The Aboriginal religion varies amongst the different tribes residing in Australia. The Aboriginal people are spiritual and religious, the different groups or tribes of the people generally believe in a different gods whom can be categorized as one or all of the following types of deity, Creation Being, Ancestral Being, or Totemic Being.
The Creation Being pertains to the gods that developed the creation of people and the environment.
Ancestral Beings pertains to the gods that helped teach the first Aboriginal people to make tools, to hunt for food, as well as creating laws and conducting ceremonies. Each Ancestral Being has their own story during the creation period. The stories of the Ancestral gods are different form tribe to tribe, but all the tribes describe the stories through song, dance and ceremony.
Totemic Beings pertains to the gods that represent the original form of animals, plants and other objects as they were during the Creation Period. There are multiple of these relationships, for instance a tribe may share a special relationship with a landscape that represents their land.
The Creation Period is also referred to the Dreamtime. This is the time period that the Aborigines believe the gods created landforms, animals and plants. The stories are similar to many other religions seem to contain a moral lesson within the stories, but the aborignies represent their stories through art and dance, as they do not have a written language. The Aborigines interpret their dreams as being a memory of the Creation period. This concept that dreams connect the people with the time of creation has created the alternative name of the Creation Period, "Dreamtime".
I think it is pretty interesting viewing the history of the Aboriginal religion because the Aborigines are one of the oldest peoples in existence and they currently still comprise primarily of indigenous groups.
ReplyDeleteThe aborigines' religion fascinates me as well because it is one of the oldest beliefs. I love how they think the land, such as mountains, are fallen gods reborn anew. The whole creation story, "Dreamtime" is a beautiful concept to me.
ReplyDeleteCool, it is reflective, for the final version before you, I wold like you to add some of the course content, something talked about in class regarding religion, which we have. Please, now, don't forget to add your references on the first post. Thanks. Good job
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting that just like dance and art, religion varies depending on the tribe and its location. I like the idea that these people are united in a way but all have fallen into a different path while still believing in similar things.
ReplyDeleteI think that the Creation Period and "Dreamtime" are so intriguing! In western society we are so used to a written document telling us how the world began, but the Aboriginals use song and dance to describe where they came from. That is something that is truly unique, and it is beautiful that it is shared among the different tribes, although it may vary slightly.
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