Blog5 Bruce Olson

 Blog5 Bruce Olson 

This was a difficult read for me due to my Anthropological background. The idea of converting a culture through missionary work strikes me as ethnocentric and too close to colonialism as an 18-year-old American missionary sets off to a 

motilone tribe in Venezuela area…

However, his writing style is entertaining he isn't bogged down with methodology rather he tells a story through his experiences and argues that Christianity is not incompatible with indigenous culture and that his successful missionary work did not destroy the Motilone way of life. He had good intentions and the values he wishes to bring used Christianity as the vector to spark change.. The only dilemma with Christianity is the emphasis on “it being the only way”


I liked how he built real relationships respected them and participated in their ceremonies.


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