Aboriginal Spirituality

Question 1

Seven Aspects of Indigenous Religions

Answer 1

Sacred Stories
Sacred Space 
Sacred Time
Sacred Signs and Symbols
System of Beliefs 
Sacred Rituals, Prayers and Festivals
Sacred People and Social Structures

Question 2

Five Characteristics of an Indigenous Religion

Answer 2

Firmly belong to a specific place
They belong to a small group/tribe/clan
They rarely leave their original geographic location and often destroyed by social/economic development
Haven’t developed into World Religions

Question 3

Primal

Answer 3

First or original.

Question 4

Indigenous Religions not Primitive because…

Answer 4

Some are complex
People find it satisfying
It suits the local environment

Question 5

Aboriginal

Answer 5

Original inhabitants of a land
Term given by first European settlers*

*Invaders

Question 6

Two Primal Religions in Australia

Answer 6

Aboriginal

Torres Strait Island

Question 7

Why did Europeans think indigenous people had no Religion?

Answer 7

Because they couldn’t see any churches, priests or other religious organisations that they were used to.

Question 8

Dreaming

Answer 8

Past, Present and Future
A timeless world where sacred stories take place
Rituals can connect the Spirt Realm to Earth

Question 9

Dreamtime

Answer 9

Origin and Creation Stories of the Past.

Question 10

Indigenous

Answer 10

Originating in a particular place.

Question 11

Ancient Religions

Answer 11

A Religion that is no longer practiced.

Question 12

Social Structure

Answer 12

A system of social levels in a community.

Question 13

Sacred Time

Answer 13

The Dreaming Time when the ancestral spirit beings came into existence.

Question 14

Identity

Answer 14

The sense of self, who you are in your community.

Question 15

Flora and Fauna

Answer 15

The plants and animals in your environment. People who still still live traditionally, hunt and gather flora and fauna to survive.

Question 16

Rite of Passage

Answer 16

A special ritual or ceremony to mark important life transitioning e.g, in Aboriginal culture, initiation is going from childhood to adulthood.

Question 17

Love

Answer 17

Traditional knowledge, passed down in stories, dance and songs through generations in aboriginal cultures.

Question 18

Myth

Answer 18

A traditional story or legend usually of an event or hero, it might be based on fact but can’t be proven. It’s used to explain the origins of the land, people and the Aboriginal way of life.

Question 19

Mob

Answer 19

Family, kin or group of people. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people refer to their extended family or community as ‘my mob.’

Question 20

Ritual

Answer 20

Structure for important events e.g, personal transitions, changes in seasons or community values. They give structure and meaning to aboriginal peoples’ lives.

Question 21

System of beliefs

Answer 21

A feature of a religion. This is expressed through the Dreaming of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.

Question 22

Primitive

Answer 22

Early stage for human development, uncivilised. This is inappropriate for Aboriginal culture because they have a system of beliefs, rituals, rules or law developed over 40,000 years.

Question 23

Primal religions

Answer 23

The first, original religions of a place or country. Aboriginal people being the first Australians, practiced the first religions.

Question 24

Indigenous

Answer 24

Originating in a particular place.

Question 25

Ancient Religions

Answer 25

A Religion that is no longer practiced.

Question 26

Social Structure

Answer 26

A system of social levels in a community.

Question 27

Sacred Time

Answer 27

The Dreaming Time when the ancestral spirit beings came into existence.

Question 28

Identity

Answer 28

The sense of self, who you are in your community.

Question 29

Flora and Fauna

Answer 29

The plants and animals in your environment. People who still still live traditionally, hunt and gather flora and fauna to survive.

Question 30

Rite of Passage

Answer 30

A special ritual or ceremony to mark important life transitioning e.g, in Aboriginal culture, initiation is going from childhood to adulthood.

Question 31

Love

Answer 31

Traditional knowledge, passed down in stories, dance and songs through generations in aboriginal cultures.

Question 32

Myth

Answer 32

A traditional story or legend usually of an event or hero, it might be based on fact but can’t be proven. It’s used to explain the origins of the land, people and the Aboriginal way of life.

Question 33

Mob

Answer 33

Family, kin or group of people. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people refer to their extended family or community as ‘my mob.’

Question 34

Ritual

Answer 34

Structure for important events e.g, personal transitions, changes in seasons or community values. They give meaning to aboriginal peoples’ lives.

Question 35

System of beliefs

Answer 35

A feature of a religion. This is expressed through the Dreaming of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.

Question 36

Primitive

Answer 36

Early stage for human development, uncivilised. This is inappropriate for Aboriginal culture because they have a system of beliefs, rituals, rules or law developed over 40,000 years.

Question 37

Primal religions

Answer 37

The first, original religions of a place or country. Aboriginal people being the first Australians, practiced the first religions.

Question 38

Sacred space

Answer 38

Burial ground/altar