RELIGION & BELIEF SYSTEMS IN AUSTRALIA POST 1945 Aboriginal spirituality as determined by the Dreaming KINSHIP ● Complex system of belonging and responsibility within a clan, based on familial and totemic relationships ● Individual roles and responsibilities are prescribed ● The ’fabric’of Aboriginal society ● Family and clan identity and relationships ● System of belonging and responsibilities within a clan ● Deeply connected to environment and people from their social group MOIETIES ● Same moiety = family + obligations to each other ● Everything is split in half ● Either matrilineal or patrilineal TOTEMS ● Natural object, plant or animal that is inherited by members of a clan or family as their spiritual emblem. ● Tribes are composed of clans, each descended from a spirit ancestor ● Represents the ongoing life force in the Dreaming ● Unifies clans under the spirit ancestor ● Spirit guide ● Plant or animal that represents a clan’s connection to the ancestor beings ● Nation, clan, family and individual (represents strengths and weaknesses) totems CEREMONIAL LIFE ● Though the Dreaming event occurred in the remote past it is believed to happen in the present (via ceremonial activities) it is LIVING ● Generally, recreates, via ritual, eternal moment of the dreaming ● In partaking in such, they are fulfilling their duty/obligations to the land ● Obliged to take part in such to acknowledge the Dreaming creation even + show the ongoing metaphysical presence of the parallel Dreaming world ● Dreaming is the source of rituals, culture and beliefs ● Ritual: help maintain a person’s knowledge of the dreaming ● Ceremony: makes ancestral being present through people, objects, words and movements OBLIGATIONS TO THE LAND & THE PEOPLE ● Land is their ‘mother’ ● the people and the ‘Dreaming’ are considered to be part of a symbiotic relationship ● Land = context for which their Dreaming stories are founded → man = land ∴land must be respected, exploitative acts cannot be tolerated ● Humans have a sacred trust to assist landin ‘living’ to its potential (via ritual) ● If cyclic ceremoniesare not observed = the power of the land to renew itself = fail issues for Aboriginal spiritualities in relation to: Effects of dispossession ● Dispossession undermined the beliefs of Aboriginal culture. ● Ultimately led to a loss in following → Less people = struggle to remain self-sufficient, sustain complex and religious and cultural practices → hindering the formation of Aboriginal identity and self-esteem ● Eviction or expulsion of a person from the possession of land by process of law ● Forced from their land, way of life and culture through policies ● Impact overwhelmingly detrimental to Aboriginal Spirituality and culture PROTECTION POLICIES (ISOLATE) ● Aimed to preserve and protect Aboriginal peoples ● Moving them into missions or reserves ● Intent: to isolate Aboriginal people from the rest of the community until such time as their culture died out ASSIMILATION POLICIES (INCORPORATE) ● Removal of children to Christianise and educate them and “improve” them ● They took Aboriginal people, particularly ‘half cast’ and had them placed into the white community to forget their culture ● Led to degradation and separation of Aboriginal children from families – ‘Stolen Generation’ (1900-1972) SEPARATION FROM THE LAND ● Indigenous Australians + spirituality (Dreaming) holds an inextricable link to the land ● By dispossessing them of the land their spirituality + cultural heritage is stripped off them ● Without the land individuals are restricted from fulfilling obligations to the land → severing ties with ancestral spirits ● Experiences of spiritual guilt / from not being able to fulfill obligations ≠ Cannot interact with totems (physical connection to the dreaming) ● Land = context of Dreaming stories ● Disruption to the normal pattern + process for handling tradition SEPARATION FROM KINSHIP GROUPS ● Segregation of an individual from their kinship group → prompted decline in the kinship system ● Kinship allocated roles ∴Aboriginal society loses its structure + personal affiliation with land ● Aboriginal culture, tradition, and law = no longer able to pass on ● Loss of language + inability to authentically understand spirituality STOLEN GENERATIONS ● Refers to the forcible removal of Aboriginal children from their homes by government officials to be placed in missions → policy of ● Assimilation → pushing for the children to adopt the European/White lifestyle via the erasure of culture → Pushing them to ● Children separated from elders ∴no generation to pass down knowledge, language, traditions ● Aboriginal culture, tradition, and law = no longer able to pass on ● Loss of identity and