RLST 100 (Online)_ Unit 10 (aboriginal religions)

 Dashboard ► RLST 100 (Online) ► Assignments and Exams ► Unit 10 (Aboriginal Religion) Discussion ► Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) Search forums Faculty of Arts RLST 100 (Online) Spring 2016: Introduction to Religious Studies Leona Anderson Unit 10 (Aboriginal Religion) Discussion Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) Subscribe Display replies in nested form Faisal Sabri Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Leona Anderson - Sunday, 8 May 2016, 9:44 AM Identify as many similarities and differences as you can between Aboriginal religions and the religions we have studies so far. How might some of these practices/beliefs improve other religions that we have studied? Link to this post Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Chelsea McLaren - Monday, 6 June 2016, 2:08 PM Like many religions, Aboriginal religion is characterized by having a god or gods who created people. Aboriginal religions have multiple gods, like Hinduism, these gods may take many forms and/or shapes and are normally depicted in some tangible, recognizable form. A coming of age ceremony is also celebrated with Aboriginal religions for both boys and girls. Judaism and Confucianism also have ceremonies that celebrate a person coming of age. The belief of creation is a popular belief in Sikhism, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Christianity, Buddhism, and aboriginal religions. Different than some religions First Nations have many different creation stories that do not have the same deity creating earth and people. I think something other religions could practice or belief is the love for nature. Native Americans believed that humankind ought to live in a way with nature I believe that if all religions believed this it could improve them. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Faith Ogundipe - Wednesday, 15 June 2016, 8:11 AM I like how you are comparing it but one thing i was wondering. for clarification. Does the aboriginal religion have many "gods" and believe in a god or is it more spirits and connecting with mother nature and so fourth. I got the sense that they believe in a higher power but not labeling it god as more for a easier explanation? what do you guys say? maybe i miss interprerted Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Abigail Tremblay - Sunday, 19 June 2016, 2:37 PM Faith- That is along the same lines as I was thinking too. I never gathered that Aboriginal religions had god(s), rather they seem to revere their ancestors and their spirits as well as the spirit of the earth and nature. Even when we look at the stories of creation, it is not human-like gods that made everything, it is animals. Aboriginal religions are so different from other religions, that it is a bit difficult to grasp! Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Ronda Harrison - Tuesday, 21 June 2016, 8:39 PM Responding to Faith and Abigail From my understanding of Aboriginal religion, spirits live in each being on earth rather than having a God or Gods that we worship to. I kind of take it to mean that we must respect all that is around us, similar to respect and loving God, if that makes sense. Instead of being one entity, I see the Aboriginals respecting all that is around us and being respectful because all of it(right down to the dirt beneath our feet) is God. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Omar Alsaady - Wednesday, 22 June 2016, 3:45 PM Hey Chelsea,

I agree with what you are saying. You are right. There are a number of deities that aboriginal religions may depict belief in and there are things and symbols that may depict these. I would just like to add on to this. These things may be leaves, rocks or even rivers that are either thought to be created by the God or Gods or things that are believed to be possessing a soul, normally that of a deity. This is called Animism. You have also pointed out that there is the coming of age ceremony celebrated by them but there are also various other ceremonies celebrated by them and no one single ceremony can be specified. Yes, love of nature could improve them but this is already depicted by all other religions. No religion talks about not loving nature, right? However, yes, if this idea was emphasized upon, it could make much of a difference. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Shelby McGillivray - Wednesday, 22 June 2016, 9:26 PM Chelsea, I agree with what you have said. I think if other religions practiced their love for nature, the world could be a better place. Aboriginals love the Earth and nature and show this love by their ceremonies, rituals and practices. I like how you specifically named the other religions that have similarities/differences and said what the similarities/differences are. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Farhima Rahman - Wednesday, 22 June 2016, 10:25 PM In response to Chelsea McLaren. I really like your comparison of Aboriginal religion and other religions we have studied so far. But I personally feel that Aboriginals do not necessarily have multiple gods, but rather they see it as spirits. They believe that those spirits are generally found in plants, trees, animals, etc. hence why preserving nature is their fundamental principle in life, because just like humans everything in the natural world possesses a soul. I find their views are often similar to that of Shinto. Shintoists as well do not necessarily see The Kama as gods, but rather a spirit that takes the form of everything on Earth. Just like most religions, Aboriginals also believe in the creation of the world, but unlike in Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, and Christianity where God has created the world, Aboriginals believe that animals created the world (example: Turtles representing Mother Earth). I guess the main difference I see between Aboriginals and the other religions, is that the other religions show their devotion and respect to a specific figure/entity, whereas Aboriginals show devotion to everything that is visible on Earth. Therefore, I personally feel that not only the love for nature but their respect for everything surrounding them is also a principle that could improve other religions. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Faith Ogundipe - Wednesday, 8 June 2016, 1:38 PM Personally, I would say that there are a few similarities that can be seen in other religions and in aboriginal practices. The difference though is to whom or what each religion believes to or prays to. The ultimate similarity highlighted is they all believe in some sort of power. Power or reasoning for why things happen. From karma, to Jesus, the son of god, or the mother of Jesus mary, to Budha and following in his steps even after he is gone. So to sum up there are some similarities and to improve some of these other religions could be to develop further on some of the practices which derive from aboriginal practices like the way they see human relations as important and taking back the human connection towards other practices. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Jenna Neufeld - Tuesday, 14 June 2016, 9:36 PM Aboriginals have a great appreciation for nature, valuing resources and respecting every being to create balance. This is similar to how Engaged Buddhism tries to educate others about social issues, like pollution, and their effects to try to create harmony and balance in the world. There are various interpretations of many parts of Aboriginal Religions, similar to the Christian Bible and the Islam Shari'a's many interpretations. There are many ceremonies and rituals in Aboriginal religions, like most religions, because rituals like the SunDance, Baptism, and Sabbath day create a sense of unity for the religion. A big difference is that religious life doesn't exist separately from secular life, which is a main point in Christianity because Christians felt people shouldn't be bound to the religion. But, Aboriginals believe every part of life is connected. Everyone is equal in Aboriginal Religions, there are no judgments based on class like in the Hindu caste system. There are no written texts as the bases of Aboriginal religion, something present in Judaism, Christianity, Islam. Instead, traditions are passed orally, which could be an improvement for other religions because it would allow greater communication and avoid misinterpretations. Aboriginal Religion emphasizes reflection of one's existence, which would benefit everyone because it would help us to avoid destructing our earth and gain appreciation for life. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Chelsea McLaren - Wednesday, 15 June 2016, 9:21 AM I agree with you that other religions would benefit from adopting some characteristics of aboriginal religions. More religion do need something to help reflect on themselves and there actions. I think you picked a good characteristics that aboriginal religion currently has in place and it may help the problem of not realizing what ones actions may cause. I also agree with the difference you had that aboriginal religion believes al things in nature are connected, and I feel like some religions could also use this characteristic for the same reason, to avoid destructing our earth. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Orisha Boychuk - Friday, 17 June 2016, 9:11 PM This is in response to Jenna Neufeld's post.

