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Article: The gospel: empowering or crushing cultural identity?
- Article from:
- International Review of Mission
- Article date:
- January 1, 1996
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1996 World Council of Churches. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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In Australia, the gospel has been used for many years as a tool for crushing the cultural identity of indigenous peoples. In the hands of indigenous people, and those who are prepared to act in solidarity with them, it is also a powerful force for the strengthening of cultural identity. Yet it may not be used to strengthen cultural identity at the expense of the community of the body of Christ. The following account is written out of the experience of the Uniting Church in Australia (UAC), and its antecedent churches.
Aboriginal cultural identity was systematically crushed
When, in 1788, the British first settled in the continent that is now known as ...