Studies of Religion Notes

HSC – Stage 6

2 Unit - Studies of Religion

Religion and Belief Systems in Australia Australia post-1945 Contemporary Aboriginal Spiritualities

1. Aboriginal spirituality as determined by the reaming Discuss ho Aboriginal spirituality is determined by the Dreaming – !inship ceremonial life – obligations to the land and people –

!he reaming is the foundation of Aboriginal spirituality" spirituality" pro#iding a basis upon $hi%h &inship systems" traditions" rituals and %eremonies are built. "inship is a %omple' system of belonging and responsibility $ithin a %l an based on familial and totem relations that go#ern daily Aboriginal life by determining %lan issues. !he dreaming has in itself pres%ribed the peoples &inship ties and permeates throughout the system b y(

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assigning responsibilities to transmit &no$ledge of the dreaming from from elders to younger generations – pro#iding the basis on $hi%h aboriginal so%iety is stru%tured on) maintained sin%e the beginning of the reaming – defining spiritual and temporal identity to the aboriginal aboriginal people – *inship is also e'pressed through Totems $hi%h Totems $hi%h identify one+s &inship line and pro#ide the indi#idual $ith a dire%t lin& to sa%red matters. Ceremonial Ceremonial life# !he %omple' and spiritual %ore of the reaming and reaming stories for ea%h group is re%ognised and re#ered in %eremonial life" en%ompassing performan%e of rituals at sa%red sites" the dra$ing of sa%red symbols s ymbols and %orroborees.

Rituals heighten Rituals heighten the presen%e of the reamings( – ,in& the present $orld to the reamtime reamtime Art is is used to %ommuni%ate the dreaming( – y pro#iding maps of the land) %lans" sa%red sites" sites" $aterholes et%. – Used to pass on sa%red &no$ledge Stories des%ribe the Aboriginal la$ and lifestyle( – es%ribe ho$ an%estral beings mo#e through land %reating nature – ro#ide foundation for Aboriginal e'isten%e by e'plaining e'plaining %reation and sharing ho$ dreaming shapes daily life – Used as a form of oral history Totems represent Totems represent indi#idual as they e'isted in the dreaming( – /orm of animal" plant or natural phenomena phenomena – ,in&s indi#idual and an%estor spirit – !otems !otems %arry %eremonial responsibilities 0balan%e rights $bligations to land and a people# ,and is of great importan%e be%ause( – Aboriginals belie#e that people $ere %reated from from the earth $hi%h has e'isted sin%e the beginning of time and that it is therefore the sa%red motherland" 3y Country+

Cynthia Chan 2445

HSC – Stage 6


reaming is ine'tri%ably %onne%ted to the land be%ause( – !he land is the %onte't of the reaming stories" a %onstant around $hi%h their spiritual $orld re#ol#ed. – ,and pro#ides the foundation for Aboriginal beliefs" traditions" rituals and la$s An%estral beings d$ell in the land and therefore( – !he people ha#e a responsibility to &eep and respe%t the land .g. 7f tra#elling" the aboriginal people must be %areful not to enter the sa%red spa%es of other %lans. !his sho$s the inter%onne%tion that e'ists bet$een obligation to the land and a people. .g. !he people of 8est Arnhem ,and" in the 9!" belie#e that the 3i3i ro%& pi%tures $ere painted by !he 3i3i Spirits thousands of years ago. !his allo$s them to understand the relationship they ha#e $ith the reaming" their %ountry and their an%estor spirits. !hese relationships determine responsibilities bet$een people. 

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Cynthia Chan 2445

HSC – Stage 6


2. 7ssues for Aboriginal spiritualities in relation to( !he effe%t of dispossession !he ,and Rights mo#ement Discuss the continuing effect of dispossession on Aboriginal spiritualities in relation to# − Separation from the land

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Separation from !inship groups %he Stolen &enerations

Separation from the land# – 7nterfered $ith rituals and %eremonies $hi%h follo$ed reaming tra%&s 0paths that follo$ the Spirit An%estors as they %reated the lands%ape that pro#ided the people $ith a physi%al %onne%tion to the reaming. :ut of %onte't the ritual;%eremony is meaningless and the people be%ome mispla%ed spiritually and psy%hologi%ally $ith no home and no stable base of life. – !he land is the %onte't of the reaming stories" a %onstant around $hi%h their spiritual $orld re#ol#ed. Remo#al from this land $ould then be li&ely to %ause a se#ere disruption to the normal pattern and pro%esses for handling traditions hysi%al presen%e in the %ountry $as important to the people in &eeping the lore 0stories" songs" dan%es" art" %ustoms ali#e and passing it on. !he lore is related land $ere their shared personal property" perhaps the most important permanent+ and tangible+ %onstant in their nomadi% life. 