Samantha Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Amy Kapeller - Saturday, 18 June 2016, 8:01 PM This is a reply to Jenna's post. I like how you have clearly outlined the positive practices Aboriginals have in place. Balance is a key to Aboriginal religions. The similarities you compared to Christian, Islam, and Buddhism all are clear and understandable.Similar to almost all other religions the rituals, ceremonies and reasonings are unique. I like how you explained that a difference in Aboriginal life is that their religious life does not exist seperate from secular life. This is an important point and really emphasizes their concept of connection. Oral traditions are also a huge difference from many other religions as you said most religions have written texts. I agree in the sense that we should all take into consideration the aboriginal appreciation for life. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by JayCee Dallyn - Monday, 20 June 2016, 9:42 AM Jenna you made excellent connections between aboriginal religions and the other religions we have studied. Your statement comparing the caste system of Hinduism and the lack thereof in Aboriginal religion is an excellent point. This is evidenced by the respect the aboriginals shared within their culture, they especially respected elders and held them in high esteem; however, men and women were seen as equals with no group of individuals being considered lesser beings. As well your point on the aboriginal tradition of passing down teachings orally as opposed to written is explained excellently. Excellent post. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Ronda Harrison - Tuesday, 21 June 2016, 8:45 PM In response to Jenna I really like the fact that you pointed out that everyone is equal in Aboriginal religions. I do agree that is true but I also want to add that aboriginals respect elders and people such as shaman's for their knowledge. They also do not treat woman a subservient and are respectful of the role that woman play. They are a more egalitarian religion and society than most other religions that were built on patriarchy. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Kelly Granil - Wednesday, 22 June 2016, 11:27 AM In Response to Jenna Neufeld's post: Respecting the nature is one of the Aboriginal beliefs that I always think when asked about the beliefs that they follow. I also agree that they are really connected and sees everything as a ripple effect. I believe that always finding balance and equality is one of the things that we should follow in this time, because I feel that we are too inclined to giving each other status and doing our best to rise above other people and we mostly forget to care for the people around us. I like how Aboriginal treats everyone with equal respect which makes their lives more peaceful and meaningful. Thank you. Kelly Granil Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Tiffany Klemack - Wednesday, 22 June 2016, 11:41 PM Kelly Granil, LOVE how you brought up equality!! I also have noticed that the aboriginal religion does not discriminate between men and women. In other religions like Islam, women have to cover themselves extensively, or in Buddhism women have to fight for respect. In the aboriginal religion everyone is one with nature and with each other and goes through the same "enlightenment " process to obtain a spiritual guardian. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Saeed Alsaqqaee - Wednesday, 22 June 2016, 4:15 PM I agree with you that Aboriginal religions do in fact emphasize on the love for nature and another similarity between these and Buddhism is the concept of spirituality and how both these are less rigid than all other religions of the world which is why at times there is a debate on whether aboriginal religions and Buddhism are religions or not. Also, there are ceremonies and customs that are practiced by aboriginal as well as all other religions for example the coming of age ceremony is practiced by aboriginal religion and Judaism and Christianity etc. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Ahmed Altharman - Wednesday, 22 June 2016, 5:51 PM

In response to Jenna: I agree with what you said. However, I believe the main difference between aboriginal religions and other religions is that while most other religions believe in one God, aboriginal religions mostly follow one or multiple deities. Also I like how you have raised the point about the rituals which is quite an important one but what rituals are similar between the two types of religions? You also have no mentioned how these are communities and worship symbols and things like leaves, stones etc which is quite an interesting characteristic of Aboriginal religions. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Madisson Shearer - Wednesday, 22 June 2016, 9:05 PM In response to Jenna, I love your comparison about how Aboriginal religion and other religions can be interpreted differently. They are not meant to have one right or wrong answer, but to have many interpretations. Great post! Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Ashley Landers - Wednesday, 22 June 2016, 9:48 PM Hi Jenna, I think its a very interesting point you bring up about Aboriginal religious traditions being linked so closely to every aspect of every day life. There is no separation between religion and culture and tradition, religious traditions are deeply ingrained into every aspect of daily life. There is a sense of equality, as everything has a spirit, everything has value. No one spirit or being is superior to another. There are traditional rituals to celebrate almost every stage of life, once again showing how embedded Aboriginal religious traditions are. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Orisha Boychuk - Friday, 17 June 2016, 8:56 PM There are many similarities and differences between Aboriginal religions and other religions we have studied so far in this course. Aboriginal religions believe that the natural world is extremely important and of great significance. Confucianism is similar in the fact that they believe in the importance of 5 elements in the world (fire, wood, water, soil, metal). These items are all connected to nature. Aboriginal peoples are a very diverse culture with different languages, norms and ways of living. This affects religion. This diversity is similar to that of Christianity. There are many differing beliefs and values within Christianity. There are also many different branches of the religion including Catholicism, Protestantism, Lutheranism, Pentecostal, etc. Chinese religions are also very diverse and include Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism. Aboriginal people worship and believe in spirits. These spirits are found in all parts of nature and every living creature. Daoism is similar because they also believe in spirits in heaven, earth and the underworld. Christianity is different because Christians believe in God and not in multiple spirits. Shaman’s play an important part in Aboriginal religions. They act as interpreters or guides on the behalf of others in the community. Shaman’s are able to connect with the spirit world and communicate with the spirits. This is similar to Chinese religions such as Confucianism. Shamans are also a big part of Chinese religions and are trained to communicate with the spirit world. Aboriginal religions have a strong connection to nature. They believe in living in harmony with the land and with each other. This is similar to Hinduism where they believe that all life is valuable and that it is important to value other people. Hindu's also believe in Karma which emphasizes that acts and deeds performed by an individual always return back to the individual whether good or bad. There are no written texts to form the basis of Aboriginal religions/beliefs. This is much different than other religions such as Islam, Christianity and Judaism where they have a particular holy book (Quran for Islam, the Bible for Christianity and the Torah for Judaism). Hinduism is more similar to Aboriginal religions in the fact that Hinduism does not have a formal religious text either. Information is passed down orally from generation to generation in Aboriginal religions. Stories, teachings, values, etc. are shared orally. Islam is similar to this in the fact that recitation of the Quran is extremely important. Even though the Quran is written down, it began as an oral tradition. Bravery, fortitude, generosity and wisdom are important values in Aboriginal religions. Hindu's also have 4 goals that they value (Dharma- virtue/order, Artha- wealth/success, Kama- pleasure and Moksha-release). Ceremonies are extremely important in Aboriginal religions. Hinduism is similar because they have many rituals that they engage in such as chants and particular prayers to a deity. There are many aspects of Aboriginal religions that would definitely improve other religions. For instance, their values on bravery, fortitude, generosity and wisdom would help all of the other religions, especially the Aboriginal value of generosity. If people would help others and be generous with their time and resources, then the world would be a much more peaceful place to live in. Generosity is a powerful force that not only changes the life of someone else, but enriches the life of the giver. The ceremonies and rituals found in Aboriginal religions might help other religions such as Shinto because structured activities allow for a deeper connection to a deity, spirit or other god. Ceremonies might help followers of the Shinto religion to become more spiritual and connected to the world around them. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Yanxing Wang - Wednesday, 22 June 2016, 10:50 PM Reply to Orisha Boychuk Thanking you for a very thourough and well-thought and written post. I would like to add some points that do not differ but maybe adding some dimensions. I agree with you that Aboriginal traditions do not rely on a formal or other written text or scripture. As well as being a point to compare/contrast with other religions, it does contribute to our greater understanding of the role of oral tradition, and in this respect also Elders as the key transmission of the oral traditions. In this regard we can compare to other traditions we have studied: Wasn't Christianity a series of oral traditions until long after Christ's death? Islam was carried forward by oral tradition, as is

