Dr. Johnson C. Philip. Revised by:

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