Separation from !inship groups# – *inship groups are #ital in the aboriginal %ulture in that they tie %lans and families together" allo%ating roles and responsibilities $ithin a %ommunity. – Separation from &inship groups" $or&ing systems" then meant that the aboriginal so%iety lost its point of fi'ture and e#ery personal affiliation be%ame lamed. – !he %omple' interrelationship of so%ial status" personal identity and health must be borne %onstantly in mind. 8hen the &inship system is destroyed it members ine#itably suffer from psy%hologi%al distress su%h as $ithdra$al and depression $here the indi#idual has suffered a loss of identify this e'tends to the brea&ing up of %ommunities and a spirit of solidarity. %he Stolen &eneration# Aboriginal %hildren $ere for%ibly remo#ed from homes b y go#ernment offi%ials to be pla%ed in missions or reser#es su%h as the Cootamundra 4+s as $ell as being adopted or fostered into $hite families if the %hildren $ere half %aste+.

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Separation from elders( no generation to pass &no$ledge" language and traditions to. !his results in a loss of identity and self esteem the Aboriginal %ulture deteriorated *inship ties $ere bro&en resulting in a loss of identity $here the young indigenous generation is lost in-bet$een t$o opposing %ultures in a struggle to find balan%e 0see abo#e

Protection Policy: – Remo#al of Aboriginal %hildren from their families under the preten%e that they $ere li#ing in an un%i#ilised+ en#ironment follo$ed by pla%ement into missions and reser#es Assimilation Policy: – 1=?1( /or%ed integration of Aboriginal peoples into $hite so%iety through abandonment of their traditional beliefs and pra%ti%es.

Cynthia Chan 2445

HSC – Stage 6


Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (1!": – 7ssued the ringing them home+ report $hi%h told of the horrifi% %onditions Aboriginal %hildren $ere for%ed to fa%e $utline the importance of the folloing for the 'and Rights mo(ement# − )ati(e %itle

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*abo +i!

!he ,and Rights 3o#ement and the reaming( – A series of go#ernment de%isions in response to land %laims $hi%h e'plored the right of Aboriginal peoples $ho had maintained %ontinual %onta%t $ith their traditional lands for hundreds of years before settlement – oth a religious and politi%al mo#ement – Aimed to se%ure the inherent rights of Aboriginal peoples to their land so that their religious and %ultural integrity is preser#ed. )ati(e %itle# 9ati#e !itle is the %ommunal or indi#idual rights or interests of Aboriginals in relation to traditional land and $ater

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(1#": !he 9ati#e !itle A%t #alidated the e'isten%e of non-7ndigenous interest in land su%h as freehold leases and other grants and li%enses. 7t a%%epted that 7ndigenous peoples $ho had %ontinuing interest in the land had rights to the land. 8here both 7ndigenous and non-7ndigenous people had interest in the land" the A%t pro#ided an appropriate forum for dealing $ith this. Allo$ed Aboriginal people %laim o$nership of traditional land under 9ati#e !itle+ $ith proof su%h as 7n order to %laim 9ati#e !itle" must meet 2 prere@uisites 1. ,and must not be o$ned by anyone else - !his in%luded go#ernments and indi#iduals 2. Aboriginal people must sho$ a traditional and ongoing %onne%tion $ith the land sin%e 1>55 - !his $as #ery hard to pro#e $ithout legal papers and %ontra%ts ery small portion and per%entage of Australian land is o$ned by Aboriginal people through 9ati#e !itle be%ause( 3ost land is already o$ned by other people or institutions 7nsuffi%ient proof %ould be pro#ided  

*abo# !his %ase $as initiated by fi#e indigenous plaintiffs" led by ddie 3abo" from the 3urray 7slands in the !orres Strait – the 3eriam eople suing for land %laims.

