Stories, yarns, legends ... these are the stuff of community identity

Iris Murdoch once pointed out that religions, and religious structures, were useful to the 'beginning seeker', but that such formalities could be cast aside once one had made enough use of them. What she may have meant is that you needed, at some stage, to construct your own story to satisfy the particular need for 'spiritual' pattern and meaning, to cast aside received stories and structures, and to stand alone under the vast dark sky.

As people construct their own stories from the lives they live, so communities construct their individual stories, their histories, from the events that occur in those communities, and from the myriad individual stories of the people who make up the particular community. Communities need opportunities to build their own story, to tell others who they are and why they constitute a satisfying place to live.

Communities, like individuals, need to beware of - or at least outgrow - received stories; to make their own, to stamp their community life with their own stories. They need opportunities to do this, and sometimes some community-development focus can help - provided it is aimed at community autonomy, and not community dependence. Don't sell them a story, help them create their own.

Established religions have their stories; so does science. Everyone has their own story. Places have stories; The Songlines, by Bruce Chatwin, spoke powerfully about the stories of the Australian Aboriginal landscape. Children have, and love, stories. That's where they learn about moral values, and friendship, and relationships, and life.

We are asked what place do established religions have in our modern world?

Every place. Religions provide stories, rich stories that, for some, give meaning and depth to our human condition. Equally, so does science. Choose your story.

But remember, the story you choose defines your goals, your meanings, your world. Your choice defines you. Of course, you can refuse to choose. Or can you?

That's another story.