Activity 2 Forum Posting Stories And The Meaning Of Life
Activity 2 Forum Posting Stories And The Meaning Of Lifecontextsto
Stories are everywhere. We watch them on film and television. We read them in books. We tell them to each other in both oral and written form. Stories are a major part of the human experience.
This learning activity asks you to think about the purpose of telling stories, especially the stories that we tell about ourselves. Both Bateson and McAdams suggest that the way we narrate our lives influences how we understand our life’s purpose. The following will help you determine the role of narrative in constituting the self and cultivating a meaningful life.
After completing the Bateson and McAdams essays, view Fr. Barton Geger’s narration of St. Ignatius’ response to his own “vocational crisis.” Then, post a response to the following questions:
- In the preface to the Bateson reading, the editors (2006) suggest that our lives are “a kind of improvisational art form” that involves “imaginative ability” coupled with “discovery” and “invention.” What do you think this means?
- Bateson suggests that there are multiple versions of a life story and that it is possible for multiple stories to be true. How did you see this notion operative in St. Ignatius’ life, and in what ways have you seen this at work in your own life?
- McAdams’ research suggests that the “highly generative adults” believe that suffering is redemptive. They tend to narrate their lives around the trope that they have been fortunate and should therefore use their lives to help alleviate the suffering of the less fortunate. Do you see this trope in St. Ignatius’ story? Does it fit with your own experience?
Please post your response in the Discussion Forum. Along with your posting, respond to at least one other student’s posting. Your response should encourage a dialogue similar to that of a classroom discussion. Your post should be substantive, reflecting your critical grasp of the reading material and incorporate your own viewpoint.