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Bune (1$"" High Court of Australia ruled in fa#our of ddie 3abo( Aboriginal and !orres Strait 7slanders had a %ontinuous lin& $ith the land and %ontinued to pra%ti%e la$s and %ustoms asso%iated $ith the land before ritish %oloniation. :#erthre$ the legal fi%tion terra nullius% a%&no$ledging that Australia $as o%%upied by Aboriginal people in 1>55 $hen ritish settlement too& pla%e. Claimed o$nership of land under the 9ati#e !itle A%t+ $hi%h e'isted sin%e 1>55" 3abo raised a$areness of its e'isten%e and this $as a step to the passing of the &ati'e Title Act 1#

Cynthia Chan 2445

HSC – Stage 6


+i!# !he 8i& %ase %on%erned land that $as subDe%t to pastoral leases.

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(1!" !he High Court of Australia de%ided that nati#e title rights %ould %o-e'ist $ith the rights of pastoralists. ut $hen pastoralists and Aboriginal rights $ere in %onfli%t" the pastoralists+ rights $ould pre#ail.

Analyse the importance of the Dreaming for the 'and Rights mo(ement ,and is at the heart of the reaming and all relationships $ithin Aboriginal %ommunities are determined through relationships $ith the land.

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!he de%laration of terra nullius made by the $hite settlers denied foundational prin%iples of the Aboriginal belief systems Aboriginal spirituality is founded on the people+s ine'tri%able %onne%tion to the land. !hey are part of the land and the land is part of their being aily life" Rituals and Ceremonies refle%t and re#ol#e around the land and are dependent upon it to be $hole" $ithout it these pra%ti%es %annot be obser#ed 

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Cynthia Chan 2445

HSC – Stage 6


Religious e,pression in Australia  1945 to the present

E. !he religious lands%ape from 1=F? to the present in relation to( – Changing patterns of religious adheren%e – !he %urrent religious lands%ape $utline changing patterns of religious adherence from 1945 to the present using census data Christianity# – Chur%h of ngland 0Angli%an de%reased from E=G of population in 1=F> to 15G in 2446 – Catholi%ism has risen from 24G in 1=F> to 2?G in 2446 – Christianity has de%reased" yet remains most popular religion in Australia 06FG Christian – !raditional Chur%hes 0resbyterian" Congregational" 3ethodist e'perien%ed do$nturn losing 1?G sin%e 1==6 – 9e$er ente%ostal Chur%h had 2?G in%rease sin%e 1==6 but also the largest numbers of s$it%hers in and out of the faith – aptist" Catholi%" :rthodo' Chur%hes had signifi%ant in%reases of up to 5G sin%e 1==6 $ther Religions#

– :ther Religions in%reased from 4.?G of population in 1=F> to ?.6G in 2446 – ,arge" rapid gro$th in other mainstream religions uddhism 02.1G Hinduism 04.>G 7slam 01.>G Budaism 04.FG – Hinduism gre$ fastest" %losely follo$ed by uddhism and 7slam and lastly" Budaism – !raditional Aboriginal religion de%reased losing E4G of pra%titioners bet$een 1==6 and 2441    

9o religion( – – –

7n 1=F>" 4.EG of the population identified themsel#es as ha#ing no religion" lasting until 1=>1 $hen it rose to 6.>G suddenly !oday" 26G of population identify themsel#es as ha#ing no religion 9ot stated; inade@uately des%ribed+ 11.1G in 1=F> stayed nearly the same at 11.>G in 1==6" and today" 11.2G despite population doubling sin%e 1=F>

Account for the present religious landscape in Australia in relation to# − Christianity as the ma.or religious tradition

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/mmigration Denominational sitching Rise of )e Age religions Secularism

Christianity as the 3aDor Religion( –

Still main religion in Australia 06EG of population due to histori%al fa%tors /irst fleet arri#al brought maDority of Angli%an settlers as $ell as resbyterians and 3ethodists. :nly 14G $ere Catholi% 

