Question (1 Viewer)

[miss-teek]

There was a question on a past HSC about how some Aboriginals intergrated Christianity with Aboriginal spirituality. How would I answer this? Please help!

 

[Heinz]

I would mention something about how some christian churches (la perouse i think) has aboriginal stain glass windows. Aboriginal artworks representing the nativity scene. The us of Aborignal smoke ceremonies and instruments in Christian churches. First Aboriginal bishop Arthur Malcolm (1985). Aboriginal thelogians recognising, acknowledging and accepting common ideals, values and links between the two faiths e.g. sin, justice, life. Maybe how some aboriginals were forced to integrate christianity with their own values (the stolen generation). Thats all that comes to mind at the moment.

 

[redslert]

this question would be a complete reharsh of a dot point within the syllabus!
which is why it is ever so important to know thy syllabus and to make notes accordingly

– the integration of Christianity and Aboriginal belief systems by many Aboriginal people
Syncretism: attempted reconciliation or union of different or opposing principles or practices
There are now Aboriginal Christian Church movements, among Protestant churches and many churches have begun to bring together traditional Aboriginal cultural practices to different aspects of the life of the church, in ceremonies and ritual life. Now have Aboriginal ministries.
Even Pope John Paul II, in Alice Springs 1986 said that everyone including Aboriginals should have the opportunity in sharing the happiness of God.
Many Aboriginal people today have connected Christianity into their existing Aboriginal beliefs.
For example an Aboriginal Lutheran pastor George Rosendale from Cooktown, by learning about his own culture, he discovered meaning in the stories of his own people that revitalised his Christian belief. Other’s remodel their tradition.
But this issue has caused some serious debates amongst different groups of people.
In Jan and Dec 1967 Queensland and Western Australia formed the Aboriginal Evangelical Fellowship (AEF) which merged in 1970. The AEF was established to promote Aborigines proclamation of the gospel to Aborigines but did not follow or show any Aboriginal traditions.
Aboriginal Christian Church.

 

[classics_chic]

That's an easy question. Basically they looked at the Christian God as like the earth, and incorporated their beliefs into Christianity that way. Also look at the translation of the Bible into Aboriginal, clergy from Aboriginal groups.

(I recommend the Macquarie Study Guide: it was written by two teachers from my school and it's really excellent! The Excel one is pretty bad for HSC Religion because it's meant to be a national text but it doesn't work)

 

[miss-teek]

thanks a heap guys!