Religion and beliefs systems - Post 1945 Flashcards
Syllabus: Learn about
Aboriginal spirituality as determined by the dreaming
Syllabus: Learn to
• discuss how Aboriginal spirituality is determined by the Dreaming – kinship – ceremonial life – obligations to the land and people
Dreaming
Dreaming:
The aboriginal beliefs about creation & existence; includes the stories and creation of the world through ancestor spirits.
- It is a metatemporal concept (past, present & future)
Kinship
Kinship: The highly sophisticated network of relationships that govern interactions between members of language groups
Importance:
- Individuals only learn their way of life, history & spirituality through their Kin
- Elders pass on knowledge to younger generations through Kin relations
- Teaches an indvidual their place in the initiating of connectedness with one another and the dreaming
Ceremonial life
Ceremonial life: Ceremonies or events that recreate an eternal moment of the dreaming, allowing participants to connect with their spirit ancestors
Importance:
- Tells the stories of the dreaming, expressed in song, dance as well as depicted in paintings and carvings to provide continuity between the present and the dreaming
- Ensures that laws that govern the land and its creatures continue to be followed & the system set by the spirits remains intact.
Example:
- Ceremony where men undergo pain infront of elder, proves their worthiness for the knowledge of the dreaming, allowing this to be passed down through generations.
Obligations to the land & people
Obligation to land & people: belief that the land and an individual or group are inextricably linked
Importance:
- Land is their mother
- Land provides them with all their needs & in return they must care for it
- “We don’t own the land, the land owns us”
- Dreaming encompasses inextricable link to land because ancestor spirits roamed the lands, creating it as it should be & thus is should remain intact
- Major belief in totemism: allows for animals, plants & landmarks to hold spiritual force responsible for existence.
Syllabus: Learn about
Issues for Aboriginal spiritualities in relation to:
- The effect of dispossession
- The Land Rights movement
Syllabus: Learn to
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
Analyse the importance of the Dreaming for the Land Rights movement
Continuing effects of dispossession relating to:
– separation from the land
– separation from kinship groups
– the Stolen Generations
Separation from the land:
- caused a loss of identity (sacred sites & totems being taken away)
- loss of purpose in life (purpose is to gain deeper relationship with ancestors and care for the land which acts as a medium for this) that can’t be fulfilled through this
- loss of inextricable connection outlined by dreaming = loss of identity
Separation from kinship groups:
- unable to learn about their identity and experience it
- unable to learn about spirituality and connect to it on a deeper level
- unable to learn about history
The stolen generations: (Forcible removal of Aboriginal children from their families: 1910-1970)
Continuing effects of this =
- loss of identity and spiritual connection
- lower life expectancy
- over-representation in prisons
- higher unemployment rates
- higher rates of drug & alcohol abuse
- higher need to use government and social services
Importance of the following for the land rights movements:
- Native Title
- Mabo
- Wik decision
Native Title:
- Native Title Act passed 22nd December, 1993
- native title claims must be supported by evidence of continued associated with the land eg. spiritual connection, obligation on land, etc.
Mabo:
- Resulted in term ‘Terra Nullius’ being overturned on June 3rd, 1992
- ruled that Native title existed before 1799 and still existed on land that had not been bought or sold however, Aboriginal peoples would have to prove that they had occupied the land since 1788
Wik decision:
- court decided Wik people and pastoral leases could co-exist on the land
- brought about right to hunt and camp on the land as well as perform rituals and ceremonies.
Importance of the Dreaming for the Land Rights
movement
- Dreaming + the land = inextricably connected
- Land is their mother which came about the way that it is through the dreaming
- Identity of all aboriginal people is linked to the land as created by ancestral beings in the dreaming
- Without land, people can not access sacred sites which are resting places for ancestor spirits
Syllabus: Learn about
Religious expression in Australia: post-1945 to the present
The religious landscape from 1945 to the present in relation to:
– changing patterns of religious
adherence
– the current religious landscape
Syllabus: Learn to
• Outline changing patterns of religious adherence from 1945 to the present using census data
• 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
Changing patterns of religious adherence from 1945-present using census data
Religious growth: - Seen mainly outside of Christianity suggesting a major immigration boost 3 major religion growths showing this: Islam: 2.2% in 2011 - 2.6% in 2016 Hinduism: 1.3% in 2011 - 1.9% in 2016 Sikhism: 0.3% in 2011 - 0.5% in 2016
Religious decline:
Trend: Huge decline in traditional Christian religious adherence suggesting major influence of secularism and introduction of other religious traditions
Christianity:
- Overall Christian adherence went from 61.1% in 2011 declining to 52% in 2016
- Catholicism (25.3% in 2011 down to 22.6% in 2016)
- Anglicanism: (17.1% in 2011 down to 13.3% in 2016)
- Presbyterian: (2.8% in 2011 down to 2.3% in 2016)
- Uniting church: (5% in 2011 down to 3.7% in 2016)
- Eastern Orthodox: (8.4% in 2011 down to 8.2% in 2016)
Other religions that have declined:
Judaism- (0.5% in 2011 - 0.4% in 2016) Numbers have stayed consistent since migration after WWII
Buddhism- (2.5% in 2011 - 2.4% in 2016)
Non-religion:
- Huge hike in number selecting ‘no religion’
- 22.3% in 2011 - 30.1% in 2016
Trend: Intense growth due to decline of traditional religions, and more non-religious schools of thought.
