Click on the following link and read the Aboriginal Creation Story:
http://www.dreamtime.net.au/creation/text.htm
Then read the following extracts from the Book of Genesis:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=1&chapter=1&version=31
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=1&chapter=2&version=31
Post your compare and contrast between the Australian Aboriginal and the Judao-Christian Origin Stories below.
I look forward to reading and discussing with you your observations.
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The Origin story
ReplyDeleteThere are many different lands languages and customs within the aboriginals. However in a nut shell, all aboriginals believe that the universe was founded in the dreaming stories of creation.
The stories that are passed down vary from one region to the other, but the heart of the story consists of a founding story which follows the general pattern.
The catholic story of creation can be mostly found in the book of genesis. 001:001 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. The book of genesis through its chapters discusses different aspects of the world being created.
In a nut shell god created the world in 6 days and on the seventh he rested.
Similarities between the stories are:
1. Before creation the world was in a state of nothingness.
2. Then both beings created the world and everything in it.
3. They both created man and women to begin the cycle of descendents
4. Each person has a destiny
Differences include:
1. There is spirits in the aboriginal stories, in the catholic version there is god
2. Aboriginals believe that the dreaming created the universe, however Catholics believe the one god created it.
3. People who are created are given a spate ancestor, Catholics are not. They have the only 1 god
4. People in the dreaming were made as different people, IE ( “ some of these sprits were original heroes”) . Catholics were all created equally
5. The sprits that are being created can be formed into flora or fauna. God created man and plant separately.
In simple terms each religion has their own distinct way of creation. Aboriginals believe that the dreaming and its many stories shape morals and ethics throughout their many communities.
The aboriginals believe that spiritual ancestors transformed the world from nothingness, to thriving pools and fields. Catholics believe that the one god created the universe and all in it in seven days. The book of Genesis is a example of the aboriginals dreaming. They both shape and teach what the universe is all about and how it was created.
The dreaming and the catholic views are two completely different terms.
However the origins in each religion can be somewhat similar. The both believe in a being of supreme power creating the universe and all in it. And to this day these morals are still be taught and recited
Melad Najem 11C
Andrew Ma
ReplyDeleteCreation
Since the dawn of time, the human race has asked itself one question.
“Who are we? And Where Did we come from”.
One of the roles of religion is to provide a response, an answer to these fundamental questions of existence. In this world today exist many cultures and religions and each religion has its own Religious Response to this fundamental question of existence.
Two examples of these answers to existence are the Christian-Jewish Creation Story from the book of Genesis and The Dreaming from the traditional culture of Aboriginal Australians.
The book of Genesis:
God created the universe over the course of 7 days, first God created light, he divided the light in day and night, he made the sun to govern the day and the moon to govern the night. Then he created the heavens and the earth and then he populates the worlds animals and plants. Last of all he creates man in his image and breathes into them his breath of life.
The Aboriginal Dreamtime story of creation:
Before time began, the earth was shapeless, dark and desolate, but then came the Dreaming where Ancient Spirit Ancestors awoke from slumber and began to shape the land, creating all the worlds’ natural features that people see today. The spirits also adopted the appearances of plants, animals and human beings alike, and in doing so they founded their line of descendants. Eventually they become weary and returned to their eternal sleep, however to this day they continue to shape and change the land.
These examples of creation stories share many similarities and differences though they are both largely based on the same concept, where higher beings with supernatural powers created all the worlds’ natural features, plants, animals and human beings alike.
Some Differences between the Christian-Jewish and Aboriginal Australia Creation story are that the creators of the universe are portrayed differently, in the Genesis Story there is one single creator who is god, whereas in the Aboriginal Dreamtime Story the world is created by numerous Ancestor spirits, who each created a certain feature of the world.
Unlike the Christian-Jewish creation story the Aboriginal Australian story states that creation is an ongoing process where the Ancestral Spirits are still alive, and that they are both powerful and conscious.
The aboriginal story also states that the Ancestral Spirits awoke when the earth was already formed meaning they may have created the features of the earth not the earth itself whereas the Christian-Jewish story states that God created the heavens and the earth.
Despite the numerous biblical explanations of the universes’ creation and the creation stories of other religions, the origin of the universe will remain a mystery and the fundamental questions of existence may never be truly answered.
The creation story varies greatly between religions however in particular the Aboriginal story and the story of creations that is seen through the Roman Catholic Church.
ReplyDeleteOne of the major differences between the two religions in reference to the creation story is the adaptations of the stories throughout time. The Roman Catholic Church has maintained the one constant story that has been past down throughout the history of this world, as the bible has remained constant with no adaptations to the passages.
With the Aborigines the story is perceived differently; therefore changed throughout the different language regions of the one religion. The story has been edited and changed as it has been passed down through generations. Although the general idea has remained constant the stories told vary greatly.
Another main difference between the two religions is that with the Aboriginal story; the universe was created from not only one person but a combined effort from many different ‘supernatural’ beings. As each supernatural being – or spirit as it was referred to as created another sacred site; stories would be created in order to explain the establishment of these sites.
Whereas with direct contrast the Roman Catholic religion believe that the universe was in fact created by one figure (God); but also that it was created in seven days. While the Aborigines believe that the universe is constantly being created and so never reference as to how long it took for the entire universe to be established by these ancestors or supernatural beings.
