Religious Belief Systems Post 1945

Question 1

What is the dreaming? (Recap)

Answer 1

The Aboriginal beliefs about creation and existence, including stories about ancestor spirits that shaped the world and still abide in sacred sites, establishing rules governing the relationships between the people, the land and all things for Aboriginal peoples.

Question 2

What connects to the dreaming?

Answer 2

It is metatemporal- Rituals, land, art, songs, languages, mythology, relationships, division of labour, animals, totemic sites, celestial bodies

Question 3

What is kinship?

Answer 3

Kinship is the system of relationships traditionally accepted by a particular culture and the rights and obligations they involve- defines relationships in the community

Question 4

How does kinship link to dreaming?

Answer 4

Connected to knowledge of the dreaming being passed down from elders- the only way an Indigenous person learns about their way of life, history and spirituality, is through their kin- also sacred law

Question 5

Kinship tribe example

Answer 5

The Paakantyi people believe that the Ancestral being Ngurali who shaped Bourke determined the various laws within their kinship and organisationn

Question 6

Kinship quotes from scholars/elders

Answer 6

Elder Bob Randall- the completeness of the oneness
M Harvey-All things in our country here have Law, they have ceremony and song, and they have people who are related to them

Question 7

What are totems?

Answer 7

Animals or plants that are incredibly important to indigenous groups and individuals. Totems are assigned to clans, moeities, skin names and individuals

Question 8

How do totems link to dreaming?

Answer 8

Creates a transcendent bond between the individual, their land and the dreaming.

Question 9

Totem quote from scholars/ elders

Answer 9

“It is where you become associated with an animal and a plant, they become you and you become them.”

Question 10

What is ceremonial life? (Coroborees)

Answer 10

Aboriginal ceremonies connect people to the dreaming, recreating an eternal moment of the dreaming that allows participants to spiritually connect with their spirit ancestors

Question 11

Totem example

Answer 11

The Darug of Western Sydney have the goanna, lizards and cockatoos as their totem

Question 12

Corroboree example

Answer 12

Male initiation ceremonies: Piercing, circumcision, pain show submission to the elder authority and prove themselves worthy to share and understand the dreaming to others- dances and rituals connect to dreaming

Question 13

Elder D Sweeney

Answer 13

Elder D.Sweeney “It’s our way of connecting with everything and the dreaming and it’s really important.”

Question 14

What are obligations to land and people?

Answer 14

• Obligations to land and people extend from the fact that the land is not only a place of ancestors, but a connection to an individual’s identity
• It provides for them all their needs, and they have an obligation to care for it
• If they do not care for it and perform sacred ceremonies, the land will lose its ability to renew itself, and natural disasters occur (they have an obligation to care for it)
• Ancestor spirits
• No concept of land ownership
• The dreaming, the land an an individual or group of people are inextricably and inexorably linked
• SYMBIOTIC

Question 15

West Arnhem Land obligations example

Answer 15

The people of West Arnhem Land believe that the Mimi rock pictures were painted by spirits thousands of years ago- helps them understand the relationship they have with the dreaming, their country and their Ancestor spirits

Question 16

MABO

Answer 16

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Question 17

WIK

Answer 17

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Question 18

NATIVE TITLE

Answer 18

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Question 19

What is dispossession?

Answer 19

The action of depriving someone of land, property or other possessions

Question 20

Immediete effects of dispossesssion

Answer 20

The genocide included: mass killings, massacres, poisoning of water holes, rape, sexual slavery, the introduction of diseases, introduced species, the introduction of alcohol, being forced off the land and the Stolen Generations
-Some of the effects included removal from families and traditional lands, poor assimilation policies that attempted to deal with the ‘Aboriginal Problem” and a huge reduction in the population of Aboriginal Australians (Genocide)

Question 21

Long-term effects of dispossession (Separation from land)

Answer 21

• Deprivation of property, independence, culture and spirituality
• No ceremonies, rituals, rites of passage couldn’t occur- The leadership of Elders was undermined, sacred sites were destroyed and they lost connections to country (totems etc)
• Loss of purpose, belonging and fractured identity

Question 22

Separation from kinship

Answer 22

Loss of belonging, purpose, place in life- low self-esteem and feelings of racism

• Kins couldn’t visit- no information of dreaming from elders and celebration of the dreaming in the community
• Traditional roles, knowledge and ceremonies were stopped

Question 23

Stolen generations

Answer 23

Loss of language, culture, spirituality, and identity due to government policy such as White Australia Policy.

• Many children were abused and neglected
• Lack of constant information and spiritual opportunities provided- lack of stability, exploitation, poor living conditions
• Destruction of family and kin relationships
• Complete assimilation and loss of Indigenous spirituality- assimilated into White Christian religion
• Not able to care for and have that obligations to land aren’t met.

