Religion and Australian National Dialogue Essay

Submitted By laurenralley
Words: 1441
Pages: 6
Open Document
Animism

Animism refers to a belief system that focuses on the belief that a living soul is in plants and inanimate objects; essentially everything on the world has a sprit. Typically animistic views are held in traditional and native cultures established well before the creation of structured and organized religion. As these religions become more promenade and powerful eventually animistic religions have been over ruled and are now struggling to continue and to sustain traditional beliefs and practices. The two most common animistic religions in today’s society globally would be Hinduism and Buddhism.
The core beliefs that are common through most animistic cultures, they include: * Belief in spirits * Belief that these spirits interact and connect with physical objects and beings * These spirits are believed to be neutral, neither good or evil * Living beings experience a life after death * Ancestor veneration, meaning that ancestors are essentially respected * Both animate and inanimate objects are anthropomorphized, they are described as being given human features and personified * High respect and appreciation for animals
Animists also have specific practices and traditions: * Exorcisms is a strong and common tradition with animists, this is the process described as releasing or expelling the evil from a person, place, object etc. * Banishing also is promenade, this is a punishment of an individual that has broken a law or rule and it leads to the individual being forced to leave the community and in most cases not permitted to even contact the rest of the group or tribe * They also believe in spiritual healing, opposed to physical health care * They also often celebrate the spirits by holding rituals in which extremes are gone to in order to display the existence of sprits. Many costumes and much make up is used in these celebration as a tradition * Rituals and other gatherings are also participated in when a sprit dies or comes to an end, this could be any form of spirit
Although many of these beliefs and practices were dominate many years ago their part in modern societies, especially western civilization, is often questioned and mocked. A key factors that is important when understanding the way in which traditional civilizations and tribes practiced their animistic beliefs was the fact that they never defined it as being animistic. Even when religions and cultures collided it was never categorized as animism that allows these tribes to connect with each other, even though they are very different. This term and concept, animism, become popular and common in the 19 century. As other cultures become more prominent and colonized wider across the world it was made obvious that the tribal and aboriginal culture and religion were very different to the English and European. As the Europeans, genially English took control and dominated many of these tribes their religion, beliefs and practices were lost. In this process the countries that colonized made a mockery of the preexisting beliefs and enforced their own religions, even in today’s society many follows are seen as somewhat of outcast, at least in a religions stand point. Many efforts have been made to regain this connection to land and spirits but for many cultures they have gone too far to return to their original culture, this is all speaking typically as each culture are different and so is the continuity of the religion. This may be why the majority of the culture is struggling to sustain and grow over time but it may also be associated with the fact that countries either have or are beginning to industrialize.
Industrialization is the process of countries moving away from agriculture and creating manufacturing markets, this involves a lot of infrastructure being build and the destruction of many sacred sites and sprits. Faith has been lost due to many of the individuals that believe in animism have bared
Show More

Related Documents: Religion and Australian National Dialogue Essay

Religion And Belief Systems In Australia Post-1945

Studies of Religion Religion and belief systems in Australia post – 1945 Introduction * The end of the Second World War in 1945 brought huge changes throughout the world-including how people see their world. * Changes that reflected various relationships between Christian denominations; relationship between the Christian tradition and those traditions other than Christianity, and the relationship between the non-Indigenous community and indigenous peoples (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander…

Words 2218 - Pages 9

post 1945 Essay

the Dreaming, through the land and the people, through the totems, values and kinship systems. Kinship Kinship is the system of law that governs the social interaction of Aboriginals on a day-to-day basis. Through Kinship groups, Indigenous Australians are able to maintain a connection to both their land and ancestral beings, as well as identifying each individuals roles and responsibilities within the group. One responsibility that is closely tied with Kinship is that of transferring the stories…

