POST 1945 Flashcards
Dreaming
The Dreaming is a complex concept of fundamental importance to Aboriginal culture, embracing the era of creative activity when the world was formed, as well as the present and the future
What is aboriginal spirituality determined by
By the Dreaming through kinship, ceremonial life and the obligations to the land and people
Kinship
The system of relationships that traditionally accepted by a particular culture and the rights and obligations they involve
How are individuals able to enter a direct relationship with The Dreaming
Observance of ritual and ceremony
Why is ceremonial life so important to Aboriginal Spirituality
Ensures vital components of the Law and The Dreaming stay intact
Name 4 things inextricably interwoven
Ceremony, spirituality, ritual and law
Examples of ceremonies
Initiation ceremonies or mourning ceremonies
Why is the land of great significance
Sacred - needs to be preserved
Contains sacred sites = provides food and water = dwelling places of ancestral beings
What is the land to the people
The land is the interconnection that exists between obligation to the land and people
How do everyone take part in caring for the land
Totemic system
What happens in Totemic system
Each nation as well as individuals, is responsible to care for their allocated totems
Dispossession
The removal of Aboriginal groups from their ancestral lands by Europeans who regarded their land as terra nullius
Consequences of dispossessions
- Separation from the land
- Separation from kinship groups
- Stolen generation
All impact aboriginal spiritualities
What does separation from land do
Extinguishes the purpose of life for Aboriginals = losing the place of their spirit after death
Separation from the land leads to what
Traditional stories can no longer be told at their original location = the power and aura of the story is lessened
Access to sacred sites is denied
What does separation from kinship groups do [4]
Remove sense of belonging and understanding their place in life
Loss of purpose in life, language, roles and responsibilities, their place in The Dreaming
Stories can no longer be passed
Inability to preform ceremonies denies access to Aboriginal Spirituality
The Stolen Generation
Forcible removal of children from families
Destroying kinship relationships and distanced Aboriginal people from traditional beliefs
Removes their sense of belonging
When did Kevin Rudd issue an apology to the Aboriginals
February 13th 2008
Evaluate Kevin Rudd apology
It does not erase the effects of dispossession but it is a step closer to reconciliation
The Land Rights Movement
Works to regain and ensure the recognition of the occupation of and rights to the land by Indigenous people
What did the 1967 referendum allow to happen
Allowed aboriginal people to be counted as citizens and they had rights and were able to actively engage themselves in the movement
Native Title
Traditional Aboriginal right of access, use or occupation of the land
What were the rights from the native title act based on
Traditional laws and customs
What did the Mabo decision of 1992 do
Overthrew the concept of Terra Nullius (land owning to no one before British settlement in 1788)
What did the court recognise during the Mabo decision
That aboriginal spirituality was inextricably linked to the land
What did the Wik decision of 1996 determine
The native title could co-exist with other rights on land held under a pastoral lease (very significant since the Aboriginals could access for purposes of visiting sacred sites and ceremonies)
The Land Rights movement
Is an aboriginal rights movement that rose to prominence in the 1970s and government legislation, Native Title, Mabo and Wik followed as a response
What did Ancestor spirits give Aboriginal people
Gave them rights, obligations and responsibilities to care for the land and use it in the expression of their spirituality
Why are sacred sites so important [3]
They are critical for Aboriginal people’ ceremonies
It is through their ceremonies they can enter a direct relationship with The Dreaming
Land is home to totems, sacred objects and spirits of Ancestors = part of Dreaming
What is the Dreaming not bound by
Time
What is The Dreaming bound by instead
Exists in the past, present and future, expressing the continuity of connection to the land, the ancestor spirits and the responsibilities of the individual and the community
What happened when Australia abolished White policy and adopted multicultural policy
Influx of immigrants from Asia and Middle East
Percentage of Hinduism as of the abolishment of white policy
2.7%
Percentage of Buddhism as of the abolishment of white policy
2.4%
Percentage of Islam as of the abolishment of white policy
3.2%
Which is the fastest growing religious tradition in Australia driven by immigration
Islam and Hinduism
Which religion is relatively stable with slight increase
Buddhism
Which religion has stayed fairly constant since WWI
Judaism with 0.4% in 2021 census
What percentage of people identify with religious traditions other than Christianity according to 2021 census
10%
How much did percentage increase for those who identify with religious traditions other than Christianity in 2021 census (of total population)
1.8% increase since 2016
What happened to Christianity
Sharp decline of 8.2% to 43.9% of total population today (still dominant)
Within Christianity, what group is the largest
Catholicism - 20% of the total population
Which category is rising the fastest
No religion
How much did those ‘secular’ rise
30.1% in 2016 to 38.9% in 2021 (very sharp incline)
What is the main reason for Australi’s religious landscapes since 1945
Immigration patterns changing
From 1911 to 2021 census, what was Christianity’s decline
From 96% of total population to 43.9%
Name two examples how immigration contributed to the largest religious change thing name statistics
After WWII, some Jews left Europe
Abolishment of White Australia Policy in early 1970s = introduction of Multicultural Policy
Contributed ——> Buddhist(2.4%), Hindus(2.7%) and Muslims (3.2%)
What is the fastest growing religious tradition in AUstralia today
Hinduism increasing by 0.8% since 2016
Denominational switching
People change from one denomination to another (mainly in Christianity - but can happen across other religions)
What is happening to the older churches
Losing younger people to Pentecostal churches
What’s happening to Pentecostal churches despite what happened
They are slowing with a decline of 0.1% since 2021 despite younger people joining
What is the term referred to Pentecostal churches
Revolving door syndrome - losing people as fast as they are gaining
What is another reasons aside from immigration that has accounted for the changing patterns of religion in AUstralia
rise of New Age Religions
New Age religions
Alternative to mainstream religions - less institutionalised, focuses on the individual
Secularism
Movement which abandons religious perspectives in favour of a more non-religious response to life continues to rise
What happened to no religion in 2021 census
Sharp increase of 8.8% - total of 38.9% of population identifying as no religion
What can we deduce about Australia because of secularism
Australia is fast becoming a secular society
Ecumenism
Doctrine that promotes cooperation and better understanding among different Christian denominations
