Studies of Religion Contemporary Aboriginal Spirituality Revision 2008 Lecture Ms Kristen Sharpe

Contemporary Aboriginal Spirituality 3 Units studies in Year 12: –Religion in Australia Contemporary Aboriginal Spiritualities –Christianity Hildegard Environmental ethics Sunday Worship –Islam Khadijah Environmental ethics The Hajj

Contemporary Aboriginal Spirituality Syllabus Dot Points: Discuss how Aboriginal Spirituality is determined by the Dreaming; Discuss the continuing effect of dispossession; Outline the importance of the Land Rights movement; Analyse the importance of the Dreaming for the Land Rights Movement; Examine the relationship between Aboriginal Spiritualities and religious traditions in the process of Reconciliation.

Contemporary Aboriginal Spirituality Revision from Year 11 Nature of the Aboriginal Spirituality - Overview –Holistic, interconnected, no separation –Closely associated with nature – land is central –Highly developed social systems –Deeply spiritual – least material minded – ephemeral –Takes many forms – no one Aboriginal nation 700+ groups, 400+ language groups

Contemporary Aboriginal Spirituality Revision from Year 11 Nature of the Dreaming A complex concept of fundamental importance to Aboriginal culture. The Dreaming is the central concept to understanding life: the past – how the landscape came into existence; the present – how Aboriginal people are to spend their life now; and, the future – shows how the earth’s life giving powers are to be kept for the future.

Contemporary Aboriginal Spirituality Revision from Year 11 Nature of the connection with the Land Land is sacred – the purpose of life - to care for the Land Humans are indivisibly connected with their ‘country’ Totems – symbols of a specific spirit ancestor in a particular area of land. Learning their story of their country, their rights and responsibilities of that story is the purpose of their life – through songs, music, dance, art, symbols, rituals.