Cynthia Chan 2445

HSC – Stage 6


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ost first fleet settlers $ere predominately Angli%an ma&ing population almost e'%lusi#ely Christian 7mmigration Restri%tion A%t 01=41 allo$ed uropean immigrants only" bringing maDority of Christian adherents ensuring the demographi% stay the same for at least ?4 years

ffe%ts of 3igration( – After 881" further migration from urope en%ouraged sa$ more Christian adherents – After 882" other uropean nations en%ouraged to migrate to Australia 0i.e. E" Australia has seen in%reasing di#ersity of faiths" ho$e#er most remain ritish and therefore Christian 7nstitutionalisation of Christianity( – 7nstitutionalisation of Christianity $ithin Australia has made it the predominant religion in Australia – arly settlers $ere Christian and it $as these people $ho enfor%ed la$ and go#ernment $hi%h is based upon Christian ideals – ubli% holidays are based around Christian %alendar" aster and Christmas – Chur%h s%hools and uni#ersities ha#e in%reased – Christian Charitable foundations su%h as St in%ent de aul ha#e had signifi%ant impa%t – 8ide range of Christian boo&s" magaines" $ebsites further promoting Christianity throughout Australia Signifi%ant !rends( – Christianity de%reased due to introdu%tion of other mainstream religions due to migration – ,arge" traditional Christian %hur%hes su%h as Angli%an and Uniting ha#e lost large members due to ageing population and lo$ birth rate" s$it%hing and mo#ement to no religion+ – Smaller" traditional Christian %hur%hes su%h as ente%ost and aptist are steadily in%reasing – Catholi% remains steady due to immigration – astern :rthodo' members are rising due to immigration and it is these Chur%hes $hi%h ha#e a young+ profile 7mmigration( ost-8ar 7mmigration( – 9umber of people fleeing destroyed %ountries and immigrating to Australia after 882 %hanged the Christian fa%e of Australia – Assisted assage S%heme implemented to en%ourage ritish migration to Australia to in%rease population" and $as then s pread to other astern uropean %ountries 7n%reased Roman Catholi%s and astern :rthodo' 3ore %ommunities" %hur%hes" s%hools and other so%ial fi'tures had to be built for the in%rease of ne$ religious adherents – After882" Be$ish population began to in%rease e#ident that the Be$ish population in Australia $as #ery small before 882" %onsisting of Be$s only from the first fleet Hungarian re#olution" e'pulsion of Be$s from gypt in the Sue %onfli%t and South Afri%an apartheid sa$ rise in Be$ish 1>G of Be$ish population arri#ed after 1=54  

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Cynthia Chan 2445

HSC – Stage 6


1=>4s and ietnam 8ar( – rior to the 1=>4s" the main religious adherents $ere Christian – Abolition of 8hite Australia poli%y in 1=>E sa$ Australia be%ome a multi%ultural so%iety $ho a%%epted many different religious adherents – ietnam 8ar displa%ed more than 2 million 7ndo-Chinese people" 124444 %ame to Australia for refuge ,arge in%rease in uddhism and Hinduism 0ietnam" Cambodia" 3alaysia" !hailand 7n%rease in Roman Catholi%s 

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Changes to 7mmigration ,a$s( – rior to 7mmigration Restri%tion A%t 01=41" there had been a mere FE44 Hindu+s li#ing in Australia" 1==6 there $ere 1F5444 Hindu adherents – Abolition of 8hite Australia oli%y sa$ a rise in multi%ulturalism $ithin Australia and a $ider a%%eptan%e of other religious traditions 7slam in Australia( –

7slam first introdu%ed to Australia in 1552 $hen thousand of %amel dri#ers from Afghanistan" a&istan and the 3iddle ast %ame to Australia to $or& on telegraph lines and rail$ays 7mmigration Restri%tion A%t did not allo$ them to be%ome %itiens /irst maDor influ' of 3uslims arri#ed $ith !ur&ish Cypriot 3uslims fleeing 882 refugee %amps Signifi%ant members started to arri#e $ith ,ebanese 3uslims fleeing %i#il $ar 7n 2446" the fastest gro$ing sour%e of refugees $as from Sudan 7ra@ $ar has seen an in%rease in refugees from Afghanistan and 7ra@ i#erse religion" e'panding from 64 different %ountries of both Sunni and Shi+a >2G of 3uslims under the age of E?" 2G o#er the age of 64 3u%h higher birth rates than general population and o#er 1;E $ere born in Australia so religion is e'pe%ted to rise 

