ABORIGINAL SPIRITUALITY
In Australia there are 2 main Aboriginal religions: Aboriginal religion and Torres Strait islander religions. There are several similarities between Christianity and Aboriginal religions, however there are also many differences. These beliefs mostly correlate to the origin of life and the meaning of death. The terms Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islander people are used to identify the many groups that originally inhabited Australia. Aboriginal religion is directly related to the environment and landscape of Australia. It mainly teaches respect for creation and the creatures that inhabit it. It is more appropriate to use Aboriginal religions rather than religion due to the fact that there is so much diversity amongst indigenous beliefs. For example, Aboriginal people who live in different areas of Australia have different rituals, scared places and stories. Some groups think of their spirit ancestors as coming from across the seas or from the sky or earth. Each clan illustrates their beliefs through particular rituals. these members believe that their small area of land was founded by a spirit being who shaped it into what it is now. However the spirits were not creators, as there was already land present. The spirits gave this land meaning.
BELIEFS
The Dreaming:
The Dreamings are the basis of all aspect of Aboriginal life, religion and spirituality. Sometimes the word Dreamtime is used. Howver this term is misleading because the dreaming is not a time which therefore means it took place in a timeless world. Through the Dreaming, Aboriginals are able to experience wholeness and holiness in their lives.
Spirit Beings:
Aboriginals do not believe in animism, that is, that an object possesses a soul. However, they do believe that particular lanscape features are the result of spirit beings passing through. For example, a river was created when the Rainbow Serpent slithered through the land, or an indent in a rock was from a Spirit Being sitting down and leaving its mark.
Death and the afterlife:
Aboriginal Spirituality differs from Christianity, as a person's good or bad behaviour during their life doesn't not affect "where" they go once the die. When a person dies, Aboriginals believe that their spirit needs to be freed so it may return to its own country and ancestral spirits or to totemic sites where they can be reborn as a different person.
The Dreaming:
The Dreamings are the basis of all aspect of Aboriginal life, religion and spirituality. Sometimes the word Dreamtime is used. Howver this term is misleading because the dreaming is not a time which therefore means it took place in a timeless world. Through the Dreaming, Aboriginals are able to experience wholeness and holiness in their lives.
Spirit Beings:
Aboriginals do not believe in animism, that is, that an object possesses a soul. However, they do believe that particular lanscape features are the result of spirit beings passing through. For example, a river was created when the Rainbow Serpent slithered through the land, or an indent in a rock was from a Spirit Being sitting down and leaving its mark.
Death and the afterlife:
Aboriginal Spirituality differs from Christianity, as a person's good or bad behaviour during their life doesn't not affect "where" they go once the die. When a person dies, Aboriginals believe that their spirit needs to be freed so it may return to its own country and ancestral spirits or to totemic sites where they can be reborn as a different person.
MYTHS AND SACRED STORIES
Living stories are the stories of people's ancestor spirits, stories of the creative period when the world was being shaped and the dreaming myths. These stories are told to describe the land to its owners so a right relationship can be built. Some stories tell of particular objects in the landscape, and many Aboriginal elders can easily identify them on the land. Owning a certain myth is determined by one's totem. The responsibility that comes with this myth is to keep the story alive and is done so by passing it on to the right people. These myths are acted out in sacred rituals to a select group of people. For general hearing, there are stories that are passed down for generations, told by the campfire by elders. These myths normally contain the laws or explain why something is the way it is. |
SACRED TEXTS
There are no written texts in Aboriginal Spirituality, as stories have been traditionally told verbally, through art, dancing and singing.
There are no written texts in Aboriginal Spirituality, as stories have been traditionally told verbally, through art, dancing and singing.
RITUALS
Birth:
At the time of the birth, the mother, accompanied by her mother, mother-in-law or another married woman, would go to a special place away from the camp. The other woman was there to help the mother give birth and to sing the songs and perform the birth rites so the process would be smooth. After the birth, the baby's placenta would be buried, signifying its connection ot the land. After that, a smoking ceremony would be held, where the mother would be cleansed and the baby would be given strength. Later, the baby would be rubbed with ashes to symbolise the darkness of its skin, just like their parents. Once these rituals were complete, the father would be allowed to see the child.
Male initiation:
When a boy is 6-16, a initiation ritual is held for him. In preparation for this, the men on the community will teach him the scared stories, rituals and way of the tribe. Often, young men of many communities will journey together to visit sacred sites. Initiation is held regularly and is often a big event, as more than one community join together to celebrate this passage into adulthood. The mothers and potential mothers-in-law of the young man are responsible for preparing the food, whilst others readied the place of initiation. There is a lot of dancing, singing and body painting.
Female initiation:
Although not a dramatic as male initiation, female initiation still holds much importance to Aboriginal spirituality. Initiation normally occurs when a girl is about, or gets her first period. Part of the ritual is to be taught by older women of the community the songs, myths and how to behave as a young woman. A special bath and body painting is also part of the ritual. After that, the girl is led back to the camp and is presented as a young woman ready to be married. Once she is married, she is considered to be independent, but is only fully initiated once she has had 2 children. A fully initiated woman is taught more secret meanings of rituals and take part in more secret ceremonies.
Death:
When someone dies, their spirit continues to live and must be released, so it may journey back to its country and ancestral spirits, or to is totemic sites to be reborn as another person. All traces of the deceased are removed to encourage the spirit to leave. Clothes and belongings are burnt and their name is not said for several years. To remove the "smell" of the deceased, green branches are used to sweep their dwelling place, and the family would move camp. Some communities cremated the dead, some buried them and some would leave the body out and return at a later time to collect the bones. Relatives in mourning would cut themselves until they bled and paint themselves white in sorrow. Widows are not allowed to speak and can only communicate using hand gestures All deaths, except those of infancy or old age are thought to be caused by someone, either by magic or in a fight. To seek revenge, the next of kin would spear or beat the person they held responsible.