self-esteem in culture / lost between two opposing cultures and struggles to find a balance Aboriginal spiritualityhas been destroyed overtime, driving them to negative, on-going, long-term problems such as alcoholism, drug abuse, lack of educational achievement, economic opportunity, lowered living standards, lowered life expectancy, and higher infant mortality Separation from the land - - Land is intrinsically linked to the Dreaming and identity Land, language, totems, kinship and ceremonies are all significantly affected Loss or removal from land not able to fulfil ritual responsibilities o Loss of cultural heritage and knowledge o Cannot pass on = erosion of culture Unable to access Dreaming and Ancestral Spirits within sacred sites/law o Destroyed system of totemic responsibilities o Cannot access their history, stories, rituals and ancestors (basis of identity) Separation from kinship - - - Stolen generations Separation destroyed - Children: harsh, degrading treatment kinship system and has (physical and sexual abuse), limited led to a loss of identity or no contact with families, led to Role of elders believe in the inferiority of undermined – cannot Aboriginal and culture pass on knowledge, disrespect Effects still felt: Loss of language difficult - Abuse and crisis of identity to pass on beliefs, - No sense of belonging knowledge and culture - No support to face trauma o Before white - intergenerational trauma settlement - 250 - voicelessness - lack of indigenous acknowledgement and discussion of languages in the past, lack of involvement in Australia, now - 145 discussions of policy that impact Lack of a sense of them belonging, leading to - mistrust towards authorities feelings of isolation or - lack of adequate funding/resources that something is missing Issues: - Lower life expectancy - Lower formal education qualifications/retention - More likely to be incarcerated - More likely to be removed from their families - Mental illness, suicide, substance abuse - Access to medical facilities Land Rights Movements ● ● ● ● Land rights: Claims to repossess and/or seek compensation for the use of their traditional lands Land rights movement: actions taken by different groups to fight for the Aboriginal people’s right to their ancestral lands Native Title legislation – recognises Aboriginal peoples’ connection and rights to land and water Land rights legislation in NSW – compensates Aboriginal people for past dispossession, dislocation and removal of land by handing them back all with all rights. LAND RIGHTS MOVEMENT A religious-political movement to secure the rights of Aboriginal people to their land and ensure the their religious, spiritual and cultural integrity is preserved (Connection to the Dreaming) NATIVE TITLE Native title is a property right which reflects a relationship to land which is the very foundation of Indigenous religion, culture and well-being Examples: - 1963 Yirrkala bark petition (used bark to write protests about land rights) 1965 freedom riders (got on buses to raise awareness about their rights in the constitution and their land rights) 1966 Wave Hill strike (went on strike and refused to work until they were paid fair wages) 1967 Referendum (recognised Aboriginal people as part of Australia) - 1972 Tent Embassy (Tent set up in front of parliament - focal point regarding the denial of rights and poor living conditions for Aboriginals) 1981 – Government establishes the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs - Oversaw the drafting of land rights legislation and liaised with other government departments and Aboriginal communities In 1982, the Ministry released a draft Aboriginal Land Rights Bill outlining how a land rights act would address the roles of Aboriginal Land councils, title to land, right to land, how disputes should be handled and how the land councils should be funded 1982, Labor Party endorsed nation-wide land rights eg. core principles that Aboriginal people would control mining on Aboriginal land, enjoy mining royalty equivalents and negotiated compensation for lost territory 1983 Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1985 – Land rights collapse - - Hawke government announced a new, revamped Preferred National Land Rights Model, which got rid of 4 out of 5 principles outlines in 1983 New model: o Didn’t require Aboriginal consent for mining on Aboriginal land o Prevented land claims over stock routes, stock reserves and Aboriginal owned pastoral leases o Restricted eligibility for excisions NSW government opposed the proposed model because it diluted Aboriginal rights WA government campaigned against the proposed legislation as they thought it provided Aboriginal people too many