Frogs in a Well
There is a Chinese fable by Zhuangzi that I grew up hearing about a frog who lives in the bottom of a deep and narrow well. As other animals come and tell him about the world outside, the frog scoffs at them and knows in his heart that the well is the entire world, there could not possibly be more outside. “You can’t discuss the ocean with a well frog – he’s limited by the space he lives in. You can’t discuss ice with a summer insect – he’s bound to a single season…”[1]
In the book, Sway: Unravelling Unconscious Bias, Pragya Agarwal touches on a similar idea by telling stories that show some of the unconscious biases that present in the world while explaining them using scientific theories and research. More so, the book tackles why understanding what we think and why we think it is important as it influences all that we say and do as well as how we see the world around us. Early in the book, Agarwal begins with a quote from Leo Tolstoy:
“That most men – not only those considered clever, but even those who are very clever, and capable of understanding most difficult scientific, mathematical, or philosophic problems – can very seldom discern even the simplest and most obvious truth if it be such as to oblige them to admit the falsity of conclusions they have formed, perhaps with much difficulty- conclusions of which they are proud, which they have taught to others, and on which they have built their lives.”[2]
The author hits on an important truth here. Unconscious biases aren’t dangerous in and of themselves. Agarwal goes to great lengths to explain that they are natural, evolutionary aspects even.[3] Contrarily, they can be helpful. The book references Atul Gawande in talking about doctors using “medical intuition/instinct”. Instinct, being the “result of an accumulated knowledge… so its value cannot be discounted, especially when making quick decisions.”[4] Agarwal goes on in the same thought to say that these instincts are also influenced by our biases and prejudices so they aren’t perfect by any means. The amount of negative influence that implicit biases manifest is directly tied to how much we are willing to acknowledge their existence and how humble we are to accept that how we perceive the world might not be all there is.
There is also a trickle-down effect. Biases not only affect our personal interactions, they are also built into systems.[5] Who these systems serve tend to be reflected in who builds them. So how are our theological systems being built? Who might be shaping what theological world pastors in the US see? Among the schools represented for the Association of Theological Schools, it was interesting to find that nearly 69% of all faculty were white in 2022.[6] When only considering professors (taking out associate and assistant professors), that number goes up to 77%.[7] What’s more is that while the ATS has “cultural context” as one of its four main learning objectives for a Master of Divinity degree, an ATS accredited school in Portland has only 2 credits out of 82 dedicated to “cultural context”. It’s not enough. There is simply not a broad enough set of voices, experiences, and cultures that are building our theological educational systems.
So what can we do? I think it begins simply by recognizing we all, to some degree, are frogs in a well. We look around and think the walls of the well are all we know, and that the small patch of blue above us is simply the top of the well, not just a miniscule fraction of the sky. In their book, Tell Me Who You Are: Sharing our Stories of Race, Culture, and Identity, Winona Guo and Priya Vulchi remind us that:
“Any person who is part of a community can help ensure that the voices within that community are heard. We can prevent some of our racial pain before it seeps into our younger generations. We can heal the communities we are already part of so they are defined not by division but by hope and harmony, by love and equity.”[8]
The path forward, I believe (and as Guo and Vulchi believe), lies simply in listening to the stories of others and elevating voices that have not been heard. We must let these stories inform us, change us, and build the systems that our churches and our society stand on.
[1] Zhuangzi, Zhuangzi: Basic Writings. Translations From the Asian Classics. (New York: Columbia University Press, 2003), 98.
[2] Pragya Agarwal, Sway: Unravelling Unconscious Bias (London, England: Zed Books, 2021), 13.
[3] Ibid, 50
[4] Ibid, 41
[5] Ibid, 368
[6] “Annual Data Tables,” Association of Theological Schools, 2022, https://www.ats.edu/files/galleries/2022-2023_Annual_Data_Tables.pdf
[7] Association of Theological Schools, “Annual Data Tables”
[8] Winona Guo and Priya Vulchi, Tell Me Who You Are : Sharing Our Stories of Race, Culture, and Identity (New York: TarcherPerigee, 2019), 8.
