Religion is the belief in and worship of an imminent or transcendent controlling power and it contains differing unique characteristics. A religion shows how the universe was created, morals and values to live by and particular ritual actions and ceremonies that are undertaken to worship/ Acknowledge religious icons. Aboriginal spirituality manifests the characteristics of religion in regards to origins of the universe, ethics and rituals/ceremonies. Different Aboriginal groups have varying creation stories about the origins of the universe. Each group believes in different supernatural ancestors that created the natural world.
Assignment 1: Reflective Paper (750 words) While a variety of factors have shaped the diversity of Indigenous Australian philosophy and practices across the Australian continent, one of the central characteristics of the Aboriginal worldview is the concept of the ‘Dreaming’. Outline some of the key aspects of this belief system and reflect on this in comparison to your own worldview. The Dreaming is described by the Aboriginal people as the era of their creation. The belief underlying the concept of The Dreaming helps them understand their very existence (Edwards 1988, p.17). According to Edwards (1988, p. 17), the Aboriginal people believe that they came from the land on which they live and have occupied the land since the era of The Dreaming.
Another aspect worth noting is the Art, which is viewed as a transfer of knowledge from person to person and the final feature is the Rituals and Ceremonies which are the primary link between Creation and the current world. The Dreaming is the most basic part of Aboriginal religion as it is commonly seen as the essence of Aboriginal spiritual beliefs about everything from the creation of the world to spiritual and physical existence. The link between Aboriginal people, the land and everything associated to the Aboriginal lifestyle is created through the Dreaming. The knowledge of all aspects, including how Aboriginal people interact with each other and different tribes, of Aboriginal life is provided by the Dreaming. A point worth observing is that the Dreaming does not make reference to one point in time, or a particular event.
Folktale stories usually always include how something came to be the way it is today or they provide a message on how to behave or act with good sense; however, overall they are also used for entertainment. The Cherokees respect the spirituality and teachings of the ancient people and their strong bonds with nature. Led by the belief in the symbols of colors and animals, traditional teachings weave the Cherokees lives together. It is these deep Native American folklore influences that capture the Cherokee Indians’ spirit, character and reverence for life. The folktales embody the culture of the Cherokee through traditional teaching, reflecting the true spirit and history of the Cherokee.
Who Were and Is the Navajo Indians The Navajo Indian culture is one of great pride filled with sacred traditions, beliefs and ceremonies that have been handed down from generation to generation. Their cultural background and beliefs have been infused throughout their people and they take pride in making sure that their story and experiences are known throughout all of their cultural members, young and old. The background of the Navajo people, including their primary mode of subsistence, their beliefs and values (consisting the use of medicines and ceremonies for rituals), gender relations as well as economic and social organizations can teach us a great deal. I. Primary Mode of Subsistence a. Pastoral b. Forager II.
We gain knowledge of their past through Aboriginal oral traditions, and archeological digs. We do know that the base for the Aboriginal belief is in the Dreaming, or the Dreamtime. The Dreaming has different meanings for different Aboriginal groups. In general the dreaming can be referred to as the timeless time of creation, when the rules governing relationships between the people, the land, and all things that pertain to Aboriginal life was created. The Aborigines believed that every person’s soul exist forever, in an important way, in the Dreaming.
Music in the Society More than anything else, the Amerindian music was key in their culture. Not only as a means of ceremonial and ritual tradition but also as a means of identity amongst the more recent American civilization that occupied since the 15th century. Similarly to most cultures, their music was closely connected to religion. It was highly important as an element in worship and rituals including the ceremonies of age-grade (peer group)
Two of the most popular myths are Genesis and the Popul Vuh, which explains how the earth was created and how humans were created. Genesis and the Popol Vuh creation myth have a lot of similarities and differences which are very important to mention. In Genesis and Popol Vuh myth there are some important similarities of how the world was created and how it was destroyed. One is that in both myths are gods involved. Other similarity is that Genesis says that God created the man from the dust and in the Popol Vuh myth the four gods created the man out of the flesh.
Cosmic Creation Myths Across Cultures HUM/105 Cosmic Creation Myths Across Cultures The creation is usually the most important theme in myths of a culture, as it tells how the whole world came to be. They talk about the very act of creation of the world, and this idea, of the explanation of the foundation of the world, was conceived in almost all cultures. These narratives, whether oral or written, constitute a vast area in mythology. Creation myths describe the beginning of the world’s cosmic order, and serve as the prototype of all the myths in a particular culture. For centuries people have tried to explain the beginning of life and its existence, giving it supernatural and theological reasons, mainly due to the lack of scientific explanation.
Aboriginal Spirituality Funerary Rituals Good afternoon/morning and welcome to MessageStick, tonight we will be delving into the spiritually and culturally rich world of the indigenous Australian to examine their rituals and how they connect to the values and beliefs upheld by Aboriginals in the past and present day. To truly understand the importance of ritual in Aboriginal Spirituality, ritual itself must first be defined. Ritual is found in every single race and culture that has ever existed and there is no doubt that it is one of the most important characteristics when defining humanity. Today, in a throw-away world where nothing is forever and society is as changeable as the weather, ritual has become a way of reconnecting with the spiritual world and expressing values, attitudes