The Religious Down Under

Australia is a land as old as time, and its inhabitants have

occupied its regions since before history can tell. Religious ceremonies
and tradition have played a great role in that history and in the lives of
the Natives. Although many of the Native Australian Aboriginal people
today have lost touch of their ancient spiritualism, there are some
Aborigines that still practice their ancestral traditions. In contrast to
the Christian belief in one God, the Aboriginal people are Pantheistic,
which means they believe in multiple deities (Welch, n.d.). According
to an article by David Welch titled, Aboriginal Religion and Ceremony
the deities image is often depicted in some tangible, recognizable
form. Even a landscape feature or art in a rock shelter, or plant, or
animal form can be idolized and worshiped (Welch). Re-incarnation of
the spirit or soul, according to Welch, is also part of the Aboriginal
beliefs. He also explains that much of their doctrines and beliefs come
from their ideas of the Creation Period, where every thing was
created by the deities, which have since then, been re-incarnated into
the animals and plants which are interchangeable with human life.

The role of religion in the social development or culture in Australia is

principal. Some cultural norms related to religious beliefs and practices

differ based on region, due to the fact that there are so many different
religions in Australia today. The Australian Census Stats state that over
25% of the population is Catholic, and 22.3% claim no religion (2012).
The same Census also reported that 17.1% claimed Anglican, 5%
followed the United Church, and 2.8% where Presbyterian and other
type of Christian. When focusing specifically on Sydney, the Australian
Census reports regional clusters of religious majority: In the west,
including Auburn and Greenacre it is 30-40% Islamic; Canley Vale
reports over 40% Buddhists; and Dover Heights attributes almost half
of its residents to the Jewish faith. Finally, the 2012 Census tells that in
the APY lands, the dominant faith is Traditional Aboriginal religion.

In many religions, geographical location plays a huge role in spiritual

significance and faith. Much like the birthplace of lord Rama,
(Ayodhaya) for the Hindu, and the birthplace of the Lord Jesus,
(Bethlehem) for the Christian, the Aboriginal people hold dear to their
own sacred places. The article Aboriginal Sacred Sites, by Alice
Springs states any land that, under law of the Northern Territory, is
declared to be sacred to Aboriginals or of significance according to
Aboriginal tradition. Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act
1976, part VII, S.69 Springs clarifies that sacred sites are formed by a
mythological event, and that one must go through initiations before
entering them. It is believed that through ceremonial rituals, the

ancestral being will send out the life energy or spirits of the sacred site
to work with nature to increase a particular species for the season
(Springs). Another interesting fact, according to Alice Springs, is that
sacred sights can also be set apart to be gender specific, and forbidden
to the other gender. In the Northern Territory of Australia there is a
group of more than 30 masses of red rock rising over the desert plain,
they are called Kata Tjuta, and the highest of these red conglomerate
masses is 1500 feet high and called Mount Olga (Witcombe, 1998).
Mount Olga is believed to be home to the snake Wanambi who controls
weather based on his migration, and when he is angry, may cause
hurricanes (Witcombe, 1998).

Connections between religion and the government in Australia are

much like the connection between church and state in the United
States. According to John Warhurst, there is a section in the Australian
Constitution of s. 116 that reads:
The Commonwealth shall not make any law for establishing any
religion, or for imposing any religious observance, or for
prohibiting the free exercise of any religion, and no religious test
shall be required as a qualification for any office or public trust
under the Commonwealth (2006).

This is obviously for the majority of modern Australia, and perhaps not
for the sections of the island that still keep the Aboriginal Traditions. I
assume that religion plays a greater role in Aboriginal politics.

The more I dig into what Australia really is, the more fascinated I
become with its mysterious history and diverse culture. The story of
creation, and belief that Ancient deities have manifested themselves
today, in plant or animal form is as intriguing as the sacred tales of
Mount Olga and Wanambi, the season changer. With such a range of
religions and beliefs, it feels natural that there would be an effort to
separate politics from religion, as to try not to offend anyone. Australia,
with all its beautiful landscapes, sacred mountain ranges, exotic animal
life, myths, legends, spirits, religions and cultures, is filled with as
much color and diversity, as it is surrounded by water.

Sources Cited:
Religion in Australia Mapped. (2012, December 12). Retrieved March
19, 2015, from http://censusstats.blogspot.com/2012/12/religion-inaustralia-mapped.html
Springs, A. (n.d.). Aboriginal Sacred Sights. Retrieved March 19, 2015,
from http://www.mbantua.com.au/sacred-sites/
Welch, D. (n.d.). Aboriginal Religion and Ceremony. Retrieved March 19,
2015, from http://www.aboriginalculture.com.au/religion.shtml

Warhurst, J. (2006, December 1). Religion in 21st Century Australian

National Politics. Retrieved March 19, 2015, from
http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/~/~/~/link.aspx?
_id=EF9C91705EC24F04B6E8D1ECC120DBD8&_z=z
Witcombe, C. (1998, January 1). KATA TJUTA, AUSTRALIA. Retrieved
March 19, 2015, from http://witcombe.sbc.edu/sacredplaces/olgas.html