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enominational S$it%hing( – S$it%hing from one se%tor ; denominate of a parti%ular Chur%h to another to suit lifestyle and feel %omfortable and $ell %atered for – Contrasts to histori% patterns $here families remained $ith the one denomination for many generations – Signifi%an%e of lifetime loyalty to one parti%ular %hur%h diminished due to gro$ing indi#idualism $ithin li#es – 7n%reased proliferation of finding meaning in life to %ater for different tastes and indi#idualisti% lifestyle Christian Chur%h enominational S$it%hing( –

ast t$o de%ades has seen dramati% s$ing a$ay from liberal %hur%hes to the more %onser#ati#e ente%ostal Chur%h gre$ by F2G from 1=56-1==1 ente%ostal Chur%h gre$ by 2?G from 1==6-2446 :nly a small per%entage of those numbers $ere from people $ith no %hur%h ba%&ground ente%ostal Chur%h has gro$n in popularity be%ause( eople s$it%hing here to reli#e older and more traditional religions ente%ost allo$s for bored de#otees to be%ome e'%ited about religion again  

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8ho s$it%hes and $hy

Cynthia Chan 2445

HSC – Stage 6

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eople under the age of F4 s$it%h as they are less li&ely to #ie$ a lifetime of loyalty to a %hur%h as important" $hereas people o#er 64 do Christians are more li&ely to s$it%h denominations than any other religious faith as they mo#e to e'plore and see& stronger Christian faiths" reDe%ting light
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/amily brea&do$n and enominational s$it%hing( – –

Children of di#or%ed parents 6FG more li&ely to %ease identifying $ith family faith than those $ith non-di#or%ed parents /ollo$ing patterns found( Catholi%s are 2 times more li&ely to s$it%h to a moderate rotestant denomination and 2.? times more li&ely to s$it%h to a %onser#ati#e rotestant denomination rotestants are t$i%e as li&ely to s$it%h to Catholi%ism :#erall" due to the see&ing of a stronger religious %ommunity 

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9e$ Age Religion( – iffer from traditional %hur%hes as they la%& any single unifying %reed or do%trine 9o Holy te't" no %entral organisation" no formal leadership – /astest gro$ing religious faiths in 2441 %ensus" in%reasing by 1F4G sin%e 1==6 

History( –

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9e$ Age pra%ti%es be%ame popular from 1=64+s to 1=>4+s as a rea%tion to the failure of Christianity and Se%ular Humanism to pro#ide spiritual and ethi%al guidan%e for the future Roots of ne$ Age pra%ti%es tra%eable in many religious origins in%luding Hinduism" 8i%%a" 9eopagan tradition 3o#ement began in ngland $here many of the abo#e religious origins $ere $ell established and @ui%&ly be%ame international 

asi% eliefs( – – – –

onism) all that e'ists is deri#ed from single s our%e of di#ine energy Pantheism) all that e'ists is
Cynthia Chan 2445

HSC – Stage 6


9e$ Age pra%ti%es( –

3editation" astrology" di#ination" holisti% health 0a%upun%ture" message" %rystals" %hannelling the dead" feng shui

Reasons for gro$th in popularity( –

isillusionment $ith
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Se%ularism( 8hat is Se%ularism – !he stan%e of stating 9o religious affiliation+ or people $ho ha#e inade@uately des%ribed+ or not stated+ their religious belief – Se%ularism is to be free from religion or spirituality – Se%ular systems are based on reason" fa%t and s%ientifi% analysis and therefore differ from religious systems $hi%h are based on di#ine light and spirituality – Se%ularists belie#e poli%ies and de%isions made by go#ernments should be %ompletely separate from religious influen%e $hi%h they belie#e has the right to Deopardise the freedom and rights of %itiens Reasons for popularity( – Se%ularism is a &ey feature of demo%ra%y and therefore %hampions the notion of freedom from religion – :ne theory suggests popularity has in%reased as ideals of se#enteenth %entury enlightenment are being reintrodu%ed. elief in supernatural" spirituality or di#ine is best %omprehended through reason" s%ien%e and logi% – Another theory states that se%ularism has in%reased due to so%ial %hanges that ha#e o%%urred post ietnam 8ar. ,ed to @uestioning of many go#ernments and related authorities in%luding the Chur%h – /inal theory states that traditional %hur%hes $ere beginning to be #ie$ed by some as part of an unholy trinity+ $hi%h only had self interest in mind 

