Biblos in New Zealand

Abstract

When we completed Phase Three of the Biblos Project we had clearly established that how young people perceive biblical narrative relates to their cultural situation: home and family; faith community (if any); school curriculum – whether it includes or excludes biblical narrative and how such narrative is presented. How young people view biblical narrative relates potentially even to national or international trends such as secularisation. After eight years of UK-based research it was therefore very desirable to explore in as similar a way as possible the situation of young people and biblical narrative in a different, but still English-speaking, culture. We chose New Zealand as our first international comparison. Culture and language differences between the UK and New Zealand mean that some comparisons cannot be made – but others can. This report carries the results of that investigation. We believe it will be of use both to researchers and faith communities in New Zealand and also in the UK as we seek to explore how, in a shrinking world, young people experience and perceive these archetypal narratives which themselves emanate from another culture and another world.