Aboriginal Spirituality Compared To Christianity Essay

Aboriginal Spirituality Compared to Christianity

By Finn Kennedy

For the practicality of this assignment, when speaking with relevance to the ‘Other’ it will be referred to as God.

In present-day Australian society there lay various cultures and perspectives in separate religious groups that each possess multiple distinct beliefs. These beliefs contrast significantly as they can be seen to range from Christianity to Aboriginal spirituality, and with the oldest living culture co-occurs Kanyini, dream time and the ‘Other’. As (CNN,2013) states “Christians believe in one God that created heaven, earth and the universe.”, this evidence justifies Christianity following the definition of a Monotheistic religion as Christians believe in one

This essentially informs an adherent that they have an inherent responsibility and duty to protect and provide for the land, as it is God’s creation. Similarly, Indigenous Australians express their belief in Kanyini, which is the principle that informs an Indigenous individual that all living things are interconnected and therefore, must all be cared for and nurtured. Therefore, it is expected that an Indigenous adherent will provide and support the land. Thus, it is evident that both Christians and Indigenous Australians similarly place great significance upon their relation to the land where they reside. Another similarity between Christianity and Aboriginal Spirituality is the common theme of family. Specifically in Christianity a rule that reads “Treat others how you would like to be treated.”, not only does this rule provide advice but furthermore implies the relationship of family. Although from word to word the rule does not read this way, it means that by following and abiding to this rule then this shall mean that not only will every person possess a sense of belonging in the community, it should transfer it from community to family. This idea/theme is much more focused on and pronounced within Kanyini. As (Kanyini.com) declares, ‘Kanyini is the principle of connectedness through caring and responsibility that underpins Aboriginal life’ explains Bob Randall. Kanyini, like

As a result of this thousands of Firsts nations people were raped, stolen from their families and slaughtered. These horrible events had an everlasting and irreversible effect, as said in the Kanyini Documentary. Kanyini’s principle is the interconnectedness of Aboriginal people and land. Through the inhumane treatment of Aboriginal peoples this had a scarring rippling effect that carried throughout their whole community. The stolen generation is an event that occurred during white colonization based around the intent to take away children from their families (The healing Foundation, 2023). Even to this day it can be seen that Aboriginal people have blood relations to each other even though being on different sides of the country. The frontier wars ultimately equivalated to thousands of aboriginal peoples being ruthless murdered as they were heavily not only out manned but out powered through the use of modern weaponry. (Indigenoushpf, 2023) states that merely 63% of indigenous Australians a few years out of school completed grade 12 compared to 90% of Non-Indigenous that completed grade 12. Another troubling statistics is that (Creative spirits, 2023) Aboriginal people are attributed to a massive gap in life expectancy compared to Non-indigenous Australians, 7.8 years. Possibly the most worrying statistic of all, whether it can be attributed to poor culture, under education or low economic regions;