Therefore, the difference between aboriginal religions and others outweigh the similarities. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Emmanuel Joy Gaudia - Wednesday, 22 June 2016, 11:27 PM To Caroline I like how you explained the importance of symbols to Aboriginal Religions. Moreover, they carry those symbols with them as they wander into other regions. They have meanings for animal symbols too which is quite unique and interesting. And I would like to add that people on other religions should also observe how Aboriginal Religions respect the nature. It one of their best traits Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Amy Kapeller - Saturday, 18 June 2016, 7:47 PM To begin with Aboriginal religion is similar to many of the other religions we have studied through this course in more than one way. Like a variety of others, Aboriginal religion is characterized by having a god or gods that created people and the surroundings. Again similar to other religions, Aboriginals believe that there was a particular creation period at the beginning of time. Each Aboriginal groups usually believes in a number of different deities, rather than only one god. This differs from some of the religions we have looked at but it also is similar to others. A practice that may differ from other religions we have focused on is the practice of hunting. Hunting is a large part of Aboriginal life, where as it is not as important to religions such as Christianity, Islamic, or Judaism. They also value wisdom, which is a unique concept. Also similar to almost every other religion we have looked at, Aboriginals also take part in ceremonies and sacred events. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Brayden Folk - Wednesday, 22 June 2016, 9:45 AM I agree with you that hunting is a large part of Aboriginal traditions. Aboriginal religions believe that hunting is somewhat of an art with an objective to return with a sufficient amount of food for the whole camp until another hunt is needed. With much respect these hunter groups ensure that game is obtained in a respectful manner by conserving and not depleting the animal world. This is also extremely different in the eyes of Buddhism and Hinduism believers as well. Buddhism teaches that one of the most important qualities we should have as human beings is respect for all life. This includes respect for animals and insects. Buddhists believe in the process of reincarnation and believe that every animal has a soul within that has died and is living their next life. Hinduism teaches that killing innocent animals causes bad karma with harmful consequences. Therefore, Hindu's can only make use of an animals fur and meat if said animal has died from natural causes. Therefore, hunting is frowned upon within Buddhism and Hinduism as well. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Abigail Tremblay - Sunday, 19 June 2016, 1:18 PM There are many similarities and differences between Aboriginal religions and the other religions we have studied throughout the course. Some examples include the following. Aboriginal religions are similar to Christianity in that they both have creation stories, ideas about an afterlife, human relationships, and the supernature. A major difference is that Aboriginal religions see the supernatural, nature and human aspects of life as one and Christians see the supernatural as separate from humankind and nature. Taoism also has some similarities with Aboriginal religions in that they both strive to connect humans back to the earth and unite them. They see the two as connected and resulting from and affecting the other. According to Varner, G. R. (2010) "Tao God is a universal, ruling power, a power personified only through the wind and the mountains and in nature itself. A similar concept among Native Americans." I think other religions could be improved by incorporating some of the ideas from Aboriginal religions. One of the main things that they teach is unity and oneness with the earth and humanity. I think that if we all were taught this view on life, we would be more compassionate and caring towards one another and be less likely to engage in so much fighting over beliefs. Varner, G. R. (2010, January). A Comparison Between Chinese Taoism and Native American Religious Tradition. Retrieved June 19, 2016, from http://www.uthorsden.com/visit/viewarticle.asp?id=53905 Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Eilysh Kirkpatrick - Sunday, 19 June 2016, 6:14 PM As I read the textbook some points that I found in Aboriginal beliefs that were similar to the other religions were: - Beliefs and traditions are passed down through generations - The worship all animals like Hinduism - There was a creator of beliefs- Sir Edward Taylor -many people have their own idea about spirits, dual worlds and ideas about how these worlds influence how we act and treat others. -Systems and beliefs are tied to practices =Prayer is an acceptable activity- any given group has protocol for prayer

-expectations of the benefits of prayer -Shaman- a guide -They have set values and ceremonies Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by JayCee Dallyn - Sunday, 19 June 2016, 8:13 PM Similarities: A creator- Belief that something created the world and everything in it. Symbolism- Use of symbols to express meaning in their beliefs ex: the cross, star of David Passing down teachings- The beliefs and traditions are passed on from generation to generation. Hierarchy- The Aboriginal had Chiefs who were in charge, while religions like Buddhism has the Dalai Lama and Christianity has a Pope; however, there were many chiefs in aboriginal tradition. Differences: Role of Women- Women were always highly respected in Aboriginal culture. Women were held in high esteem and played a major part in the decision making processes. Oral teachings- The aboriginals held used oral teachings to pass down knowledge and history while other religions use written texts as a major basis for their religions. (Islam can be similar to aboriginal in the sense they believe oral to be more meaningful; however, they also have written text Qur'an) End of life- Aboriginal traditions believe that upon your death you go back to mother earth and become part of nature. There is no eternal afterlife like in Islam and Christianity. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Iliana Roman - Tuesday, 21 June 2016, 8:40 PM JayCee, one of the differences I also found and like about this religion is the role of women as you mentioned, they don't discriminate women and women are seen as equal, not like in other religions such as Judaism, Islam and sometimes even in Christianity where women are not respected and are abused. You also mentioned that they have oral teachings to pass down knowledge and history, which is good but my question is, has that caused distorted teachings to new generations? as there is nothing written down, one can easily interpret differently, add or delete some valuable information that was not there before. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Jessica Pouliot - Wednesday, 22 June 2016, 9:41 PM JayCee, I am responding to this post because I see that there are some differences that you have mentioned which I did not include in my post. I would have to agree with them as the role of women was very disrespected in most of the religions that we learned about. It is known to most, whether Aboriginal or not, that women were very respected because of the many ways they influenced their children and everyone around them. I did not talk about the oral teaching, but as I read your answer, that is very true, as most religions use writings instead of verbal teachings. I think that this is very important because people understand better when what they are learning is out into context. Therefore, this would be one of the things that could be changed to improve other religions. If those religions used their teachings verbally, I think that it would be more influential allowing for more younger people to become involved early. Thanks for your post! It helped me learn a little more than I already knew! Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Ethan Gardner - Tuesday, 21 June 2016, 10:56 AM In many ways Aboriginal religion is similar to the other religions we have looked at but there are also a few differences. Aboriginals believe in a god that created the earth and humans but instead of praying to this god they pray to certain groups of deities symbolized in some tangible form. They also believe in a time of creation but the way humanity continued after that time is where things differ. Most other religions and beliefs started long after their believed creation period from a prophet being sent from god to deliver his message whereas all of the aboriginal beliefs stem from that original creation period. They do not believe everything has a soul but they do believe that every creature is a representation of someone or something from that original creation period. I think the greatest lesson we can learn from the Aboriginal religion is to value and treat every being around us as though it was once one of the original beings. Many Christians would act differently if they truly believed their dog may actually be a representation of Jesus or if a Muslim believed his father was the reincarnation of Muhammad. I believe that what has caused so many wars and issues between religions is that they value "certain things" that do not mesh with other beliefs. Their would be a greater peace in the world if other religions valued "everything" the way the aboriginal religion does. http://www.aboriginalculture.com.au/religion.shtml Link to this post | Show parent

