Week 9 – Response to Andy O’s Blog on Bourke’s “Reading a Woman’s Death”

I do agree that mission trips–especially short-term–must be very careful of who they send and how they interact with the people in affirming or condemning the culture. I do, however, think that the missionary has a very difficult line to walk on when the culture from which they are learning has practices that mar the people’s identity or that are truly demonic. Bridget Cleary’s death, brought about by the superstitions of the fairy legend making her husband believe she would come back again, was not healthy and needed to be addressed. I do not think those exploiting the situation responded correctly nor do I commend them. How would you recommend addressing that type of situation if you were a missionary on the field?