Words 2813 - Pages 12

Essay on Sor 1 Notes

Religion and Belief Systems in Australia post-1945 1901-1945 religious makeup of population is hardly changed → predominately Anglo-Celtic Christian. 0.5 % profess non-Christian religions. Migration to Australia after WWII drastically alters religious landscape. Contemporary Aboriginal Spirituality Aboriginal Spirituality as determined by the Dreaming Kinship Complex network of relationships defining identity, rights, obligations. Defines and individuals place, role and responsibility in the…

Words 9982 - Pages 40

Contributions Of Christianity In Australia Towards Reconciliation Essay

years. “Reconciliation is about ensuring that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have their rights as the first peoples of this nation properly recognised and that recognition of those rights ensures them the same life chances as other Australians. Reconciliation is about acknowledging the wrongs of the past and pledging as a nation to right them.” - Former Chair of NSW State Reconciliation Committee, Linda Burney, 1999 To understand reconciliation one must learn about the actions of the…

Words 1316 - Pages 6

Essay Buddhism: Indigenous Australians and Student Answers

Answers Chapter 9 Religion and belief systems in Australia post-1945 (HSC) Activities (p. 203) 1 Re-read the material on the Dreaming in Chapter 1 pages 17-27. Why is the Dreaming so interconnected with the land? The Dreaming structures Aboriginal life by regulating kinship, ceremonial life and the relationship between male and female, with a network of obligations involving people, land and spirits. It affects the rights of Aboriginal people to land through sacred sites. Within…

Words 3606 - Pages 15

Essay on Chartbook: Islam and Inner Peace

traditions there are a range of interpretations of the right actions Communal peace is often associated with the structural inequalities that occur as a result in injustice in societies International organisations such as World Conference of Religions for Peace – ‘respecting religious differences while celebrating our common humanity… stopping war, ending poverty and protecting the earth.’ Christianity Sacred texts: New testament Jesus sought to redefine the ancient Hebrew texts (such as the…

Words 2400 - Pages 10

History Of Open High School

how the Indonesian language works  the Indonesian national language and its origins  the ethnic groups which make up Indonesia  the traditional costumes and national dress of Indonesia. Booklet 2 – Keluarga Saya Coursebook 1 Part of the family Within a few days of their arrival Nick and Wendy had discovered that Indonesians, in general, are very friendly. They also seemed to be very curious. They wanted to know all about the two Australians and their families. At first Wendy and Nick were a…

Words 7217 - Pages 29

Essay on SOR1 NOTES

Topic One: Religion and Belief Systems in Australia post-1945 Contemporary Aboriginal Spiritualities Aboriginal spirituality as determined by the Dreaming Aboriginal spirituality as determined by the Dreaming Fundamental to Ab. Spirituality. ↝ the Dreaming involves all knowledge and understanding in Aboriginal societies, and hence incorporates all beliefs and practices of Aboriginal communities. Encompasses physical and spiritual aspects of Ab. Life. Symbolic of creation phase- believe land created…

Words 7131 - Pages 29

1105333226 2004 English Advanced Notes Hussain Essay

Speeches Abraham Lincoln: Government of the people, by the people, for the people’ 1863 Also known as the ‘Gettysburg Address’, this concise speech is simple in its language yet carries a complex message of freedom for all men including the abolition of Negroes in slavery during the period of the Civil War in America. Given at Gettysburg after a great battle and victory for the North, Lincoln praises the efforts of the dead and also calls upon the living to continue fighting for the cause of…

Words 7927 - Pages 32

2009 Studies Of Religion Notes Essay

ADRIANA NAVARRO RELIGION 1 UNIT NOTES Page 2: Aboriginal Spirituality Page 5: Post 1945 Page 7: Judaism page 10: marriage Page 12: Chrisitianity page 13: marriage Page 18: Ethics page 18: Christianity page 21: Judaism Aboriginal Spirituality Country: term used to describe ones land which they belong to and their place of dreaming Elders: Key persons and keepers of knowledge within Aboriginal communities ‘Elders’ – kinship and owners ‘Elders’ - leaders of large extended family ‘Elders’…

Words 8507 - Pages 35