I like how you pointed out the fact that there is no inequality between genders. This is such a breath of fresh air hearing this is part of Aboriginal traditions since we have seen so much gender inequality in this course. I also like your point about "our mother earth", you are totally right when you say that most of us have forgotten about this. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Faisal Sabri - Wednesday, 22 June 2016, 11:08 PM Hi Lliana! I like the way you have answered the question and I do agree with your point of view. Aboriginal religions or spirituality is not a separate part of life, but is integrated with the life as one, with nature, and with generations gone before. I feel that up to some level it is embedded into the system how Shinto is into the Japanese culture. They also have several deities. They both are self-directed, believe in nature. However aboriginal people don’t believe that a small thing such as a rock could possess a soul. A good point in the religion is that it is egalitarian, providing equal rights and opportunities to everybody. There is no gender discrimination which can be adopted into other religions. Whereas, in the other religions there are strict conditions on clothing, diet, how to do everyday tasks and so on. The love of nature, and the unity would also be a point that could be adopted which would make everybody more caring and humble towards each other, instead of dividing up into different sects and fighting over beliefs. Average of ratings: - Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Ronda Harrison - Tuesday, 21 June 2016, 8:25 PM The similarities between Aboriginal traditions and other world religions include the fact that there are rituals or practices for important beliefs within Aboriginal tribes. Some of these rituals include ceremonies such as the Sundance or Rain dance. Another similarity is the fact that, although they do not worship any specific gods, they do show respect to spirits that are in every living being. Also, the central core values of tribes such as the Lakota can also be seen within most other religions. Generosity, in the form of helping neighbours or giving back is one. The second would be fortitude which could also be found in religions such as Christianity or Islam. Even Judaism, because of persecution, could be seen as having fortitude. With the third, bravery, one thinks of the Sharia Law(which gives specific instructions on how and when to act) and the practice of Jihad within Islam. Wisdom, as the fourth core value, talks about how learning from experience and age allows wisdom to grow. Most religions talk about wisdom and having a balanced life within their religious beliefs. Another similarity is the idea of Shaman which is similar to a Priest, or Monk. These people are interpreters of sorts and are knowledgeable in their religion. Some differences include the fact that they don't necessarily subscribe to the belief in any one God and do not believe that one person or prophet came to talk about what God had instructed his people to do as in the case of Jesus or Allah. Another important difference is the worship and belief that a soul was universal and that it could move from one body to another or a body to an object. There is also a belief that is grounded in climate and nature. It is important to Aboriginals to not waste and when there was an animal killed, you used all of and leave nothing to waste. Aboriginals had the mentality of the whole rather than individual where a religion such as Buddhism is concerned with the individual. The practice of thinking as a whole group, rather than more individually would be the first step in helping to improve other religions. Also, more emphasis on the surroundings and seeing "God" in each and every thing surrounding us in our environment would also improve other religions. Instead of focusing on how each "God" is superior and fighting in the name of God, maybe learning to live with what is around us(ie:the environment or differences of religion) and gain some tolerance would be helpful. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Mohammed Jafar Alribh - Wednesday, 22 June 2016, 6:23 PM Hi Ronda, I totally agree with your point that seeing God in the nature and objects around might improve other religions. Most religions focus on believing in a God they have not seen themselves, like in Islam and Judaism. Adapting such a concept might help them see things in a more spiritual way and this way they can be religious in everyday life. Regards, Mohammed Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Alexandra Burnett - Tuesday, 21 June 2016, 9:28 PM There are many similarities between Aboriginal religions and the other religions that we have study. A large number of spirits that represent humans and animals are key in Aboriginal traditions. This is similar to the large number of deities that are seen in Hindu cultures and traditions. In Aboriginal religions, a Shaman is used as a guide and interpreter in many societal groups, this is similar to the Shinto faith as Shamans are common in this faith as well. Since there are no official sacred texts in Aboriginal religions such as the bible, transmission of knowledge is mainly relied on by word of mouth and is passed down through generations. Not relying so heavily on a sacred text is something that could improve other religions, as many of these texts are centuries old. For example, there are many passages in the bible and other texts that can be interpreted as discrimination towards minorities, such as the LGBTQ community. The Aboriginal tradition of interacting with spirits shows the significance of death in these cultures. Rituals for sending loved ones who have passed into the spirit world are also significant in Hinduism and Buddhism. Last, but not least, is the fact that Indigenous cultures have faced repression, which many other religions we have studied so far have experienced as well. One important example of this is the Jewish people of Judaism, they have a large and significant history of repression. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Orrin Wick - Tuesday, 21 June 2016, 9:36 PM Similarities that I saw through my studies of the aboriginal faith that made me think of other religions were as follows. The aboriginal people have spiritual people, shamans, which are similar to priests and prophets of other worldly religions in my mind. The aboriginals used stories to pass down their religious beliefs and this is also similar to other religions. One of the differences was that the aboriginal people mainly told the stories passing them from generation to generation instead of having a religious book made to hold their stories. The aboriginals believed in reincarnation of the person into other natural entities, which translates to a few religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism. The religion also has a creation era where the deities created everything in the known world and the aboriginals have ceremonies as well to pray to the deities, both of which are common in other religions as well.

Although differences may vary from religion to religion the aboriginal faith seemed to share similar qualities with almost every religion we covered in this course, although I have only mentioned a few traits shared amongst religions above. The differences I could find are that the aboriginal religion has a more substantial amount of deities than other religions. Another difference I found was that not all aboriginal tribes shared the same belief, which creates the largest religion that has so many different branches of beliefs, whereas all are considered similar to each other, but they are still considered to be different by their people. Other differences include not wasting any resource they have been given by the grace of their deity, and their respect for the earth in same regards of not wasting resources they have been given. The one major point that I have always understood through my learning of aboriginal people has always been the fact that they do not waste what they have been given, and their respect for the earth. These are probably the two points I would take and try to implement into other religions to improve those religions. A smaller trait I would take would be the hamblechiya , that the aboriginals went through, which left a person in isolation to discover themselves. Although I do not know how this would be done in today’s society, I think that most people in today’s society figure themselves out at a late moment in their lives and the hamblechiya would be beneficial in these regards. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Sean Boczulak - Wednesday, 22 June 2016, 5:13 PM Hey Orrin, I like your point on the hamblechiya being an important thing that should be brought into other religions. To often I think people in the modern world focus on everything around them and fail to focus on themselves for an significant amount of time. I think that this practice also ties into the Aboriginal belief in some degree of self teaching since there are not "hard truths" and most teachings from elders can be interpreted on an individual level. Also, as you pointed out, the full experience of hamblechiya is something hard for myself to imagine in modern society. I think even a less extreme form of this practice should be incorporated in people's lives. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Brayden Folk - Wednesday, 22 June 2016, 9:06 AM Some differences between Aboriginal religions and the religions we have studies so far include: Rather than praying to a certain deity that they cannot see, such as the Christian religion, each group/sect generally believes in a wide variety of different deities that can take the form of a plant or animal, as well as other natural forms. Many of the religions we have studied included one supreme being that is worshipped, that could also take different names. However, in Aboriginal traditions different groups believe in different deities. With respect to the Shinto religion, Aboriginal religions don't believe that all natural objects possess a soul, such as a rock. Some similarities include: Believe in a God or Gods who created people and the environment in a certain creation period. Believe that everything was created during a certain period. These practices/beliefs would improve other religions we have studied in that they believe in many complex natural deities and issues, and respect nature in it's entirety. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Faisal Sabri - Wednesday, 22 June 2016, 1:29 PM Aboriginal religions and other religions have its many distinctive similarities and difference. All religions regardless of its size and supporters strength have its unique beliefs, norm, tradition, practices and rituals. One of the strong differences between aboriginal religions and other religions is that aboriginal religions are inclined to be a part of everyday life but for non native religions seems to be formal institutions and is an addition to their everyday life. Some of the important traits that distinguish aboriginal religions from other religions are that they have a specific geographic location, the use of ritual and artifacts, relatively uniform environment, community involvement, a fluid and firm structure, and faith in a supreme God. At the core of indigenous traditions is a responsiveness of the basic and complete connection of symbolic and material life. Different from various non-aboriginal religions, aboriginal religions or spirituality is not a separate part of life, but is integrated with the life as one, with nature, and with generations gone before. Obviously, religion plays a vital role in the everyday life of people. All religions including aboriginal religions have definite provisions that have an effect on the everyday lives of their followers. For almost every religion, there can be conditions on clothing, diet, how to do everyday tasks and so on. For a lot of religions including Christianity have one holy day of the week but for some indigenous religions, there can be quite a few, and it can vary from week to week. Some of the aboriginal religions believe in several gods or gods used to take an active role in the daily life of humans. In aboriginal religions, customary beliefs are typically passed on in the forms of oral histories, stories, parables and principles, and hinge on face to face teaching. Reference: Aboriginal Culture. (n.d.). Retrieved June 22, 2016, from http://www.aborignalculture.com.au/ Indigenous Peoples. (n.d.). Retrieved June 22, 2016, from http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/aboriginal-people/ Average of ratings: - Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Halar Shahani - Wednesday, 22 June 2016, 11:35 PM Hey Faisal, I like how you summed up the outlook of different aboriginal religions around the world regarding their emphasis on rituals and artifacts and the focus given to community environment. I also believe that the main difference between the aboriginal religions and non-native religions being the institutional aspect associated with the non-native religions. I mean when we think about Christianity, Buddhism we associate physical places of worship and institutions such as a church or a temple whereas native religions provoke a sense being intertwined with nature and harmony and the religion being part of every day life. I mean other religions also emphasise on being how religion should be integrated in our daily lives, however the world religion and everyday life are often not seemed to be observed in conjunction. Going church on a Sunday is a separate duty whereas what happens outside of church might not necessarily have religious purpose to it. Just to clarify this is not a general juxtaposition of these religions, its just how people have developed to adapt to these religions and how large portions of society have subjected to these norms. In addition, I think we can agree that every religion

Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Iliana Roman - Wednesday, 22 June 2016, 2:39 PM If other religions try to imitate aboriginal religions as you said about nature, it will have a big impact in the whole world if we all cooperate to take care of nature, we would see a big change for us, in our climate, in our health and for us and future generations. I agree with you. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Farhima Rahman - Wednesday, 22 June 2016, 2:37 PM Aboriginal religion revolves around the spiritual world of nature. Their beliefs and traditions mainly involve in respecting and nurturing earth, and the land they live in. Although most religions connect themselves with particular divines, whether it is Allah for Muslims, Yahweh for Jews, or the many deities for Hindus, Aboriginals focus on maintaining a spiritual bond with nature instead. They believe that they should protect and give homage to their land because, it provided them with food and shelter. Unlike most religions, Aboriginals do not actually have sacred scriptures, instead they rely on transmitting their traditions through oral messages, stories, and lessons that are passed on from one generation to another. Furthermore, similar to Shintoists who believes in The Kama: an ancient spirit that can be possessed by almost anything from mountains, water, deceased humans, etc. Aboriginals also believe in numerous amount of spirits that are generally in the form of nature and animals. Therefore, although most religions believe in God, Shinto and Aboriginals do not necessarily believe in God, but rather in spirits; with the exception of Hindus who believe in not just one but many deities, and Confucians who do not believe in any God at all, and strictly follows code of conducts and Chinese customs. All religions studied so far, including Aboriginal religion, have specific customs and principles that individuals abide by in order to devote themselves towards their practices, for instance, Muslims' main principle is to follow Allah, acknowledge the Prophets, and abstain from all evil, Buddhists' main principle is to not do harm to any living creatures, Confucians' main principle is to serve and maintain a good relation with society, and Aboriginals' main principle is the respect towards earth. Similarly to most religions, Aboriginals also have particular rituals and ceremonies that they believe will give them purification/peace, and they also have religious leaders that guide them to the right path, such as the Elders and the Shamans. Additionally, in Aboriginal religion, the creation of the world is also described, which is also seen in most religions, except in Confucianism (therefore a difference between Aboriginals and Confucians). I personally believe that one major Aboriginal principle that could improve other religions, is their respect and love towards nature, and their ideology of living in simplicity and unity on earth. This ethic and principle would not only create more harmony among people, but would also encourage individuals to protect the environment, to which most takes granted for. Reference: "Native Spirituality Guide." RCMP . N.p., 12 July 2010. Web. 22 June 2016. <http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/pubs/abo-aut/spirit-spiritualite-eng.htm>. Smith, Derek G. "Indigenous People: Religion". The Canadian Encyclopedia . N.p., 23 July 2015. Web. 22 June 2016. <http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/religion-of-aboriginal-people/>. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Noora Ashrafi - Wednesday, 22 June 2016, 2:58 PM Similarities : Shinto and Aboriginal both believe in numerous gods Hindu and Aboriginal both believe that nature is a big part of religion and it should be respected Confucianism and Aborignal religions have some similarities such as both look upon the improvement of society and the individual themselves. In Aboriginal religions how a person thinks is very important to how the person interacts with others, I found that something very similar showed up while I was studying Confucianism because self- improvement is quite important. Differences Islam and Aboriginal religions are different because Islam only believes in one God Christianity and Aborginal religions are different because Christianity follows a very strict sense of rules while Aboriginal religions are more of a spirituality religion we talked about in the earlier discussion forums. I find that Aboriginal religions are more accepting and don't have as many restrictions as some other religions do. Sikhism and Aboriginal are different because Sikhs usually cover there hair with a turban while in Aboriginal religions long hair is approved and a majority of men usually have long hair and don't cover it. I believe that Shinto and Aboriginal religions can have a positive impact on many other religions. Because with Aboriginal religions it is so vast and there is a reason for everything, also beliefs can be found anywhere such as rivers, trees, because nature is so important. Some Aboriginal practices involve trying to understand nature and how it came to be, meditating is also important because it gives people a chance to find themselves and to focus on their mentality that I don't often see in other religions. Shinto and Aboriginal religions are very self-directed , unlike other religions where there is constant praying to God's and Goddesses, Shinto and Aboriginal religions take some of that pressure off and it works out because people can put focus and time on themselves instead of worrying that they might anger someone else. Learning how to focus on yourself but also not completley abandoning religion is something I think that other religions could benefit from because it lets the individual know that even if they make a mistake it's all right as long as they realize the main cause for it and don't make the same mistake twice. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Samer Dargan - Wednesday, 22 June 2016, 5:27 PM Hi Noora, I like the way you shed the light on how Aboriginal and Shinto tradition can improve other religions by emphasizing that individuals should focus on themselves but not ignore the religion at the same time. This also makes the followers to be more spiritual as a person finds or discovers him/her true self in the process, and it is very important role many religions ignore today. Religions mostly define what is right or wrong, and tell what to do and what not, which seems like standardizing of human beings. By emphasizing individual focus on self, these religions take that role into consideration unlike the other ones. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Syed Farrukh Mukhtar - Wednesday, 22 June 2016, 9:16 PM Hi Noora,

As I understood from my research, the aboriginals do have one God they call him the creator. He is responsible for all things in this earth, and they pray to him. So in my opinion, the Aboriginal religions do believe in one God. On the other hand, I like your insight on the fact that they are not so focused on constant praying and other rituals. They have a wonderful balance of their religion and their everyday life (community). I believe that other religions could use this ideology as it is more freeing and one is less worried about doing things "the proper way". I believe that there are many more aspects that can be learned from the Aboriginal religions and applied to others, such as the status of women. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Jiawei Huo - Wednesday, 22 June 2016, 9:20 PM Hi Noora, I agree most of the points that you mention on the similarities and difference but the contrast between Christianity and Aboriginal religions. I think both Christianity and aboriginal religions have restriction of rules. for example, Christians never eat any meat within blood on top of that while Aboriginal people have to wear some sort of decoration that represents their culture. The restriction of Aboriginal people may not so obvious but it is still there. