SOR Notes (Round 2) PDF

SOR notes ( round 2 ) Contemporary Aboriginal spiritualities - Discuss how Aboriginal spirituality is determined by the dreaming Dreaming - the spiritual aspect of aboriginal religion that encapsulates both the spiritual and physical dimension, giving meaning to all aspects of life. It is a way...

SOR notes ( round 2 ) Contemporary Aboriginal spiritualities - Discuss how Aboriginal spirituality is determined by the dreaming Dreaming - the spiritual aspect of aboriginal religion that encapsulates both the spiritual and physical dimension, giving meaning to all aspects of life. It is a way aboriginal and indigenous people have a perspective or worldview on everything around them. KINSHIP Is the fabric of traditional aboriginal society and works like a sophisticated network of relationships. These relationships govern interactions between clans and so are really important for creating belonging and responsibilities within the tribe. It is also determined by tribe and family relationships and creates a connection with ancestor spirits and the dreaming ( linking back to connection to the land ). Totems also unify clans under the same ancestral beings which fosters a metaphysical connection of dreaming kinship. CEREMONIAL LIFE Ceremonies are also really important for passing on and maintaining beliefs and practices ( linking back to kinship and interconnectedness ). Ceremonial life has four important roles within the dreaming: - RITES OF PASSAGE: inform all (including the individual and society at large) the new status of the status. Examples are initiations and funerals. - INFORMATION: social information transfer from elder to younger generations. Changes the custodians of social history. - PERSONAL CONNECTIONS: intertribal or totemic group trade or cultural meetings are used to pass on information, goods, traditions or support personal relationships. The ceremony finalises the exchange  - SPIRITUAL CONNECTIONS: maintains the people with the spiritual world Overall all ceremonies acknowledge a creation event and then show the metaphysical presence of it. It can also be communicated through art ( way of communicating the dreaming), stories ( teaching aboriginal kids about right and wrong ), rituals (reliving of the story in a powerfully sacred way ( smoking ceremony )) and totems ( embodiment of each individual in his or her primordial state ). Make sure to include this in an exam: - very important link between aboriginal people, land and identity - Aboriginal people see the dreaming as existing in the past, present and future so ceremonies represent the PRESENT part OBLIGATIONS TO LAND AND PEOPLE The land is inextricably connected to physical spirituality for a number of reasons: 1. The land is the physical medium through which the dreaming is lived and is the resting place for ancestral beings. 2. The rituals on the land are connected to sacred sites where dreaming events occur ( also known as balanced rights are are really important for connecting all those elements together ) 3. The land is the meeting point where tribes derive identity from, where totems are received from and dictates their relationship with each other It is important to remember that you cannot separate aboriginal spirituality from the land as they are inextricably connected ( cannot be taken apart ). goes through answering practice questions COK - C - ceremonial life O - obligations to land and people K - kinship Religious expression in Australia - 1945