rights Outline the importance of the land rights movements MABO 1992 Decision No. 2 ● Recognised and gave Native Title to the certain groups of the Murray Islands People ● Major landmark given that it paved way for the Native Title Act of 1993 ● Recognition of a form of native title to land ● Overturned Terra Nullius ● Eddie Koiki Mabo and Murray (Mer) Island land claim ● High Court to recognised for the first time that a form of land title existed prior to Australia’s occupation by Great Britain in 1788 due to “continuing ties to the ancestral land” ● High court declared that: ○ Australian common law recognises a form of native title to land ○ Native title exists where the indigenous people have maintained their connection to the land ○ Native Title has not been extinguished by legislation or government action NATIVE TITLE ACT 1993 ● Legislation allowing for Indigenous peoples to legally appeal for Native Title and be recognised with such ● However, it didn’t always guarantee access to sacred sites due to → pre-established freehold leases (cannot prevail over freehold title) + the proof of connection was difficult (no written records to fully support claims) not entirely beneficial ● Claims process for native title and regulated future government acts affecting native title land (legislation) ● Recognises Aboriginals as owners of the land, returning ownership ● Set up: ○ Local Aboriginal Land Council ○ Registrar of the Aboriginal Land Rights ○ Minister for Aboriginal Affairs ● Only available if able to prove a continuous link with the land and have ceremonies and customs associated with the land ● Only fully claim vacant crown land ● Cannot claim crown land, pastoral lease or free hold land WIK 1996 ● Addressed the issue within the Native Title Act 1993 → Setting precedent and allowing for Pastoral Leases and Native Title to coexist ● However, in areas of dispute, leasehold titles would override ● again, not entirely beneficial, but a step nonetheless ● Coexistence of pastoral leases and native title ● Court case: Wik Peoples v Queensland on 23 Dec 1996 ● Response to Wik: Ten Point plan (Native Title Amendment Act 1998) ● Set conditions and processes regarding native title claims ● Required them to prove that they were the original owners of the land by proving family and cultural ties to the land ● Required them to ‘develop’ the land economically NATIVE TITLE AMENDMENT ACT 1998 ● Abolished the right of Native Title claimants the right to negotiate for government owned land ● Replaced with the right for land to merely be consulted ○ A step back ● Pivotal in providing security to the inherent rights of Aboriginal peoples to their land. ● A religio-political movement, the Land Rights movement is characterised by the cases of Native Title, Mabo and Wik, each prompting a positive shift towards achieving the aims of the Land Rights movement, which is to preserve the Aboriginal culture and heritage. ● The Mabo decision of 1992led to a High Court ruling the related rights of Indigenous peoples in the Torres Strait. → The decision is critical to the Land Rights movement as it declared Terra Nullius as being legal fiction, whilst the Supreme Court decision proved that indigenous Australians could attain Native Title Rights. ● This case then led to theNative Title Act of 1993,of which enabled for the recognition of Native Title under Australian Federal Law and the Native Title rights of Aboriginal peoples. ● Such was critical to the Land Rights Movement given that it enabled the Indigenous to legally claim land under Native Title. ● TheWik Decision of 1996 ● The Dreaming has an inextricablelink to the land and is the foundation of Aboriginal religion culture, spirituality and the land is the medium by which Aboriginals are able to reconnect with their land ○ The Dreaming had and still holds high esteem in terms of motivation for the Land rights movement (the Dreaming itself is metatemporal → It incorporates the past, present and future as a complete and present reality.) MABO CASE ● Argued that the Merriam people of the Murray Islands had Native Title over their land so that they may continue their traditional ways → ○ Only able to be pursued if they were connected to the Dreaming ○ The Dreaming has and continues to be highly significant to the Land Rights Movement → primary motivation for Indigenous Australians to connect to their land and country THE DREAMING AND LAND RIGHTS ● Aboriginal people seek rights to their land so that they can fully access the Dreaming ● Having land rights allows Aboriginal people to: ○ Reclaim their ancestral lands which is linked to the Dreaming ○ Access the Dreaming through the land ○ Access their traditional