Post 1945 Flashcards
discuss how Aboriginal spirituality is
determined by the Dreaming
– kinship
– ceremonial life
– obligations to the land and people
issues for Aboriginal spiritualities in
relation to:
– the effect of dispossession
– the Land Rights movement
discuss the continuing effect of
dispossession on Aboriginal
spiritualities in relation to:
– separation from the land
– separation from kinship groups
– the Stolen Generations
outline the importance of the following
for the Land Rights movement:
– Native Title
– Mabo
– Wik
the religious landscape from 1945 to
the present in relation to:
– changing patterns of religious
adherence
– the current religious landscape
account for the present religious
landscape in Australia in relation to:
– Christianity as the major religious tradition – immigration – denominational switching – rise of New Age religions – secularism
religious dialogue in multi-faith
Australia
– (Describe the impact) ecumenical movements within Christianity
– (evaluate importance) Interfaith dialogue
– (examine) The relationship between
Aboriginal spiritualities and
religious traditions in the process of Reconciliation
describe the impact of Christian
ecumenical movements in Australia
– The National Council of Churches
– NSW Ecumenical Council
Kinship
complex system of belonging, relationships and responsibilities
determined by family relationships, totems, skin names. Therefore is connected with the ancestor spirits and dreaming
Kinship is (quotes)
the “tangible expression of the dreaming in everyday life”
Ceremonial life
4 main roles
• Rite of passage –initiation rites, funerals: an initiation ceremony teaches young Aboriginal people about their responsibilities
• Passing on social information- elders are custodians
• Spiritual role- connect people with Dreaming
• Personal- support friendship, personal and groups:
o Communicated through art, dance, story, ceremonies
o Totems and sacred sited ceremonial responsibility balance rites
Obligations to the Land and People (two quotes)
“We don’t own the land, the land owns us”
“The land is our food, our culture and identity”
Obligations to the Land and People (points)
Stories of Dreaming
Given custody of the land b the Ancestral Spirit
Land= ritual estate= sacred sites
Protecting, nurturing, maintaining balance is important part of each individuals life and is tribes responsibility
Important because of: 1. Economic uses 2. Ritual association
Mutual dependence- they rely on land, land rely on them
Obligations to the land and people as reflected in Dreaming
- Land holds sacred places for all people
- Land is context of dreaming inhibited by the ancestor spirits
- Responsibilities to land physically and tangibly derives from and preserves the dreaming as a living religion
The effect of dispossession- discuss the continuing effect of dispossession on the Aboriginal spiritualties in relation to
Separation from the land
- Inextricable connection to the land
- Loss of land= loss of identity, cultural heritage, totems, indeptence, spiritual world, purpose in life, sense of belonging
- Unable to fulfil ritual responsibilities
- Stories/ song/ dance
The effect of dispossession- discuss the continuing effect of dispossession on the Aboriginal spiritualities in relation to separation from kinship groups
- Destroyed kinship system
- Loss of identity, culture, belief, laws, rituals, family links, language
- Children grew up without learning about Aboriginal life and spirituality
- Social problems- depression, demoralisation, alcohol
- Loss of language- people were forbidden to speak native language
The effect of dispossession- discuss the continuing effect of dispossession on the Aboriginal spiritualties in relation to
o Maltreatment, Sexual exploitation, Degrading forms of humiliation, Inhuman working conditions
• Detrimental effect on-
Land Culture Spirituality Identity Language Totems Kinships Ceremonies
The stolen generations When and who
Between late 1800’s- 1972 by govt. and church
Stolen Generation Attempt to
assimilate into European society
Stolen Generation based on what 2 polices
o Protection- living in an uncivilisated environment, forcing into reserves
o Assimilation- forced integration into white society to destroy aboriginal lifestyle
Native title is
form of land title that recognises the unique ties some Aboriginal groups have to land. Australian law recognises that native title exists where Aboriginal people have maintained a traditional connection to their land and waters, since sovereignty, and where acts of government have not removed it.
Native title (points)
- Religious and political movement
- Source of dreaming- important
- Control over land is means of regaining control of their lives
- Recognition by Australian law that indigenous people have rights and interests to their land that come from their traditional laws and customs
NATIVE TITLE ACT
1993
Mabo
Eddie Mabo took govt. to court then high court of Australia to get Terr Nullius overturned
Notion of Terra Nullius overturned
June 1992
The Wik Case (year)
1996
What did the Wik case say
• Said pastoral lease holders and native title could co-exist, however when conflict pastoral leases take precedent
What did Wik case lead to
Led to Native title Amendment Act 1998, otherwise known as the ’10 point plan’. Took away power from federal govt. to state
Native title Amendment Act (year)
1998
Analyse the importance of the Dreaming for the land Rights movement
The land rights movement is a political spiritual movement in attempting to regain land control Importance of Dreaming- • Land linked, sacred objects/sites • Songs, languages, stories • Rituals • Rediscover kinship • Understanding life
“The elders told
us we were connected to everything and proof of that is being alive” – Bob Randal
“Before native title
we knew we owned this country, but nobody else recognised that” 0 Janet Stewart Nyangumanta Elder
“The land is our
food, our culture, our spirit and identity” S. Knight
Top 5 religions in 2011
- Christainity 64%
- Buddhism 2.5%
- Islam 2.2%
- Hinduism 1.3% (biggest increase from 0.7%)
- Judaism 0.5%
Christian denominations changes
o Decrease- Anglican, Presbyterian, uniting church
o Stationary- Pentecostal, baptism
Top 4 in 2011
- Catholic 25.3%
- No religion 22.3%
- Anglican 17.1%
- Uniting Church 5%
DESCRIBE landscape
figures, trends, tradition , denominations
ACCOUNT FOR landscape
immigration, rise in secularism,
new age, denominational switching
Christianity as the major religious tradition
Underpins Australian Cultural, legal and political system
Settle by mostly Christians
The ongoing decline in most Christian groups as a percentage of the population is due to
increasing secularisation, dissatisfaction with traditional religious movements, aging membership, and a lack of migrant intake.