About the Author
Caleb Lu
11 responses to “Frogs in a Well”
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Caleb – great post and questions that you raise. I’m curious how effective a class on cultural context might be, especially compared to the other 80 credits needed. I wonder if these classes merely reinforce the bias or marginally shift perspectives. What are your thoughts on the best way to “get the frog out of the well”? What has worked for you?
I’m convinced the benefits are nominal or marginal at best. What’s been helpful for me is to continue being exposed to as many stories from a wide variety of cultures and perspectives as possible. Something that has also been helpful for me is to learn how to tell my own story (or honestly even identify what my story is to begin with).
Great post, Caleb. I agree that we all have some well-frog in us. I love the Tolstoy quote and almost used it in my blog too. It really makes you stop and check yourself and the things that we build as an individual, group, or family. You nailed it with biased theology. I think it’s important that we establish principles in a church congregation, ministry, or as Christian leaders in general when giving advice or teaching. I also think the more voices the better. I think it’s wise to have a board or leadership team all on the same page to ensure non-biased material or programming. Has this been an issue in your church or perhaps, something unintentionally demonstrated?
It really is a great thought and reminder!
It’s always going to be a problem. I’m convinced, however, that doing a good job isn’t about being perfect, but about being willing to recognize mistakes. The leadership team at the church I serve at is always ready to listen and learn, and that humility has been key to continually doing better.
Brilliant synopsis Caleb! Yes, I am guilty of being a well-frog, unaware of the whole world outside of my well. This is not how I want to be as a pastor. Your invitation at the end was inspiring: “The path forward, I believe (and as Guo and Vulchi believe), lies simply in listening to the stories of others and elevating voices that have not been heard. We must let these stories inform us, change us, and build the systems that our churches and our society stand on.” For the Church to make progress in this, a lot more is required than 2 credits in an M.Div.
As always, great post Caleb!
I appreciate the kind words, David! This whole blogging thing is definitely helpful in being exposed to more stories, ideas, and paradigms.
Caleb, thank for the great post. “You can’t discuss the ocean with a well frog-he’s limited by the space he lives in.” Loved not only the post but references you shared. I love the work of smart people. You, Guo, and Vulchi are spot on “We must let these stories inform us, change us, and build the systems that our churches and our society stand on.”
Caleb, thank you for sharing from your unique perspective. I so appreciate hearing your voice on these subjects. I know we all have the well frog mentality to some degree, but I wonder how we can learn to be more like the well donkey…
https://wisdomshare.com/stories/farmers-donkey/
If you have not head this parable before, a donkey falls into a well and the owner decides to let the donkey perish and fill up the well to prevent further injuries. As he and his friends fill up the well, the donkey shakes off the dirt and steps up until he finally steps out of the well. May we all learn to shake off that which does not help us, to learn from it, and may we all get to the outside world and see it for all its beauty.
Caleb,
This is going to stay with me for sure! “You can’t discuss the ocean with a well frog – he’s limited by the space he lives in. You can’t discuss ice with a summer insect – he’s bound to a single season…” this simple fable packs so much (at least the part I know, thanks to you). I have been guilty of being that frog so many times! What has helped me in my “well” is the stories of others. When I hear those stories I take a strong posture of listening because I am genuinely curious in them and their story. It reminds me of a scripture in Revelation 12:11 “And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony,…” The words of their testimony. The words of our testimony, our story, our experiences can help people and ourselves overcome the well.
Thanks for sharing!
Great analogy, Caleb! That image of the frogs is going to stick with me. I found it interesting that you explored how implicity bias isn’t always a negative. I am going to dwell on this following statement some more, because I think it’s key: “the amount of negative influence that implicit biases manifest is directly tied to how much we are willing to acknowledge their existence and how humble we are to accept that how we perceive the world might not be all there is.:
Great post there are many stories to be heard. All we need now is listeners. Keep spreading the good news.