Birth:
At the time of the birth, the mother, accompanied by her mother, mother-in-law or another married woman, would go to a special place away from the camp. The other woman was there to help the mother give birth and to sing the songs and perform the birth rites so the process would be smooth. After the birth, the baby's placenta would be buried, signifying its connection ot the land. After that, a smoking ceremony would be held, where the mother would be cleansed and the baby would be given strength. Later, the baby would be rubbed with ashes to symbolise the darkness of its skin, just like their parents. Once these rituals were complete, the father would be allowed to see the child.
Male initiation:
When a boy is 6-16, a initiation ritual is held for him. In preparation for this, the men on the community will teach him the scared stories, rituals and way of the tribe. Often, young men of many communities will journey together to visit sacred sites. Initiation is held regularly and is often a big event, as more than one community join together to celebrate this passage into adulthood. The mothers and potential mothers-in-law of the young man are responsible for preparing the food, whilst others readied the place of initiation. There is a lot of dancing, singing and body painting.
Female initiation:
Although not a dramatic as male initiation, female initiation still holds much importance to Aboriginal spirituality. Initiation normally occurs when a girl is about, or gets her first period. Part of the ritual is to be taught by older women of the community the songs, myths and how to behave as a young woman. A special bath and body painting is also part of the ritual. After that, the girl is led back to the camp and is presented as a young woman ready to be married. Once she is married, she is considered to be independent, but is only fully initiated once she has had 2 children. A fully initiated woman is taught more secret meanings of rituals and take part in more secret ceremonies.
Death:
When someone dies, their spirit continues to live and must be released, so it may journey back to its country and ancestral spirits, or to is totemic sites to be reborn as another person. All traces of the deceased are removed to encourage the spirit to leave. Clothes and belongings are burnt and their name is not said for several years. To remove the "smell" of the deceased, green branches are used to sweep their dwelling place, and the family would move camp. Some communities cremated the dead, some buried them and some would leave the body out and return at a later time to collect the bones. Relatives in mourning would cut themselves until they bled and paint themselves white in sorrow. Widows are not allowed to speak and can only communicate using hand gestures All deaths, except those of infancy or old age are thought to be caused by someone, either by magic or in a fight. To seek revenge, the next of kin would spear or beat the person they held responsible.
SYMBOLS: Aboriginal symbols are found mostly in their paintings. Because their clans move often, they do not carry many belongings with them, but rather paint on rocks, trees and the ground. More information can be found here: http://www.aboriginalartstore.com.au/aboriginal-art-culture/aboriginal-symbols-glossary/ |
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SOCIAL STRUCTURES:
Of the whole "single religion" of Aboriginal Spirituality, many sub groups are defined as a part of it.
Physical or geological structuring:
A tribe of 500 people is made up of groups of 10-12 people, who group together because they share a common language and they hunt together.
Religious and totemic structuring:
Another way for Australia to be divided is into two moieties, each based on a significant Ancestral Being from the Creation Period. Each person is connected to important plants, animals or places within each moiety.
Social structuring (kinship system):
This allows people in each group to be related to one another. This system is used when an "outsider" or someone who is not of an Aboriginal Spiritual background joins a group and is "adopted" as part of the family. This system defines the behaviours, relations and obligations each person has to everyone else.
Of the whole "single religion" of Aboriginal Spirituality, many sub groups are defined as a part of it.
Physical or geological structuring:
A tribe of 500 people is made up of groups of 10-12 people, who group together because they share a common language and they hunt together.
Religious and totemic structuring:
Another way for Australia to be divided is into two moieties, each based on a significant Ancestral Being from the Creation Period. Each person is connected to important plants, animals or places within each moiety.
Social structuring (kinship system):
This allows people in each group to be related to one another. This system is used when an "outsider" or someone who is not of an Aboriginal Spiritual background joins a group and is "adopted" as part of the family. This system defines the behaviours, relations and obligations each person has to everyone else.
ETHICAL PRINCIPLES
Laws of a group were not given by someone with supreme power, but exist from the Dreaming. These are not written, but embedded in the stories shared, with messages about the result of particular actions. These Dreaming stories have moral messages that are expected to be followed by all. Laws are based on relationships with family, community, land and its creatures. Because Aboriginals do not believe in a higher power or god, there is no concept of "sin", and no punishment from a higher power. Rather, punishment is given from a human acting as a sacred protector of heritage. The most serious and important laws are about one's Dreaming. It is a person's responsibility to look after the earth, its plants and animals, and to pass on this knowledge to future generations. Murder is another serious offense, and punishment is recived from other by physical and oral abuse. |
RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE
In Aboriginal Spirituality, there are different levels of dedication and connection to faith. In their daily lives, Aboriginals experience their faith through an indirect link of power from their ancestors, sacred places and stories. They also take part in ceremonies such as rituals of initiation, death and birth. Aboriginals aim to care for the land which they hold sacred. This is seen in their day to day activities.
In Aboriginal Spirituality, there are different levels of dedication and connection to faith. In their daily lives, Aboriginals experience their faith through an indirect link of power from their ancestors, sacred places and stories. They also take part in ceremonies such as rituals of initiation, death and birth. Aboriginals aim to care for the land which they hold sacred. This is seen in their day to day activities.