The Nature of Beliefs

S
Define the Supernatural Dimension

S The Supernatural dimension is:

S Aspects of the human experience that is beyond its
comprehension or ability to explain.
S An element that is attributed to the creation or formation of
the current realm of existence
 Transcendent Worldview

S A belief in a divine power and/or powers beyond the

human
 Immanent Worldview

S Belief in a divine power and/or powers dwelling within the

individual
 Characteristics of Religion

S Beliefs and Believers

S Sacred Texts and Writings

S Ethics

S Rituals and Ceremonies

 Define the Chrateristics of
Religion
S Beliefs and Believers
S Beliefs an acceptance of something as real or true.
S Believers The adherence to a particular religion.

S Sacred Text and Writings

S Written, visual or oral texts that contain the truths of a particular
religion and provide guidance

S Ethics
S Moral principles that govern a person or group behaviour providing
guidelines to proper and improper behaviours.

S Rituals and Ceremonies

S A set or series of actions performed in a proscribed order for
religious meaning. The practice and practical application of beliefs.
Examples of the Characteristics
of Religion
 Dynamic Living Religion

S Dynamic
S A force that stimulates change or progress within a system or
process

S Living
S Alive, relevant and meaningful to the adherent
 Characteristics Interact to
Create a dynamic living religion
S Believers form meaning Formalize their understanding
and record through Sacred Texts. The Sacred Texts
inform Ethical Teachings and Rituals and Ceremonies.
Believers abide by Ethical Teachings and Perform Rituals
and Ceremonies.

S Sacred Texts maintain the integrity of the Principle Beliefs.

S As the adherents develop over time, their interpretation of

Sacred Texts can cause changes in its expression. (i.e.
Ethical Teachings and Rituals and Ceremonies)
 Contribution of Religion to
Society - Individual

S Helps construct meaning

S Gives ethical guidance

S Gives a sense of belonging

 Contribution of Religion to
Society - Community

S Social Cohesion

S Conservative force (sexual morality)

S Progressive force (social justice/reforms)

Aboriginal Beliefs and
Spiritualities
The Dreaming

S
The Nature of the Dreaming
Definition of Dreaming

S A belief system of the Aboriginal People

S A complex concept of fundamental importance to

Aboriginal culture that embraces the creative era in which
Ancestral beings instituted Aboriginal society as well as the
present and future.
The Nature of the Dreaming
Origins

S Refers to the Dreamtime

S The ancestral spirits interacted with the physical world,

shaping the landscape and instituting indigenous
culture/law/rituals.

S Eg, Rainbow Serpent

The Nature of the Dreaming
Stories of the Dreaming

S Relate the stories of the Dreamtime

S Contain sacred knowledge (secret sacred) of the origins of

the universe, rituals and law as well as practical geographical
instruction (i.e. hunting sites, ceremonial sites) which
establishes connection to their country (land)
S Two primary styles of story
S Origin
S Etiological
The Nature of the Dreaming
Sacred Sites

S The places where ancestral beings became a part of their

land.

S Can refer to communal, gender specific or sites restricted to

elders, initiates or non-initiates (eg, Karlu Karlu)

S Gives responsibility of the person/tribe to specific sites

linked to their ancestor spirits (ritual estate)
The Nature of the Dreaming
Art

S A visual expression of the spiritual reality.

S Art communicates the dreaming, enables passage of

knowledge and represents religious and social relationships
(kinship)
The Inextricable Connection of
the Dreaming, the Land and
Identity

S Dreaming Land
S Time of creating and bestowing the land to the Aboriginal
people by their Ancestral spirits
S Sacred sites represent the resting place of their Ancestral
spirits
S Specific sense of responsibility to their geographical centre
(ritual estate)
The Inextricable Connection of
the Dreaming, the Land and
Identity

S Dreaming Land Identity

S Expressed through the use of Totemic representation
S Identifies with an animal, plant or particular landmark through
which a person is linked to the Ancestral spirit responsible for their
existence.
S Celebrated through rituals and ceremonies
S Acknowledge the role of the Ancestral spirit in their past, present
and future
S Concreted through their place in a social structure or kinship
group and their obligations/responsibilities to that group.