Question 24

Supporting stats for dispossession

Answer 24

• Although First Nations people are 2.7% of the Australian population, they account for 20%
of prison populations
• Only 1 in 10 Indigenous Australians are financially secure
• In comparison to their white counterparts, Indigenous people have about 10 years less life
expectancy and suffer from drug-related mentally illnesses at 5x the rate

Question 25

Elder Bob Randall

Answer 25

“the completeness of the oneness”

Question 26

Importance of the dreaming for the land right’s movement

Answer 26

The ancestor spirits gave Aboriginal people rights, obligations and responsibilities to care for the land and use it in the expression of their spirituality
-Teaches ceremonies and rituals which are important for the renewal of the land
 Separation of kinship groups disrupts and fragments the relationships formed through communities, leading to an inability to pass on knowledge through oral tradition, learn from elders or share responsibilities

Question 27

Elder Kevin Booter

Answer 27

Separation from kinship groups creates “a void” –

Question 28

Top 5 religious traditions (2016)

Answer 28

Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Judaism

Question 29

Impact of immigration

Answer 29

The Vietnamese immigration brought Buddhism and also some Catholics to Australia.

• Since the abolition of the WAP, many other religious traditions have entered Australia notably
• Hinduism (largely from India) is the fastest-growing religion in Australia
• Islam (from turkey, Lebanon and the wider Middle East fleeing Civil War), and more recently, Africa

Question 30

Denomination switching

Answer 30

• A denomination is a branch of any religion
• Switching from one Christian denomination to another has become a growing phenomenon. Lifelong religious commitment no longer is seen as important in our individualistic society. Family breakdown and clashing of views can also be a factor in denominational switching.
• For example, Pentecostals and Baptists are the main beneficiaries of denominational switching (Hillsong Church)
• Large focus on evangelisation, singing and promise of direct revelation of God etc
• Youth are more attracted to the vibrant services etc.

Question 31

New age religions

Answer 31

• Society increasingly tends to question traditional authorities more, and traditional religions are perceived as not answering individual needs
• Additionally, crimes committed by traditional religions can also be a factor in causing people to turn to different spiritualities.
• For example, the child sex abuse scandal within Australia, and the sexual molestation accusations placed against religious officials such as Cardinal George Pell.
• An example of a New Age Religion is Scientology
• A religious system based on the seeking of self-knowledge and spiritual fulfilment through graded courses of study and training.

Question 32

Secularism

Answer 32

-Secularism is based on the idea that society and government should be free from religious influence. It is becoming more prevalent as people become more and more cautious and suspicious of institutionalized religion and feel that it isnt relevant to them anymore.
-Reasons for secularism = pluralism, individualism, materialism, scepticism of religion, disillusionment
with religions - because of different values , loss in trust of religion, perceived church conservatism
-Individual rights and beliefs are seen as more important than conforming to traditional faiths

Question 33

Ecumenism

Answer 33

Aims to bring the branches (denominations) of the church back to a single community of faith, or ‘body of Christ’

• Tackling issues within society as a united Christian front, with a much more united voice.
• Uniting Church, NCCA

Question 34

Interfaith dialogue

Answer 34

Interfaith dialogue is a formal discussion that aims to develop greater mutual understanding between different religious traditions.

• Promotes unity and strength in religion in the face of growing secularism
• Historical conflicts between religions- Crusades, Terror Attacks- promotes future harmony and peace.

Question 35

Why is interfaith dialogue important?

Answer 35

-Increased secularization within our multi-faith society- means more religions are mixing together- increased risk of hostility and religious based violence- ISLAMOPHOBIA, ANTI-SEMITISM
-Whilst working together on common issues, they also aim to increase inter-religious understanding.
-Demand for interfaith dialogue has increased rapidly after post-1945 immigration and increasing religious diversity. It is now a pillar of multi-faith society.
-Following the attacks of September 11, Afghanistan Wars and ongoing terrorist attacks, Australian Muslims have been subjected to stereotyping, suspicion, prejudice and persecution. Interfaith dialogue (CMR) breaking down stereotypes- promotion of understanding
ANDCMJ and ACOCJ

Question 36

ATSI Reconciliation

Answer 36

• Refers to the acknowledgement by various groups in Australia of the great injustices done to Indigenous Ausrtalians and the dispossession that occurred in the past.
• Involves justice, recongnition and healing- moving forward towards a better understanding of the past and recognition of its impacts on Indigenous Australians today.

Question 37

ATSI Reconciliation examples

Answer 37

• NATIONAL ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER CATHOLIC COUNCIL
• Endorsing the ULURU STATEMENT OF THE HEART
• Corroboree Bridge Walk
• Muslim Women’s Association- advocates for the endorsement of the Uluru statement of the heart