Flatland
(A novel written long ago to teach principles of geometry)
“Flatland” is a story about perspectives. It is narrated by “A. Square,” an ordinary male who lived in a two-dimensional world where all the people are two-dimensional geometrical shapes. In a dream, a sphere came from “Spaceland” and he helped Square to understand the concept of three dimensions. Square did not understand that world of three dimentions until he saw it. Then in the dream, Square went to “Lineland,” a one-dimensional world. He tried to convince the monarch of “Lineland” that Flatland existed. But that person could not understand the possibility of anything but a straight line. Subsequently, he visited “Pointland,” which had no dimensions. He attempted to talk to its one resident, but that person does not respond, since he perceives all of Square’s communications to be his own thoughts.
The truth here is that it is very difficult to convince people of a new idea or approach, just as Square could not convince anyone of the existance of a dimension more than what that person had already experienced. Those who have dedicated their whole lives to propagating the printed Scriptures perceive oral translation as heretical, though some might allow an audio recording of someone reading aloud from printed Scripture. They cannot understand that printed Scripture is useful only to a minority group. They cannot understand that oral learners are the majority of every language. Some are like the monarch of “Lineland” who cannot see outside of his eternally straight line. Some are like the single resident of “Pointland,” who cannot understand any communication about a different way of translating Scripture. A person must have a dream (or he/she pushes the envelope) to grasp the reality that we must communicate the Scriptures orally to the world and we must do it NOW.
Thinking about “Flatland” again, I empathize with Square, the narrator of the tale. He saw “Spaceland” and he was able to understand the third dimension, the dimension beyond his past experience. Then, on the basis of his having learned of another dimension, he suggested to Sphere, his mentor, that perhaps there could be a fourth dimension or even a fifth or sixth dimension. However, Sphere rejected the very idea that such dimensions would be possible. He became very offended by that presumption. He was incapable of comprehending any more dimensions than the three he had experienced.
Our mission leaders are gradually becoming aware that there is another world besides the literate world. That world is vastly larger than the minority “normal” group. May we call the normals “Spheres”? Since it is difficult to see a dimension that they haven’t experienced, they affirm that proper, accurate Bible translation has always been accomplished by Spheres. They dannot even image that accurate translation is possible by anyone but Spheres! Many decision-makers often consider new ideas as disturbing the good programs that have been established. Thus, Spheres have great difficulty in perceiving that an oral translator could communicate the Scriptures accurately.
How can we help more Spheres to see the vast world of oral learners? How can we help the Spheres to understand another dimension in which all the people of 1900 languages live? How can we make it clear that those people will respond to messages when they HEAR them?
It will take a Vision! It will take Spheres who consider Vision 2025 as attainable, if we are willing to use new methods. Most Spheres are content with reaching the goal in 2037 or perhaps 2035. But a generation dies in each language every 10-15 years. Can we morally allow whole generations to die without the opportunity to hear the Scriptures?
Orality principles are anathema to many people who have invested so many years to training translators to draft a printed New Testament. An oral translation program is even more unacceptable. Even someone preparing orally oriented scripts from a printed New Testaments is questionable. Where are the Spheres who are able to "see" beyond their own dimension?
