ABORIGINAL SPIRITUALITY Chapter 2: Primal Religious Traditions

The Nature of Primal Religions -since prehistoric times small groups of people practiced unique religions -we refer to these religions that continue to be practiced by some people in Australia, Africa, and the America, as primal because they came before the other religions we will study in the rest of the course.

Why study primal religions? Special focus on the mythic and ritual dimensions of religion All religions stem in someway from primal beginnings Religions based in oral material- stories and myths passed down from generation to generation *IMPORTANT! Primal religions are vastly diverse- we can’t possibly study all of them and we have to be careful not to make sweeping generalizations about the religions!

Two religious traditions We will look at two religious traditions: Religion of the Australian Aborigines (p.23-26) Religion of the North American Plains Indians (p.28- 32)

ABORIGINALS Who are ABORIGINALS? A person of native ancestry inhabiting or existing in a land from the earliest times and before colonists. Aboriginals can be found world round

AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINALS

Religion of the Australian Aborigines The Aborigines are the native people of Australia Some traditions of the Aborigines that began thousands of years ago are still practiced today in Australia.

The Dreaming: The Eternal Time of the Ancestors Foundation of the Aborigines religion is the concept of the Dreaming. The Dreaming is a mythic period of time when a group of supernatural beings called Ancestors roamed and shaped the earth. The ancestors formed the landscape, organized people into tribes, created customs and languages etc. When the Ancestors left, they left behind symbols of their presence in the form of natural landmarks. Chapter questions #2. Define Ancestors, define the Dreaming

Ayers Rock Aborigines re-enact the Dreaming by following the route Ancestors took to sacred sites. This re-creation gives Aborigines access to the power in these sacred sites. Ques. 2,3

Power of the Ancestors Found in the geography of Australia- in many notable landmarks i.e. caves, body of water Imagine if everything around you had sacred significance? How would that change the way we interacted with earth? Define totem.

Power of the Ancestors Also found in each individual. High importance on ritual as the religion is based on recreating the mythic past of the Dreaming in order to tap in its sacred power. Also focuses on maintaining structure of society as it was set up by Ancestors. Ritual example: An unborn child becomes animated by a particular Ancestor when the mother or another relative makes contact with a sacred site. P. 25 “B”: List as many rituals as you can- how are they reenactments?

Video Clip Dreamtime of the Aborigines- Ancient Civiliations

Totemism An individual will always be identified in certain ways with their Ancestors. How are people in our families or in society seen as representatives of a predecessor? i.e. “You’re the spitting image of your grandma Ethel!” How do your family members identify with earlier generations? i.e. passed down recipes Define totem.

What is a totem? A natural entity, such as an animal or feature of the landscape, that symbolizes an individual or group and that has special significance for the religious life of that individual or group

Totemism Each Aborigine is a living representation of an Ancestor. This relationship is symbolized by a totem- the natural form in which the Ancestor appeared in the Dreaming. Could be an animal, a rock formation, or another feature of the landscape.

Taboo Not all rituals are open to all people. The concept of taboo dictates that certain things and activities are set aside for specific members of the group and are forbidden to others due to their sacred nature. Some rituals only open to men; others only to women. Restrictions also based on maturity or religious traditions.

Taboo Think about restrictions from childhood or rules that were placed on you. As a young child, how would you describes these rules? From your present perspective, how do you describe them? If you were a parent, would you place similar restrictions on your children? Define Taboo

Restrictions in social and religious context Think about restrictions in social and religious context. How do you describe these restrictions? (respectful, elitist, protective etc) Who, if anyone benefits from these restrictions? If one benefits, should all? Do those who do not directly benefit from the restrictions receive any benefits at all?

Aboriginal Spirituality Day 2 The Native American 10 Commandments Watch the video clip, and fill in your handout Think about which commandments you live out daily; which are harder for you to live out daily?

Ritual/Cult: The Sundance Celebrated by peoples of the Prairies in June or July, during the full moon Its purpose is renewal of dedication to the Great Spirit. Music and dancing around axis mundi- veneration of the sun Four days before the ceremony, dancers purify themselves, and they fast during the four days of the sun dance. Final stage of the rite involves piercing the body and tearing away from the piercing to symbolize a renewal of the quest for the spirit

Learning the power of each thing is central to Aboriginal life. Central Beliefs ANIMISM: All things, human and non-human, have spirits or souls, and the person or animal lives on after death through the presence of that spirit. Aboriginal peoples believe all power comes from a common origin, so the same energy inhabits all things. Siouan peoples call this energy Wakan; Wakan Tanka or Wakonda is the Great Spirit Some things have a greater quantity of this spirit or energy; other things have less. Learning the power of each thing is central to Aboriginal life. All living things are interconnected

The Great Spirit The Great Spirit inhabits all things—rocks, land, water, plants, animals, and people. Most Aboriginal peoples believe the spirit is fluid, and that it is there at specific moments. For example, it is there when an eagle flies, but not when it is asleep. It is often addressed as the Creator. This Spirit reveals itself in many ways in nature; these are “the spirits.” In vision quests, they encounter these powers when they find their spirit helpers.

The Trickster This figure plays an important role in creation, but is not the Creator. Can be both mean and generous, is impulsive, a bungler, a joker or buffoon, a troublemaker For example, Nanabush is the Ojibwa Trickster. He stole fire for humans, calmed dangerous winds, and invented strategies for hunting. At times he has great power, somewhere between human and divine. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNo2hFTMay4

Afterlife Various beliefs Could believe in ghosts, afterlife, reincarnation, etc. Sometimes a combination of beliefs

Sacred Texts Nothing is written down Beliefs are handed down orally, so can change as a result of a dream or vision

Sweat Lodge Ritual of purification, spiritual renewal, and healing Sweat lodge made of saplings covered with hides (blankets, furs, etc.) Deep hole is filled with hot rocks, upon which water is thrown to create steam Steam purifies the body

Sweat Lodge Sweat lodge: when you are seeking the help of the Creator & spirits Helping spirits are called into the sweat lodge by prayers, songs, drums, or shakers Drum is an important item of the ceremony Songs and prayers are offered during the ceremony

Vision Quest A period of fasting, meditation, and physical challenge Undertaken by young boys at puberty Enter into wilderness (isolation) with goal of attaining vision to guide development. Can acquire guardian spirit

Family Guy episode: The son also draws Does the depiction of the vision quest in this episode in any way relate to the vision quest described in your text? What is Peter’s totem/vision? What are the lessons Peter learns?

p.40 Answer Q. 40 in your notes