language, stories, art, rituals, sacred sites ○ Rediscover their identity and history if they been denied this (eg. Stolen generations) ● Without access to their traditional lands ○ The Dreaming cannot be easily learned and passed on ○ They cannot fully access their history and identity, stories, traditions, art and rituals ○ They cannot fully access or care for their sacred sites the religious landscape from 1945 to the present in relation to: Outline changing patterns of religious adherence) from 1945 to the present using census data 3 largest non-Christian groups - Islam Buddhism Hinduism 3 largest Christian groups - Catholic Anglican Uniting Church Most religious states - Least religious state NSW Queensland Victoria - Tasmania Trends in 2016 data Christianity - - - Remains largest religious tradition in Australia Overall, Christianity decreases as a percentage of the population Larger Christian denominations (Catholic, Anglican and Uniting Church) decrease in percentage of the population – more traditional Orthodox has slightly decreased Other Christian has also slightly decreased. Some denominations (Baptist, Pentecostal) have held steady Uniting church formed from Methodist, Presbyterian and Congregationalist Non-Christian traditions - Increase Increase for Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism from 1947 to 2016 - Hinduism fastest growing religion: growth between 2006 - 2016 driven by immigration from South Asia - Increase caused by: o Immigration o removal of the White Australia Policy o Regional conflict (eg. Vietnam War) o Population growth No religion - Significant increase. 2nd largest group in the census Increase caused by: o disillusionment with traditional religion o perception of traditional religion as no longer relevant o Secularism o Growing acceptance of scientific knowledge over religious teachings o Inclusion of “no response” and other miscellaneous answers into this section Present religious landscape of Australia Christianity as the major religious tradition Colonisation Anglicans in charge of first colony meant that Christianity became the dominant religion as it displaced Aboriginal Spirituality Anglican were in power after colonisation Discrimination against Catholics o Anglican remained major Christian denomination until 1986 - Catholicism Immigration policies Immigration program and White Australian policy encouraged Europeans to come to Australia which sustained Christianity numbers Sense of social cohesion Immigration restriction Act 1901 - barred people of non-European descent from immigrating to Australia Discrimination and prejudice – discouraged growth of other religions Recent changes to Christianity Church of England cutting ties with Britain (1962) and renaming themselves the Anglican Church of Australia (1982) Formation of the Uniting Church on 22nd June 1977 (Methodist, Presbyterian, Congregationalist Churches) Increase in Pentecostal Churches due to population rise Immigration Population or Perish policy After WWII Immigration program promoted mass immigration with the slogan "populate or perish” Migrants from Britain “Assisted Passage Migration Scheme” British people able to come to Australia for 10 pounds Extremely popular - by 1947, more than 400,000 of them had registered Migrants from Europe From 1945, displaced European migrants accepted into Australia bringing Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant religious practices (e.g. Greek, Italian, Russian, German Christians) Post WWII Immigration and refugees makes Christianity in Australia more ethnically diverse End of the white Australia policy 1973 - replaced by Policy of Multiculturalism Led to greater ethnic diversity in Christianity (e.g. Lebanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Tongan, Fijian, Filipino, Sudanese, Maronite Christians) Increase in non-Christian religions: o Hindu immigrants from India o Buddhist immigrants from North and South East Asia o Muslim and Christian immigrants from the Middle east (e.g. Lebanon, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Sudan) Regional conflict Brought refugees that also increased religious and ethnic diversity: o Lebanese civil war (1975-1990) – Lebanese refugees - Muslim, Christian, Maronite etc. o Vietnam war (1960s)– Vietnamese refugees – Christian and Buddhist o Gulf Wars (1990s-2000s) and Conflict in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and Sudan – Arab, Iraqi, Afghan refugees - Muslim and Christian Denominational switching - Transfer of followers from one Christian denomination to another “Revolving door syndrome” - Christians who join a denomination but then transfer to another denomination within 2 years Reasons for: Rise of new Age religions - New age - range of spiritual beliefs aiming to foster individual fulfilment, personal happiness, and meaning in life Can be followed as an alternative religion or done with traditional religions or partially practiced by non-believers Adopt elements of Eastern religions Lack structure and formal organisation Reject monotheism and accept: o Polytheism (Multiple gods and goddesses) o Pantheism (worship of nature) o Monism (belief that everything is one) Reasons for joining: Seeking a religion that meets their individual needs and preferences Desire for a spiritual life that is not restricted by traditional religions Disillusionment with traditional religion Seeking meaning and personal happiness A way to cope with the stress of modern life Seeking helpful practices in other religions that can be used along with traditional religions (e.g. fung shui, meditation, tai chi) Secularism Process of a society becoming less religious or non-religious Significantly increased in the recent surveys Reasons for the rise of secularism: o Rise and acceptance of scientific knowledge over religious beliefs o Disillusionment with traditional religion/religious scepticism o Increasing individuality (not following a tradition) o Materialism (focus on material wealth) o Pluralism (many religions, no dominant faith) religious dialogue in multi-faith Australia Evaluate (how well) the importance of interfaith dialogue in multifaith Australia Interfaith Dialogue - Formal discussion between different religions to develop greater mutual understanding - Religious dialogue and cooperation between different religions By respecting different beliefs, it allows a better appreciation for each religion How interfaith dialogue happens Prayer services Meetings/gathering Examples: Example: - Services commemorating the 2018 Youth PoWR(Parliament Bali bombing and the Boxing of the World’s Religions) Day Tsunami - 2018 theme - Harmony - Service in Sydney for the for Humanity: Unity in Christchurch Mosque shooting Diversity victims 2019 - 8 religious faiths were - Bushfire recovery and represented: Aboriginal resilience service Spirituality, Baha’i, - Services for the victims of the Buddhist, Christian, Sydney Lindt CaféSiege in Jewish, Hindu, Muslim 2014 at St Mary’s Cathedral and Sikh. o 10 representatives from - Participants had the different faiths were opportunity to discuss invited to light a candle their faith with those of as the Cathedral bell different faiths. They tolled (symbolic) also discussed social o Powerful testimony of issues and committed to peace and harmony and specific actions to the rejected of violent address these. events like the siege Organisations Examples: NSW council of Christians and Jews - Formed in 1989 - Activities include: o Holocaust education o annual commemorative service for the Holocaust held in the crypt of St Mary's Roman Catholic Cathedral o panel discussions and seminars on inter-religious poetry and music o Sabbath meal demonstrations Australian National Dialogue of Christians, Muslims and Jews - Inter-religious forum that: o Works for the common good o discusses Christian, Jewish and Muslim tradition o Hold joint celebrations, rituals and visits to important shrines Importance of interfaith dialogue - - - Promotes a harmonious and peaceful society through religious tolerance helps reduce religious discrimination Allows religions to support one another in defending common issues and rights promote social justice o Shared values: human dignity, sacredness of human life, care for the poor, justice and peace. o Common religious issues: religious freedom, funding for religious schools and programs, stopping religious discrimination o Common social justice issues: poverty, homelessness, indigenous rights, and asylum seekers Fights against religious stereotypes o Breaking stereotypes and prejudice towards various religious groups o Example: The Columban Centre for Christian-Muslim relations address misconceptions and stereotypes regarding Muslims Helps prevent or stop religious conflict Other benefits o Builds understanding, good will and a sense of community between people of different faiths o Considers community issues as a whole community rather than accepting the sub-groups of that community o Encourages and allows individuals and groups to learn about each other and the different faith traditions in a spirit of exploration, discovery and education thus improving the quality of life in our community “One of the biggest challenges for people involved in interfaith dialogue is to break down the stereotypes of the ‘other’ that exist within their own religious traditions and groups. Religious groups need to first acknowledge and confess their own role