Present religious landscape relating to:
- Christianity as a major religious tradition
- Immigration
- denominational switching
- rise of New Age religions
- secularism
Christianity as a major religious tradition:
- First fleet 1788, Australia settled by Britain with majority of convicts christian meaning it was the dominant religion
- The White Australia Policy in 1901 kept non-Christian migration to a minimum.
The relaxation of the White Australian Policy from the 1950s led to the arrival of people from many other religious traditions. However, Christianity still remains dominant today because of these past actions.
Immigration:
- Decline in immigration during 1901, White Australia policy
- After the war, many European settlers sought a life in Australia that was safer & secure
- Overseas wars and persecution lead to increased immigration e.g. Vietnam 1970s, Lebanon 1980s, Bosnia and Herzegovina 1990s and Syria since 2016
- Post WWII European immigration = larger number of Orthodox Christians, establishment of new Protestant group and growth in terms of Christian diversity
- Abolition of White Australia policy 1973 = Higher Asian and Middle East immigration → increased Buddhism/Hinduism/Islam
Denominational switching: (exchange of Church members between different Christian denominations)
- Pentecostal faith has continued to increase (at the greatest rate) because of greater relevance to contemporary life & young people
- Pentecostal groups attract many people who have been disaffected (dissatisfied) by other ‘traditional’ Christian communities
- Megachurches such as Hillsong are more appealing to younger generations
Rise of New age religions;
- People are facing general dissatisfaction with major religions but still long for a spiritual dimension in life
- Embrace spirituality and individualism
- Centre on animals or other parts of creation as key to harmony and wellbeing e.g astrology, paganism and numerology
- Desire for personal fulfilment, change, seeking inner peace and health as well as ease of travel.
Secularism: (movement or concept which rejects religious belief or adherence)
- Increase in ‘no religion’- 1947 (0.3%) Increased significantly to 30.1% in 2016.
- increase in dissatisfaction and irrelevance of traditional religious beliefs has led to increased secularism
Syllabus: Learn about
Religious dialogue in multi-faith Australia:
– ecumenical movements within Christianity
– Interfaith dialogue
– The relationship between Aboriginal spiritualities and
religious traditions in the process of Reconciliation
Syllabus: learn to
• describe the impact of Christian ecumenical movements in Australia
– The National Council of Churches
– NSW Ecumenical Council
• evaluate the importance of interfaith dialogue in multifaith Australia
• examine the relationship between Aboriginal spiritualities and religious traditions in the process of
Reconciliation
Ecumenical movements in Australia:
• describe the impact of Christian ecumenical movements in Australia
– The National Council of Churches
– NSW Ecumenical Council
Ecumenism: Christian churches working together to promote unity.
Examples:
The National council of churches:
- Promotes emphasis on similarities, differences and a unified front on issues confronting society in the name of the Gospel
- Brings Australian churches together in practical and organisation cooperation to discuss faith-base issues
- Aim to reverse the racist and discriminatory legislation that was affecting the social dynamic in Australia
- support and protect individuals such as refugees through programs (e.g National Program on Refugees and Displaced People)
NSW ecumenical council:
- Is the instrument through which Churches seek to be faithful and committed to their ecumenical calling
- Covers issues of: social justice, welfare, doctrine and order, worship and migrant and refugee concerns
- Provides resources to aid local churches in building greater cooperation for mission
- Encourage formation of agreements and church’s commitment to one another and effective proclamation of the gospel, supports inter-church groups and networks, encourages occasions for interfaith dialogue
- initiatives such as house of welcome centre allows for new immigrants to gain support systems to actively participate in society
Interfaith Dialogue:
• evaluate the importance of interfaith dialogue in multifaith Australia
Interfaith dialogue: Cooperative, constructive and positive interaction between people of different religious traditions and/or spiritual or humanistic beliefs
Important quote that can be used:
“There is no peace among the religions without dialogue between religions” (Theologian Hans Kung)
Interfaith dialogue is essential for:
- facilitating relationships between religions
- meeting religions in common ground where faith is respected
- increase harmony and peace amongst religions
- create mutual tolerance and respect towards Australia’s multicultural landscape
- allows members to discuss common issues such as dignity, the sanctity of human life, justice and peace.
Examples of interfaith dialogue:
Council of Christians and Jews -
- Works closely with Christian and Jewish communities, with the aim of removing the causes of racial and religious conflict
Columbian centre of Christian-Muslim relations:
- Established 1997 (sydney)
- Encourages dialogue between Christians and Muslims through speakers, seminars and newsletters
