Australian religions

The traditional religions of the indigenous people of Australia. These people are generally called Aborigines. Human beings seem to have settled in Australia as long ago as 40,000 B.P. (before the present). They developed complex cultural and religious traditions. An example of both are their rockpaintings. Some of them are perhaps 15,000 years old. Traditional Australians lived in local groups that had their own languages, cultures, and territories. They supported themselves by gathering and hunting. Complex trade networks covered the entire continent. In 1788 Europeans arrived. Many aboriginals died from warfare and disease. Many others gave up their traditional cultures and religions. They assimilated into European society and adopted CHRISTIANITY. Today, traditional aboriginal ways continue only in northern and central Australia. A major feature of Australian religion is the Dreaming. The name is not aboriginal; it was given by scholars. Traditional Australians believe that at fi rst the world had no form and content. But in a time known as the Dreaming, spirits appeared. They, too, are known as Dreamings. Their activities gave birth to human beings, other forms of life, and features of the natural landscape. Traditional Australians believe further that these spirits did not simply cease to exist. They are still present at specifi c locations. They are responsible for fl ourishing in the world of nature. They also give life to a fetus in the womb. Therefore, traditional Australians believe that each person has a share of spirit. At death, this share returns to the spirit realm and waits to be reborn. Traditional Australians have identifi ed several extremely important spirits. Scholars sometimes call them All-Father, All-Mother, and Rainbow Snake. All-Father was important in southeast Australia. All-Mother is still important in northern Australia. She often has a male spirit as her associate. Rainbow Snake is connected with the fertilizing rains. Some groups thought of it as male, some as female, and still others as both male and female at the same time. Some groups also identifi ed Rainbow Snake with All-Mother. The purpose of aboriginal religious practices is to foster life. They do so by establishing contact with the spirits and events of the Dreaming. The spirit is often present in the form of an image or emblem. A well-known example is the tjurunga of the Aranda people. It is a board, sometimes plain, sometimes decorated. Songs and acting recall the events of the Dreaming. Life-cycle rites are important religious practices. These include INITIATIONS for both males and females. Most major ceremonies have two distinct components. One component is public; everyone in the community participates. The other component is secret; only initiates into a group can be present. The secret groups are divided according to gender. In most places women as well as men have secret groups and rituals. In most places, too, religious and social power resides with the men. In Africa, Oceania, and the Americas indigenous peoples developed religious movements to resist European colonization. One example is the GHOST DANCE of North America. Indigenous Australians did not generally develop such movements. But in the latter part of the 20th century, strong movements did arise that pressed the government to recognize their rights to land. In conjunction with these movements, some took a new interest in traditional aboriginal religion and culture.