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Omar Alsaady - Wednesday, 22 June 2016, 3:30 PM Unlike many other religions except Hinduism, Aboriginal religions may not depict belief in one God alone. Instead, it signifies belief in a number of deities. Not only this but Aboriginal people also worship things. These may be deities in tangible form or other things such as leaves, stones etc. This is called Animism which is the belief that all things possess a soul or whatever object created by the deity implies the existence of the deity itself. They are a form of communities like other religions. However, the number of people in one single community is much smaller and because of this it could be characterized as a clan. These people observe their surroundings in order to come up with an explanation for the world with their own theories. This is also known as the dream track which is how aboriginal people understand the world. This is different from other religions in the sense that there is not a specified theory or path that aboriginal people follow like in other religions but make sense of the world with their own understanding of how it works. Also, Aboriginal deities are not characterized by a number of qualities all at once like those in other religions but are instead classified into Creation, Ancestral and Totemic beings. However, there may be a single God that aboriginal people worship just like that in other religions. Hence, the rules surrounding aboriginal religions are less rigid and there is no set way to define these in one unified form. http://www.aboriginalculture.com.au/religion.shtml (Religion and Ceremony, www.aboriginalcullture.com) Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Saeed Alsaqqaee - Wednesday, 22 June 2016, 3:58 PM Aboriginal religions, like all other religions such as Islam and Christianity etc, depict belief in one God. However, this may not be the case in every community. Accordingly, some clans might actually believe in more than one God, a deity or a number of deities. This is similar to Hinduism, which, too has a number of deities. Also, like all other religions, aboriginal religions practice a number of rituals and ceremonies for example the coming of age ceremony celebrated by Judaism as well as Christianity. However, aboriginal communities may be characterized by fewer people unlike the other religions of the world such as Christianity and Islam that have mass following. They believe in the dream track i.e. they apply their own knowledge of the world to understand their surroundings rather than followings one single path. Other than this, aboriginal deities can be characterized into three different categories namely, Creation beings that have created the world and all the landscapes in it, ancestral beings and Totemic beings that are the most original forms of animals or objects. http://www.aboriginalculture.com.au/religion.shtml (Religion and Ceremony, www.aboriginalcullture.com) Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Mohammed Alshammari - Wednesday, 22 June 2016, 4:23 PM When we compare the indigenous tradition of Aboriginals to the other traditions studies in this course, we see many differences and similarities The Chinese religions focus upon worshiping and respecting the ancestors, which mainly reflected in the five relationships of Confucianism. The concept of elders in the aboriginal can be seen somewhat similar to the concept of ancestors in Chinese religions in a sense that they are to be respected and obeyed, as they are the role models for the rest of aboriginal society. However, the elders play a greater role when compared to those in Chinese traditions. Elders are teachers who disseminate knowledge to others, and they are also the law-makers in the tradition, who make just decisions. However, Elders are not solely based on how old someone is with respect to age, and it is defined by wisdom and experience one has. An elder does not only has to teach the tradition, but also has to tell how to live in accord with it, as he/she has already lived through it. In this manner, the tradition of Elders is also similar to but broader than the concept of ancestors in Chinese religions. When we compare the tradition of Daoism to that of Aboriginals, we see that both of them have their own take on nature. Where Daoism focuses upon going with the flow of nature, Indigenous religion focuses upon using it in a just way, which is reflected in the concept of only taking what is wanted. Most of the rituals of aboriginals can be seen to praise the earth and it’s environment, which is also reflected in their rituals of singing and dancing. The number four ritual shows how Aboriginals connect to the nature in a way that there are four directions and four seasons in the world. All the religions including Aboriginal, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam focus upon collective worship. However, Aboriginals prefer that to be done in a circle without any segregation. Whereas Islam and Judaism mainly segregate men and women. When we compare the Aboriginal tradition to that of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, we see that in Aboriginal tradition, human beings are not seen as superior or central to the creation of the universe, it is believed that the universe has been created for everyone and everything equally as it is made for the humans, which is reflected in the Innu culture when they focus on only taking as much as it is needed when it comes to animals, and in their concept of sharing with others. They believe that universe is made equal for everything and every living creature. While on the other hand, in Islam and Christianity, the human beings are central to concept of creation, as it is evident that Bible and Quran both talk about how Adam and Eve were created and sent to the universe from heavens and there is no mention of such creations about animals or other creatures. They are seen to be created for humans. When we compare hinduism and aboriginal tradition, we see that there are many Gods and deities in both religions. However, in aboriginal traditions, these Gods or spirits are believed to be given by one supreme creator or spirit. On the other hand, there are three main Gods in Hinduism who either reincarnate in different forms or have more power over other deities.

Mohammed Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Halar Shahani - Wednesday, 22 June 2016, 5:34 PM Aboriginal (Indigenous) religions vary from region to region in the world. However, Aboriginal religions all have very similar characteristics that are based on living in harmony with the natural order, dances, costumes, masks, ritual traditions, and sacred artifacts (material objects). These practices are part of a people's cultural identity and help them forge a sense of connection with their world. Indigenous religions transmit wisdom, cultural values, and history, not through formal education but through myths, storytelling, drama, and art. Compared to three main Abrahamic Religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, the main difference between these three religions and Aboriginal religions is that Indigenous religions rarely have sacred texts that are used for guidance and belief. Other differences between Aboriginal religions are based on history, how the earth was created, evolution, mans connection with land, our responsibly on this planet and the monotheistic nature of religions. However, there are striking similarities between indigenous religions and Abrahamic religions in the sense of who we as people should be and our connection with our belief. All religions that we have so far studies this year have the same values on how we should treat one and other. All religions we have so far studied and aboriginal religions have this belief that we are to treat others with the same respect that we ought to be treated. Other similarities between aboriginal and other world religions include, coming of age ceremonies such as bar-mitzvahs in Judaism and Walkabouts in Australian indigenous faith systems and also community building ceremonies such as Eid in Islam and Potluck dinners in aboriginal Canadian faiths. All religions are united by the common feature of community growth substantially being more important than individualistic desires and I believe that growth of the community is of prime importance in improving other religions as often Individualistic desires tend to obscure certain humans from seeing the beautiful and true nature of all religions. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Ahmed Altharman - Wednesday, 22 June 2016, 5:39 PM Aboriginal religions require faith in more than one God. These are deities. Aboriginal communities usually small and each community has its own belief and symbol which not only represents the community's belief system but also the deity or deities that the community follows. Aboriginal religions emphasize the love for nature and like Buddhism, are more on the spiritual side depicting an individual's own understanding of the world through their own critical thought and judgement. Also, they require worshiping symbols and things as small as stones, rocks or leaves or even rivers that may, as believed by the aboriginal people, possess a soul specifically that of the deities. These things may even be sacred to the communities because they may consider these to be created by the deities they follow. Furthermore, like other religions, aboriginal communities also celebrate ceremonies and rituals like those of Christianity or Judaism. However, these do not have sacred books or texts such as The Bible, Torah or The Quran. They emphasize love for the surrounding world but also help to critically think which is what should be adopted by other religions in order to improve them. In this way, people will not be following a single path and rigid rules but instead would be able to think on their own, develop their own understanding of the world and hence, be firm on their belief and whatever decision they take and religion they opt for. http://www.aboriginalculture.com.au/religion.shtml (Religion and Ceremony, www.aboriginalcullture.com) Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Noora Ashrafi - Wednesday, 22 June 2016, 9:35 PM Hi Ahmed I agree with your point when you say that they emphasize love for the world which I find something to be very important. It seems as though people forget that the world they are living in won't be the same way forever with the way it is currently being treated. Also it seems necessary to form your own personality and be your own person instead of following rules and becoming a copy of someone else. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Madisson Shearer - Wednesday, 22 June 2016, 5:46 PM In my initial thinking I saw no obvious similarities between Aboriginal religion and the other religions we have studied this semester. But upon deeper investigation I found many similarities and further, I found many differences in and amongst the religions. The first similarity I found was the act of reflecting inward to become closer with their holy spiritual being. In traditional Aboriginal culture young teens are sent out into the forest with minimal food, water, clothing and shelter and are instructed not to come back until they feel they are closer with themselves and with and the world at its fullest sense. The purpose of this activity is to make one's self pitiful before the spirit world and to seek help from a helper. Similarly in Buddhism, young monks are directed to sit and meditate, with no basic necessities as a way to become closer with one's self and to help them on their path to reach Nirvana. The second similarity I found was the respect shown for nature. In Aboriginal Culture nature plays a huge role in the religion. They believe that animals are sacred and should be treated as such. In Hinduism, they also believe animals are sacred and should be treated respectfully and even worshipped. In Hinduism, Cattle are especially treated with care and compassion. One difference I found between Aboriginal religion and Judaism is that Aboriginal culture is told through oral history, while Judaism is told through the use of the Torahs. While both cultures have tradition and rituals they perform, the manner in which they tell their followers is exact opposite. If Aboriginal culture adapted the practice of written history they may be able to retain more of it. Much of traditional Aboriginal culture is lost through translation and time because it is only passed along orally. While religions such as Judaism have retained much of their history because everything was documented in the Torahs. It might benefit Aboriginal culture to adapt and begin to write down their history. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Jessica Pouliot - Wednesday, 22 June 2016, 5:51 PM Similarities:

- All religions believe in spirits or some type of spiritual being - There is the practice or prayer in some way, shape, or form. There are different ways of praying, but it is still similar that there is some type of prayer. - Most religions have a shaman, or someone they look up to religiously - All religions have ceremonies to celebrate either values or beliefs of their certairn religion - All religions praise/worship some type of creator of god. - Something is always sacred in every religion - All religions have religious leaders - Like all religions, Aboriginals have also suffered repression. No matter what the circumstances, everyone has something that they are dealing with Differences; -Aboriginals peoples have traditions, rather than religions. These traditions reflect their culture. - Even though worship a god, it is said tha they believe in deities. rather than a single god. How some practices may improve other religions: Aboriginal people could improve other religions with their example of implementing their traditions rather than practicing a certain religion. Their traditions are religious, but they do not specifically entitle themselves to having a religion (so, I believe).This shows the importance of their culture in many ways, and I think that this is an important thing for religions to do because it could open more doors and make them more comfortable with each other knowing that they are also practicing culture. Yes, religion is important for some, however, I think that Aboriginal "religions" make more sense than the other religions because other the cultural involvement. This may be little confusing, but I believe that there should be more traditional ceremonies to celebrate in order to understand religions a little better. Having traditions mixed with religion could improve other religions by making them more involved with their cultural side. Reading about Aboriginal traditions made more sense to me after reading about all of the other religions because everything was more specific to culture. Religion is a part of a culture, therefore, honoring traditions would be fundamental to understanding all religions better. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Madisson Shearer - Wednesday, 22 June 2016, 5:56 PM In response to Jessica, Interesting post. I had not thought that they do not have a religion as much as they have an set of traditions. It is my understanding that they do indeed have a god, they know as the Creater. The Creater is responsible for the world they live in and as nature is a large part of their religion, they view the Creater with high regard. An example would be when they engage in a traditional rain dance, the rain dance is a ritual/ ceremony to appease the Creater so that the Creater might make it rain. This is my understanding, I could be wrong just as well. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Jessica Pouliot - Wednesday, 22 June 2016, 9:44 PM Hey Madisson, Thanks for this , it made me think and I now agree with you. They do have a god, I was just referring to them having their own separate god. I, too, could also be wrong. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Mohammed Jafar Alribh - Wednesday, 22 June 2016, 6:05 PM The Aboriginal religion can be seen similar and different from the other religions in the world that we have studied. The Aboriginal religions believe in many spirits which can be seen as similar to Hinduism, where there are many Gods and Goddesses. The belief of spirits in objects can be pointed out as a similarity between Shinto and the Aboriginal religion. Another similarity between Shinto and Aboriginal religions is Shamanism, where they interpret dreams and predict future. Both Daoism and Aboriginal religions are concerned about the nature, but Daoism is about letting everything happen naturally, and Aboriginal religion is about giving to the nature and praising it in various ways. Aboriginals thank the nature for giving them food and shelter. Aboriginal tradition can be seen to stand out from other religions in a way that it emphasizes on taking care of nature, which other religions say indirectly, but for aboriginal traditions, it is a main focus. When the Aboriginals gather to worship, they do not have seperate gatherings for men and women like in Islam, which shows how they see everyone equal. Although they have morals and values like other religions, everything is not defined as a sin or a reward, which gives its followers to makes sense of the world themselves. Unlike Islam, Christianity, and Judaism, Aboriginals see everyone equal in the world. There is no negation of homosexuality in aboriginal religions, where homosexuals have been leaders in the past due to being two-spirited, which means they were believed to have traits of both gendres. It is evident from this that how minorities like gays can be seen as superior in this religion. Other religions should learn from this and try to accept homosexuals as christians, muslims, or Jews by looking at the brighter side rather than just the negative one. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Tiffany Klemack - Wednesday, 22 June 2016, 6:11 PM The differences between Aboriginal religions and other religions are that the Aboriginal people believe that all things have a soul, whereas other religions think only people do. This type of animism the Aboriginals have make them feel connected to the earth, and in turn care for it as well. If every religion and everyone viewed the world this way, there could possibly be less environmental damage, global warming and endangered species. The tradition of using sweat lodges is a great idea for the purpose of detoxification, mentally and physically. This ritual would be useful for people who stray away from their "holy" deeds, and expose themselves to harsh environmental stressors. In a way, other religions have this - communion, meditation, confession etc. But I like the idea of physically sweating and the excretion of physical impurities as well.

The values that the aboriginal people have I think are similar to other religions but the specificity of them I think could be embraced by other religions. Bravery. Fortitude, Curiosity and Wisdom are the values of aboriginal religion and I think that worshipping these values could be brought into other religions instead of worshipping only values set by your god. Another is worshipping the creatures and nature, so many people take these resources for granted and I think being able to worship the beauty and function of these things would make a huge difference in our world. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Shelby McGillivray - Wednesday, 22 June 2016, 7:45 PM The Aboriginal religion, like other religions, is characterized by having a God, or Gods, who created people and the surrounding environment. Other religions we have studied only believe in one God, whereas the Aboriginal religion believes in many different deities, who's image is actually recognizable. The Aboriginal religion is much more connected to the Earth, nature, and land than most of the other religions we have studied. The Aboriginal religion has many practices and symbols for the Aboriginal people to follow, most of which relate to nature and land; a lot of the practices are ceremonies, gatherings with many people. Also in the Aboriginal religion, the people are at peace with their own spirituality, everyone has a right to believe how they choose too. The Aboriginal religion is very caring towards to the Earth; nearly all of their rituals/practices involve some sort of nature. If other religions could be as kind to the Earth, and use the Earth's gifts for good, like the Aboriginal religion, it could improve the Earth's environment. Another thing that would improve other religions is having ceremonies where the people can get together and become closer as a group. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Syed Farrukh Mukhtar - Wednesday, 22 June 2016, 7:50 PM There are various beliefs in the Aboriginal religions and there is not one consensus or governing body to bring together a common belief, making it different that most religions. One main difference is that unlike other religions, they do not have a holy or sacred text. What they know and believe has been passed down from generations by oral means, such as stories from the elders. Another difference is that they believe all living things have spirits, even rocks. Many other religions focus more on the human actions and lives, rather than on other living things. Like most religions, Aboriginal religions have myths about creation and have a creator God. Most religions have stories about how they believe the earth came about. The Aboriginal religions also have various ceremonies that they carry out such as the pipe ceremony and the sundance ceremony. This is like worship services for Christians or Puja for Hindus. Many other religions have religious leaders to guide them, for the Aboriginal religious leaders would be Shamans. The Shamans, however, are believed to be able to communicate with spirits and could interpret dreams and other experiences to the members of the community. They were also the healers in the community that had knowledge of medicinal plants and rituals to cure the infirm. One of the things we can learn about Aboriginal religions is the fact that they value the land and the interdependence/interconnectedness of the natural world. Although many religions value mother earth, their main focus is the development of the individual, and they place less focus on the present world. For Aboriginals, however, they believe that it is important to have a connection with the land as everything in nature is dependent on one another. Ecology is a very sacred topic for them. I believe other religions could focus a lot more of their teaching on the importance of the earth, making humans more aware of their impact in the world. This way individuals could learn to respect animals and to not exploit the earth, as we are doing presently. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Orrin Wick - Wednesday, 22 June 2016, 8:47 PM I found that there was some debate in the replies as to whether the aboriginals believed in gods or that there was a difference between gods and the aboriginal deities which were considered more beings of nature and spiritual. My original post did not include any written portions of the aboriginal gods, rather focusing around calling them deities and referencing the belief of deities similar to other religions beliefs in deities as well. In respect to some other religions, God is the supreme being of those religions. Other gods in other religions can be spiritual or natural or both. So in my mind, the difference between religious gods and aboriginal’s deities are not that different at all. It seems to me just a common misunderstanding when a person starts talking about God we refer to the only all-powerful being of a particular religion. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Ashley Landers - Wednesday, 22 June 2016, 8:59 PM Aboriginal religious traditions seem to have more in common with religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism and Shinto, where there is the belief in more than one god/goddess or the belief in spirits, as opposed to Christianity, Judaism and Islam which are all very monotheistic, with the exclusion of saints and the like, which are prayed to in some circumstances. The concept of the Shamen is quite similar to the concepts of pastors, priests, rabbis and imams in the Abrahamic traditions, all being seen as spiritual leaders and guides within their respective faith traditions. The connection to the earth and the environment found within most Aboriginal religious traditions is quite unique, there are similar concepts within Hinduism and Buddhism, but not to the same extent as in Aboriginal faith traditions. In terms of how Aboriginal religious traditions and beliefs might improve the others we have studied over the course of the semester, I think that Judaism and Christianity could benefit from some of these teachings. In the Judeo-Christian traditions there is the idea that we as human have domain over the earth, that it and everything on it was given to us to rule over. In Aboriginal traditions there is the notion that the earth and all its creatures are sacred and should be treated as such. Not only are they sacred, but they contain energy and all these energies are connected and have inherent value. There are also many religions such as Judaism and Buddhism where people are separated during certain ceremonies or rituals on the basis of characteristics such as gender and many religions including there where women are viewed as less than or not able to access the same spiritual knowledge as men. In Aboriginal traditions the genders are seen are complementary, one is needed to balance out the other and both are equal, no one is more privileged than the other, something that the other religious traditions we have studied could learn from. Source Anderson, Leona, ed. Introduction to Religious Studies. 4th ed. Regina. U of Regina. 2010. Link to this post | Show parent

Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Jill Jacobson - Wednesday, 22 June 2016, 9:30 PM Aboriginal religions focus on the role of the natural world. They worship spirits and believe that spirits are in all creatures and nature in the universe. This is unlike Christianity, which believes that only humans have souls and that the Holy Spirit is the one spirit who is with us to guide us. Judaism and Christianity also believe that humans have dominion over the earth, whereas Aboriginal traditions treat even their prey with reverence, saying that it is giving itself to them. These traditions also involve interacting with spirits. This differs from many in the Muslim faith (excepting Sufis) who don't believe in personal experiences with God. Like many other religions, Aboriginal traditions have ceremonies, and they also pray. However, they don't have gods per say; they have the wakan tanka--a composition of all the powers in the universe, which can be either good or evil. Like Confucianism, they venerate the spirits of the dead. Aboriginal values of generosity, bravery, fortitude, and wisdom would improve other religions, because these values would bring everyone together as a community. The belief that the world is all interconnected might cause society to have more respect for each other and for nature. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Divyakshi Sharma - Wednesday, 22 June 2016, 9:34 PM Aboriginal religion, like many other religions, believes in a God who created people and its’s surroundings. They are very religious and spiritual, but rather than praying to God they cannot see, each group generally believes in a number of different deities, whose image they see in different forms. This form may be that of a particular landscape feature, an image in a rock art shelter, or in a plant or animal form. Praying to one God or more is same between Aboriginal religion and other religions such as Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, Islam etc. but none of this religions pray to landscape or plant form. Like in Judaism, Aboriginal religion too has a coming of age ceremonies for boys and girls. Even the ceremonies are far apart from each other but their core meaning is the same. During the ceremony of a funeral, Aboriginal people paint themselves with white paint and cut themselves to show remorse. Now this custom is very different that funeral customs for other religions, the closest it comes to is in Judaism, where when someone dies people rip apart a piece of cloth which they are wearing to show remorse. Funeral ceremonies in other religion usually include either burial or burning the body. Aboriginal religion like many other religions such as Hinduism believes in afterlife. Aboriginal people involve their environment and surrounding too in everything they do. As they worship their environment, they take care of it and protect it. This is one of the things that other religions can learn from Aboriginal religion. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Saad Saleem - Wednesday, 22 June 2016, 9:56 PM Hi Divyakshi, The way you explained all the different customs like coming of age and burial is very good. They do have a lot of similar customs like other major religion. Hi Syed, I agree with you about the point you made on the way aboriginal people respect land and environment around them, and I agree that other religion do respect the nature but are easy on individuals to respect or protect the environment. If the religions should learn about protecting and conserving the nature. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Saad Saleem - Wednesday, 22 June 2016, 9:39 PM Aboriginal religion consists of diverse complex social and cultural customs and rituals to devote to sacred. There is not a definite Aboriginal Religion as they usually vary from tribes to tribes or from region to region. Due to the diverse nature of their aboriginal peoples, the aboriginal religion is usually based on the characteristic of their surrounding region. Comparing aboriginal religion with other major religions there are few similarities and difference between them. Having a God or other supreme divinities is one of the similarities among these religions. They belief in a Creator who created the world and the their tribes. Similarly they belief in the spirits of living beings, major religions like Christianity and Islam also belief in the spirits and soul of beings. The concept of life after death can be found in these religions too, and how a human being is faced with the judgement for their actions. Celebrations of ritual and different customs are often observed in aboriginal religions like other religions. With a lot of similarities aboriginal religions have some distinct characteristics too. their religion are usually based on the characteristic of their lands and surroundings. This makes them protect the land and the surrounding as a devotion to the sacred. This is one of the difference from other religion. The aboriginal religion could help transform other major religions like Christianity and Islam. If other religion adopt respecting the surrounding landscape or region the world would be less polluted as people would take care and do their part. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Divyakshi Sharma - Wednesday, 22 June 2016, 11:15 PM Hello Saad, I do agree with your point that Aboriginal Religion varies from tribe to tribe. Like many other religions Aboriginal Religion too believes in God as a creator and they worship God in many different way depending from tribe to tribe as they cannot see God. There are many other similarities too between Aboriginal religion and Other religions as you have explained. I liked you point about what other religions can learn from Aboriginal Religion. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Unit 10 (aboriginal religions) by Samantha Lautsch - Wednesday, 22 June 2016, 9:56 PM The first similarity that stuck out to me was that there doesn’t seem to be any one founder of Aboriginal traditions like Hinduism does not have any one founder. The vision seeking in Aboriginal traditions is similar to the enlightenment experience in Buddhism and deprivation of food during this time is similar to what the Buddhist monks practice all the time. One of the major differences that I have noted is that there is no holy book, and they the Aboriginal traditions rely on oral communication to pass down the teachings. Also, as our text points out, one of the major differences between Aboriginal traditions and Judeo-Christian beliefs is that in Aboriginal traditions, animals are places higher than humans in the hierarchy. Aboriginal traditions also believes in the interconnectedness of everything. I believe that this idea of interconnectedness would be valuable to be incorporated into, not only the religions we learned about, but in every aspect of life. I think it’s important to understand how everything we, as humans do, does impact the environment in some way. Link to this post | Show parent