in fostering and contributing to injustice and conflict” ― David R. Smock Describe (characteristics and features) the impact (effect) of Christian ecumenical movements in Australia Ecumenism - Efforts towards religious cooperation among Christians Christian Denominations - Common beliefs Catholic Anglican Protestant eg. Lutheran Orthodox Pentecostal eg. Hillsong - Common practice God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit Jesus as the Son of God, Messiah, Saviour Salvation - Prayer Baptism Marriage Purpose - Seeks for all Christians to work, worship and dialogue together Recognises the common belief in Christ rather than differences in practice and beliefs Various Christian denominations recognize that division among Christians is not ideal and an example of failing to be like Christ Opposite of sectarianism Not about combining all denominations into one - Impact of ecumenism - Greater cooperation on social justice issues o Eg. Asylum seekers and refugees, homelessness etc Example of unity and cooperation Greater relevance in society o A larger unified group that works for justice and social good Mutual support on common issues o Religious discrimination, funding for religious school etc. Examples Social justice projects - Christian World Services, the House of Welcome Helping refugees and asylum seekers and victims of catastrophes Joint commissions - Anglican Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC) Joint declarations - Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification (1998) between Catholics and Lutherans Organisations Joint educational efforts - Uniting Church - National Council of Churches (NCCA) - NSW Ecumenical Council (Need to know these) - Sydney College of Divinity Organisations Christian World Services - Charity founded in 1946 Cooperate ministry of 37 Christian denominations Goal is to build a world where there is enough for all Provides sustainable self-help, development, disaster relief and refugee assistance around the world The NCCA - The National Council of Churches in Australia Organization of 19 churches that promote Christian unity and cooperation Seeks to “express more visibly the unity willed by Christ” It is an associate counsel of the World Council of Churches, a member of the Christian Conference of Asia and a partner of other national ecumenical bodies throughout the world The 19 Christian churches dialogue and collaborate in a range of ways. Such as: o The Christian World Service helps people suffering from injustice and poverty through aid and development - NSW Ecumenical council - Formed in 1982 Consists of 16 churches throughout NSW and the ACT Promotes ecumenism through: o Encouraging individual and group ecumenical efforts o Occasional joint statements on beliefs, religious freedom, social justice, funding for Christian schools o provides a platform for different churches to address social justice issues Christian World Service o promotes educational initiatives to advocate ecumenism (e.g. Sydney College of Divinity) Joint educational efforts - Sydney College of Divinity, a federation of religious colleges, work together to provide education in theology and ministry Joint commissions and joint declarations - Formal ecumenical groups or committees that work towards official agreement on issues and beliefs such as: o The Anglican Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC) discussions on Sacraments, Ministry, Authority and Mary. o The Lutheran and Catholic Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification (1998) on 'faith and works’. Uniting Church - - 3rd largest Christian denomination in Australia and an example of Ecumenism Founded in 1977 through a merger of: o all Methodists o 65% of Presbyterians o 95% of Congregationalists It is "seeking to bear witness to that unity which is both Christ's gift and will for the Church." ecumenism as one of its primary aims They are a justice-oriented church: o Through advocacy concerning issues of justice eg. human rights, environmental concerns, refugees and Asylum Seeker Policy, Fair and adequate provision of social services o Practical expressions through meaningful services § UnitingCare Australia § Frontier Services § UnitingWorld o Vision for a Just Australia Examine the relationship between Aboriginal Spiritualities and religious traditions in the process of Reconciliation (forgive, make right, fix, heal relationship) Aboriginal Reconciliation - The process to resolve social issue between Indigenous and non-indigenous Australians to address the past injustice done in the spirit of mutual recognition, understanding and respect Includes acknowledging the mistakes of the past eg. dispossession of land, Stolen