White policy act (Immigration Restriction Act 1901) (points)
kept non-Christians migrants to a minimum. It’s abolition in 1973 saw increasing diversity.
Because immigration was from predominately Christian countries it remained the dominant religion
White policy act
(Immigration Restriction Act 1901)
The Uniting Church in Australia established when congregations of the
Methodist Church, Presbyterian Church of Australia and Congregational Union came together.
Immigration increase in diversity, after
WW1 Aus. took in War Refugees under Agreement with International Refugee Org, this brought migrants from Italy (catholic), Eastern Europe (orthodox), Germany (Judaism).
Immigration- Aus. white policy repealed by
1965
Immigration has changed Australia into a
multi-faith society.
After Vietnam War in 1975 refugees arrived in Aus. from-
-Buddist (Thailand and Cambodia), Hinduists (India, Sri Lanka)-
Since 1970 Australia has welcomed more
Middle East due to the conflict therefore increased Muslim numbers.
who had biggest increase from 0.7% to 1.3% in 2011 to 1.9% in 2016
Hinduism
2016 census data
- Christianity 52.%
a. Catholic 22.6%
b. Anglican 13.3%
c. Other 16.3% - No Religion 30.1%
- Islam 2.6%
- Buddhism 2.4%
- Hinduism 1.9%
- Sikhism 0.5%
- Judaism 0.4%
Denominational switching
vast majority born into their choice of religion.
People switch to find a church that meats their family needs. Want church to be caring, wellled and open to involvement.
What is the fastest growing denomination because of their appealing services. Known for their emphasis on music (Hillside) and contemporary and engaging services. It is also appealing because of the strong sense of community and charismatic leaders.
Pentecostal
Christians account for denominational switching
Catholic –, uniting (down), Anglican (down), Pentecostal (up)
New Age religions are
a free-flowing spiritual movement, a network of believers and practitioners who share somewhat similar beliefs and practices.
Different because no.
holy texts, central org., membership, dogma
Beliefs can include:
o Monism (single being of force behind all creation),
o Reincarnation (rebirth after death),
o Karma,
o Potential of human being (self-improvement/fulfilment).
Desire for __________________
New ways of _______________
understanding of oneself and the universe.
thinking and understanding
Practices such as:
fortune telling, holistic medicine, astrology, meditation, crystals, feng shui.
Reasons for increase in new age religions
o individualistic and liberal in the sense that it is the type of spirituality in which a person can pick and choose which beliefs and practices to follow and hence tailor a ‘religion’ to suit their individual preferences.
o General dissatisfaction at mainstream religions there is still a longing for a spiritual dimension to life, frustration of slowness of change in traditional group,
o seek personal fulfilment
o want a new way of seeking inner peace and health and meaning in life.
Secularism is
belief religion should be separate from state.
Reason for: increasing
pluralistic (diversity of beliefs and cultures), individualism, materialism, dissatisfaction with traditional religions, scientific advanced, disenfranchisement.
No religion increased
0.3% in 1947 to 30% in 2016
Describe the impact of Christian ecumenical movements in Australia
Joint commissions make statements about official church teachings
Co-operation on social/political issues and in times of crisis or tragedy
Unity among Christian denominations- unity outweighs diversity in practices and beliefs
The National Council of Churches founded in____ to become the National Council of Churches in Australia
1994
19 Christian churches that
dialogue and collaborate
Work with local ecumenical councils to provide
o Resources to aid local churches in ther mission program
o Provide opportunities to reflect and worship toether
o Encourage interfaith dialogue
NSW Ecumenical Council
Formed in
1982
Examples of initiatives that the NSW Ecumenical council undertakes
l
o The Christmas Bow - appeal is a much-loved tradition where 1,800 churches from 19 denominations come together in a powerful demonstration of solidarity as well as an act of faith and love to help some of the world’s most vulnerable people.
Evaluate the importance of interfaith dialogue in multi-faith Australia
Acknowledges all religions are different
Better appreciation of uniqueness or each other
Discussion on common grounds and work together
example of multi-faith dialogue
Have inter-faith prayer services and stand publically united on significant issues
Eg. Interfaith prayer services commemorating Bali Bombing and the Boxing Day Tsunami
Examine the relationship between Aboriginal spiritualties and religious traditions in the process of Reconciliation
Many Christian groups strongly support reconciliation, and the issues associated with it such as land rights, native title and the need for a formal apology to the Stolen Generation.
Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation (ANTaR) is an example of a prominent church based organisation advocating indigenous rights.
There is interfaith support for the process of reconciliation.
Islamic and Buddhist groups have also made public statements supporting reconciliation, and issues such as native title, a formal apology to the Stolen Generation and land rights.