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Se%ularism and Religious intoleran%e( – isen%hantment $ith traditional religious %hur%hes %ombined $ith %hanging #ie$points on religion in re%ent de%ades has led to religious intoleran%e Religious intoleran%e is #ie$ed as ha#ing the po$er to lead to so%ial estrangement or at $orst" Holy $ar – 7nfluen%ed by the many $ars throughout history $hi%h ha#e been %aused by the basis of religion 

Se%ularism and the indi#idual(

Cynthia Chan 2445

HSC – Stage 6

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1=64s and 1=>4s sa$ nearly all Australians being affiliated $ith a religious denomination and Sunday Chur%h $as seen as an integral %omponent of life !oday ho$e#er" there is less emphasis on %onforming and more emphasis of the autonomy of the indi#idual for freedom and rights 7n%reased freedom has seen in%rease in se%ularism Religion no$ #ie$ed as a personal and pri#ate de%ision  

Humanist so%ieties( –

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3ilestone for se%ularism in Australia $as the introdu%tion of the Australian Humanist So%iety in the 1=64s follo$ed by the formation of many Humanist groups throughout Australia 3ade great impa%t on se%ularism in Australia Right to be married by %i#il %elebrant rather than a %hur%h %lergy be%ame offi%ial in 1=>E- today ?4G of people married by %i#il %elebrant Steady de%line in %hur%h attendan%e and %lergy re%ruitment figures 

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Cynthia Chan 2445

HSC – Stage 6


F. Religious dialogue in multi-faith Australia – %umeni%al mo#ements $ithin Christianity – 7nterfaith dialogue – !he relationship bet$een Aboriginal spiritualities and religious traditions in the pro%ess of Re%on%iliation

Describe the impact of Christian ecumenical mo(ements in Australia − %he )ational Council of Churches

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)S+ 0cumenical Council

!he 9ational Coun%il of Chur%hes 09CCA( – %umeni%al organisation bringing together a number of Australian %hur%hes in dialogue and pra%ti%al %ooperation – egan $ith Australian Committee for the 8orld Coun%il of Chur%hes $hi%h de#eloped into Australian Coun%il of Chur%hes and then into 9CCA in 1==F – :riginally" the mo#ement $as for Christian unity $ithin Australia bet$een Angli%an and rotestant %hur%hes only 1=64s" astern and :riental :rthodo' %hur%hes Doined 1==F after opening of ati%an 77" Roman Catholi% %hur%h Doined – !oday 1? different %hur%h #ariants apart of 9CCA – 3ore %onser#ati#e" e#angeli%al denominations su%h as aptists and ente%ostal %hur%hes ha#e failed to Doin 9CCA due to( Relu%tan%e to a%%ept #alidity of e%umeni%al dialogue $ith %hur%hes possessing do%trines at #arian%e $ith their o$n  

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7mpa%t of 9CCA( –

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Helped %reate positi#e relationships throughout many astern and 8estern %hur%hes $hi%h %ontinue to last today through dialogue and pra%ti%al %ooperation so there is no %onfli%t or tensions bet$een Christian denominations 9CCA $or&s through a number of %ommissions" net$or&s and programs in%luding the Christian 8orld Ser#i%es 0C8S $hi%h is responsible for international programs su%h as 3a&e o#erty History and the 9ational rogram on Refugees and ispla%ed eople 09R 9R helped to resettle and prote%t hundreds of refugees in horrifi% %onditions from %ountries su%h as Afghanistan" 7ra@ and ast !imor Assisted asylum see&ers by %reating Houses of 8el%ome+" offering nglish %lasses and free a%%ommodation 9CCA sponsors 9ational Aboriginal and !orres Straight 7slander %umeni%al Commission 09A!S7C Represents 7ndigenous Australians from Christian faiths Aims to support indigenous issues" re%on%iliation and edu%ation $hilst helping sustain Aboriginal spirituality and theology 

