Aunty welcomes your queries. No concern is too small, whether it is an opinion, advice or information that you are seeking.

How can I be faithful to my culture and to Christianity when they teach different things about how the world began? Rahera

Dear Rahera,

When answers can’t be found, humans seek answers through stories. Persons of all ethnicities have wondered how they came to be here and all cultures have stories about how the world came into being. Most of these stories were passed down and reshaped by countless generations before the invention of writing. Creation stories, along with all god stories, were all developed by humans.

Most ancient cultures concluded the earth nourished life and saw the Earth as Mother. The ancients also recognised powers that controlled the earth and thought of these unseen forces as male sky gods. Folklore and mythology carry the deep truths of particular cultures.

The Hebrew stories of creation were influenced by Babylonian myths. Adam and Eve are sacred to Jews and Christians as the stories of Papatūānuku (the Earth Mother) and Ranginui (the Sky Father) are to Māori. Both deserve respect. Sharing stories is a human essential. There is a wealth of sacred myths to explore in all religions and it’s fascinating to note the truths different cultures hold in common.

Faith delves into ‘why’ not ‘how.’ Faith embraces mystery and is experienced as a way of being. Science seeks measurable facts. Both are vessels of truth, and both develop and change. Truth is like love - it cannot be scientifically measured and differs between cultures and individuals. Science itself is an act of faith. Its ‘proven facts’ last only until new discoveries cause alterations. Look for truth in science and stories, and keep an open mind. There are always new concepts to discover and new connections to experience.

Value truth wherever you find it

Aunty

How are our children/youth supposed to grow spiritually, if our elders or role models showcase hypocrisy regarding their lifestyle which tends to be a contrast to their teachings? Kaelo

Dear Kaelo,

Having good role models does make it easier for children and youth to develop into good people. However, most small children have a strong sense of what is fair, and most young people have a gut feeling for what is right. Youth tend to make quick judgements and see things in black and white when life is mostly lived in many shades of grey. We don’t know what has shaped the behaviour we observe in others. What we do know is that those unable to behave decently are damaged people who have, or are, suffering from physical or emotional trauma or neglect. Even saints and heroes let themselves (and their fans) down occasionally. You can love family while not agreeing with all they do and say. If you feel your elders are not making good moral decisions or have little to offer you spiritually, find better role models. Youth need to explore, make their own discoveries, and sort out for themselves their personal beliefs and ways of being.

Be the best person you can be

Aunty

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