Generations Quotes - “A reconciled Australia is one where our rights as First Australians are not just respected but championed in all the places that matter” Kristie Parker “Reconciliation must transcend Australian political theatre and promote a sense of national unity” Patrick Dodson 5 Dimensions of reconciliation 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Unity Race relations Equality and equity Historical acceptance (eg. Kevin Rudd’s apology) Institutional integrity Christianity - Apologies for past mistakes Support for reconciliation Different programs to promote reconciliation to Aboriginals Judaism - Organisation have released statements Done programs in support of Reconciliation Islam - Islamic tradition supports reconciliation on both moral and humanitarian grounds Hinduism and Buddhism - Both have similar views towards the process of Aboriginal reconciliation (support for reconciliation) Christianity and Aboriginal reconciliation (examples) - Pope Francis released a statement in November 2016 – Pope Francis send message to Australia’s Indigenous community (statement from Pope) Commemoration Pope John Paul II’s visit to Alice springs in 1986. (statement from Pope) He described the importance and gifts of Aboriginal culture and the need for it to be preserved and learned. He called for solidarity with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. NCCA acknowledged the part their churches played in the Stolen Generation and made recommendations in the Bringing Them Home report. Christian churches and other religious traditions have politically supported land rights recognition, native title, a formal apology to the Stolen Generation and the formation of ANTaR (Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation) The Catholic Church and other churches issued a statement called “Towards Reconciliation in Australian Society” (1998) Anglican Reconciliation Working Group supported by Anglicare Australia and the Anglican Board of Missionaries which provides accommodation, health care, family support for ATSI communities Example – NATSICC - Catholic Ministry developed to respond to Indigenous Catholics At the last census 13,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people identified as Catholics. It is the youngest and fastest growing demographic in the Australian Catholic Church today Every State and Territory has a local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Ministry that works on a local level Some of the programs/services they may provide include Sacramental training, material assistance, hospital and prison visits, Mass, healing programs, Welcome and Acknowledgments to Country and more Example - Uniting Church National Assembly made formal apology to ATSI people to policies of the past and made a pledge for a better future Example - Some churches have attempted synchronization of Christian and Aboriginal religious ideas • • • Stations of the cross using Aboriginal imagery Use Indigenous coconut milk and damper instead of bread and wine Prayers or mass told in Indigenous languages Judaism and Aboriginal Reconciliation - - Executive Council of Australian Jews released a statement in 2011: o Recognises of Aboriginal people as the first Australians with equal rights o supports Reconciliation Australia's National Program of Action such as National Reconciliation Week and the Week of Prayer o calls upon the government and businesses to reduce Aboriginal people disadvantage through programs and laws They also released Declaration of Reconciliation in 1999 to express sorrow and regret for the past treatment of Indigenous Australians. Jewish Board of Deputies (JBD) have sponsored Aboriginal senator Aden Ridgeway on a study tour of Israel Jewish groups supported the Sea of Hand ceremony (1997-1998) The Australian Friends of Hebrew University gave a scholarship to Aboriginal doctor Alex Brown to get a Master’s degree in public health Buddhism and Aboriginal Reconciliation - The Buddhist Peace Fellowship (BPF) joined the Bridge Walk for Reconciliation (2000) BPF ran a study circle on reconciliation and had a reconciliation stall at Moocaboola Festival Sydney Islam and Aboriginal Reconciliation - Dr Erian, past president of the Islamic Society of Australia stated, “The Muslim community in Australia is most supportive of Aboriginal reconciliation on moral, humanitarian and prudential pragmatic grounds” Other examples of Aboriginal Reconciliation - Corroboree 2000 Bridge Walk – religious leaders of all major traditions in support of Reconciliation Statements of support by religious leaders for Prime Minister’s 2008 Apology to the Stolen Generations Support of different religions for National Reconciliation Week