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9CCA Spe%ial proDe%ts( – – –

-u.ilee campaign) debt Dusti%e for impo#erished nations Sa,e as Churches pro/ect) %onfronts reality of se'ual abuse by %lergy and %hur%h $or&ers 0ecade to O'ercome iolence (0O") de#eloping interfaith relationships for faiths to li#e in harmony together

Cynthia Chan 2445

HSC – Stage 6


9CCA is a founding member partner in Australian national dialogue bet$een Christians" 3uslims and the Be$ish see2s to understand 2ey concepts in each religion that ha'e led to misunderstanding 

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9S8 %umeni%al Coun%il( – stablished in 1=F6 to be the instrument through $hi%h its member %hur%hes %elebrate and manifest their unity to understand ea%h others faith – Affiliated $ith 9CCA – !oday possesses 16 member %hur%hes" but" li&e 9CCA %onser#ati#e %hur%hes ha#e refused to Doin – Sponsors a #ariety of so%ial and %haritable initiati#es o#erlapped by the 9CCA .g. the promotion of the Christmas bo$l throughout 9S8 $hi%h helps to support thousands of people in needing %ountries su%h as the 3iddle ast" Afri%a and Asia at Christmas time 

So%ial Busti%e rogram( – – –

!hrough its so%ial Dusti%e program" the 9S8 %umeni%al Coun%il also see&s to address issues of Dusti%e and e@uity for all people espe%ially A!S7 3inistry and refugee rogram helps asylum see&ers" refugees" immigrants and detainees. ,o%al %umenism 7nformation *it pro#ided by the 9S8 %umeni%al Coun%il %ontains strategies and resour%es to guide people to $or& e%umeni%ally

0(aluate the importance of interfaith dialogue in multifaith Australia

7nterfaith ialogue in 3ulti-faith Australia( – Australia is a multi%ultural so%iety and $hilst this is positi#e" it %an lead to many misunderstandings and %lashes in belief" parti%ularly throughout religious faiths Australian Christians belie#e Besus Christ is
!he role of 7nterfaith ialogue( –

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7t is $hen representati#es from different religious traditions meet together pea%efully to tal& and e'%hange information about their respe%ti#e faiths and %lear up misunderstandings 9ot about debate or attempts to proselytise :ne e'ample $as the Australian 9ational ialogue of Christians" 3uslims and Be$s in 244E by the 9CCA urpose $as to pro#ide opportunities for faiths to build understandings and harmony $hilst %larifying issues 

7nternational ialogue( – –

7n e%ember 244F" 1F %ountries $ith ten interfaith delegates met in 7ndonesia for the purpose of friendly dialogue. 8as initiated by /oreign 3inister" Ale'ander o$ner $ho stated that religion may $ell be the &ey to %ra%&ing the global tensions problem+

Cebu ialogue( –

3ar%h 2446" delegates from 1? different %ountries met in the hilippines for Cebu dialogue and %on%luded that(

Cynthia Chan 2445

HSC – Stage 6


7nterfaith dialogue builds upon understanding" good $ill and relationships 7nterfaith %ooperation plays a %entral role in fostering pea%e and se%urity 7nterfaith dialogue is essential in de-lin&ing religions from terror 3ade a %all for religions to re%ognise pluralism" multi%ulturalism and pea%e and to de#elop openness and respe%t for other faiths" traditions and %ultures   

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Religious leaders( – –

r Ameer Ali 0resident of Australian /ederation of 7slami% Coun%ils stated that interfaith dialogue $as essential to understand ea%h other+ Ar%hbishop
,imitations of 7nterfaith ialogue( – – –

elief that there is a point $here important differen%es %annot be o#erloo&ed Contro#ersy that some people are trying to $ater-do$n+ and distort their religious beliefs in a desperate attempt to re%on%ile bet$een other religions 3any belie#e that a
0,amine the relationship beteen Aboriginal spiritualities and religious traditions in the process of Reconciliation

8hat is Re%on%iliation – Re%on%iliation is the term gi#en to the pro%ess $hereby A!S7 0Aboriginal and !orres Strait 7slander people and non-A!S7 people %an mo#e into the future $ith a ne$ relationship based on mutual re%ognition" understanding and respe%t – 3ista&es of the past su%h as dispossession of land and the stolen generation must be a%&no$ledged and dealt $ith for harmony to e'ist – Re%on%iliation therefore en%ompasses issues su%h as ,and Rights" 9ati#e !itle as $ell as initiati#es designed to help psy%hologi%al trauma of A!S7 people thereby healing A!S7 spirituality – Re%on%iliation is a long pro%ess $hi%h began $ith the 1=6> referendum allo$ing A!S7 people the right to #ote and the Australian go#ernment the authority to ma&e la$s in the interest of A!S7 people – 3ost %hur%hes ha#e helped fa%ilitate re%on%iliation Catholi% Chur%h and Re%on%iliation( –

8hen ope Bohn aul 77 #isited Ali%e Springs in 1=56" he stated there is the need for Dust and proper settlement that lies una%hie#ed in Australia+ Sin%e then" Catholi% Chur%h has made many positi#e mo#es to$ard Re%on%iliation 1==5" Doined $ith other %hur%hes to issue a statement %alled !o$ards Re%on%iliation in Australian So%iety- Re%on%iliation and Aboriginal Australians+ $hi%h argued for the settlement of differen%es bet$een A!S7 and non-A!S7 people CAR7!AS Australia has %alled for more assistan%e to A!S7 due to the ongoing psy%hologi%al trauma of the rote%tion and Assimilation oli%ies Catholi% ishops Conferen%e Australia established a %ommission %on%erned $ith relations bet$een the %hur%h and Aboriginal Communities 9ational Re%on%iliation 8ee& sees a $ee& of Catholi% 7nitiati#es promoting re%on%iliation parti%ularly regarding Aboriginal health ope enedi%t+s re%ent address to Australia" en%ouraging ongoing help for A!S7 people 

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Angli%an Chur%h and Re%on%iliation( –

Angli%an Chur%h e'pressed its support for Re%on%iliation at the 1==5
Cynthia Chan 2445

HSC – Stage 6

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ro#ides funding to 9ational Aboriginal and !orres Straight 7slander %umeni%al Commission 09A!S7C" gi#ing a #oi%e to A!S7 people and helping rebuild A!S7 %ommunities Angli%are Australia and the Angli%an oard of 3issionaries formed the Angli%an Re%on%iliation 8or&ing
Uniting Chur%h and Re%on%iliation( – – –

Uniting Aboriginal and 7slander Christian Congress" !o$ns#ille $or&s $ith A!S7 people to promote healing and reparation of past $rongs Uniting Chur%h 9ational Assembly made formal apology to A!S7 people to poli%ies of the past and made a pledge for a better future Iueensland aptist Con#ention Annual Assembly" 1==> released a statement en%ouraging re%on%iliation by a%&no$ledging past $rongs

!he 9CCA and Re%on%iliation( – –

9CCA a%&no$ledged that many of its member %hur%hes played a part in the stolen generations 7ssued a publi% statement on the ringing !hem Home+ report ma&ing re%ommendations in support of Re%on%iliation

!he 8ee& of rayer for Re%on%iliation( –

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8ee& of rayer for Re%on%iliation began in 1==E $ith the e'press goal of pro#iding interfaith $ee& of prayer" thought and refle%tion $ith the %ommon goal of re%on%iliation 7n%ludes all faiths" in%luding 7slam" uddhism and Hinduism 7s done to de#ote time to prayer" thought and refle%tion on the soul of a nation and the relationship bet$een 7ndigenous and non-7ndigenous Australians+

Christianity and Aboriginal !raditions( –

Attempts at re%on%iliation by #arious religious traditions ha#e helped to bring out a%%eptan%e of syn%retisation of Christian and Aboriginal religious ideas .g. 3any Aboriginal %lergy in%orporate 7ndigenous symbols and rituals from their o$n %ulture to e'press Christian %on%epts – Use 7ndigenous %o%onut mil& instead of $ine and damper or yam instead of bread – Christian stories often retold $ith an 7ndigenous slant 0instead of fire" they tal& about fire sti%&s – Red o%hre used instead of ashes;oil on forehead – rayers able to be told in 7ndigenous languages 

Cynthia Chan 2445

Studies of Religion Notes

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