In comparing the two religions there are also some similarities; such as the fact that both religions believe that it was the creators of this universe that sets laws. The Aboriginal religion believe that these ancestors or ‘supernatural beings’ give the living species there specific laws or way of life. The Roman Catholic religion also believe that God set out his set of laws for life too; such as the 10 commandments.
“Original Aboriginal Dreamtime”
ReplyDeleteThere are many similarities and differences between how the Catholic religion and the dreamtime came to be created.
One similarity between these two beliefs is that before time began there was only a formless mass of dark and featureless matter. In the Catholic religion God took 6 days to create the Earth and rested on the seventh day, whereas in the dreamtime the spirit ancestors arose from out of their eternal sleep and this was when life began.
Another similarity between these two beginnings is that both believe that a force greater than their own created the universe and is responsible for living beings. This is because most religions are created to try and explain events that are impossible to explain in any other form.
Aboriginals believe that their spirits come from the Earth and live as one with them. They also think of caves, waterholes and rock formations as scared places because they believe that those were the places where the spirits first emerged. They honour the land more than their spirits because they believe that they belong to the land, not that the land belongs to them. This is often why you will hear aboriginals calling the land their “mother”, it means that the land is sacred to them. In the Catholic religion, God is responsible for all creation and he watches over us from heaven.
Aboriginals do not believe in original sun, whereas Catholics believe in the story of Adam and Eve and that everybody has been born with their sin. We believe that we are supposed to spend our whole lives repenting for the sin that Adam and Eve performed.
Aboriginal dreamtime stories vary from tribe to tribe because they are carried on from generation to generation orally. The dreamtime stories do not believe in one God, they are polytheists whereas the Catholics are monotheists.
Both of these religions formed these hypotheses about how the universe was created to explain how the land came to be shaped and inhabited; how to behave and why and where to find certain foods.
Eloise Cook 11 Chavoin
The creation stories told by the Australian Aboriginal and Judeo-Christian religions vary greatly in the manner in which they are told. However, there are many similarities and differences to both stories that are not immediately obvious.
ReplyDeleteThe Australian Aboriginals believe that before creation, there was nothing. The earth was bare until the spirit in the sky “Gunthi-Gunthi” decided to create a land in which animals and people could live. This is very similar to the Judeo-Christian belief that the land was dark and empty before God created the earth. In the Judeo-Christian story, God is the equivalent of the “spirit in the sky”; another similarity.
The method of creation in both stories also has its similarities. For instance, the Australian Aboriginals believe that Gunthi-Gunthi used a series of commands to shape the land into the various forms we see today. In comparison, the Judeo-Christians believe that God would instruct the earth to take on various shapes, therefore shaping the land. An example of this is, “‘Let there be an expanse…to separate water from water’. So God…separated the water under the expanse from the water above it”.
Although both creation stories agree that a supreme being was the source of creation, the Aboriginal story varies slightly. The Australian Aboriginals believe that once Gunthi-Gunthi shaped the land, he freed the water serpent Weowie to create the waterways. The Judeo-Christian story follows the belief that God was the sole creator of the whole earth.
The creation of humans is another feature that both stories have in common. The Aboriginal creation story says that Gunthi-Gunthi created two tribes of people in the beginning: the Eaglehawk and Crow tribes. This is similar to the Judeo-Christian story, which says that God created two beings in the beginning: one being Adam and the other Eve. In both religions, the two first tribes/beings were the beginning of the human race as it stands today.
Despite the many similarities between the two creation stories, there are also many differences. An example of one is the difference in the land being created. The Aboriginal story focuses on the creation of Australia while the Judeo-Christian story focuses on the creation of the entire world and heavens. Another difference is the fact that the Aboriginal story is mainly about the creation of the physical land, while the Christian story includes the creation of plants and animals. The final difference between the two stories is that fact that when Gunthi-Gunthi created the land, he drew boundaries for the people, while God created a land with no boundaries.
The creation stories of the Judeo-Christians and the Australian Aboriginals were written in very different time periods and reflect different ideals. However, when you find the heart of each story, it becomes clear that both are very similar.
By Madeline Richardson
11 Studies of Religion
Mr Bosco
Compare and Contrast Creation Stories activity:
ReplyDeleteBy Benjamin Plummer
Mr Bosco’s Yr 11 Class
Creation stories have long been a way for human beings to explain the existence of life, the universe, and everything. Creation stories are generally of a religious nature and give answers to the aforementioned, imponderable questions. Both Judeo-Christians and the indigenous peoples of Australia, the Aboriginals, have their own creation stories. While these differ in some ways, they both essentially explain the same thing, the existence of the universe.
Aboriginal Australians believe that in the ‘beginning’ as the time before time is called in creation stories, the land was empty and desolate, devoid of all life until the great spirit Guthi-guthi decided to create a place for “birds and animal to live”. To achieve this he released the water serpent Weowie to bring life to the land. This is similar to the story told by Judeo-Christian peoples who believe that there was nothing until God decided to create the universe, Earth, and life. Man, created in the image of God.
Both Judeo-Christian peoples and Aboriginals believe that the world was created by a ‘supreme-being’ in the case of Judeo-Christians, God, and in the case of Aboriginals, Spirits like Guthi-guthi and Weowie. Judeo-Christians call their creation story the book of Genesis, and have it in written form. Aboriginals on the other hand, call their creation story the ‘Dreamtime’ and have it in the form of oral traditions passed down from generation to generation.
Another difference between the Aboriginal and the Judeo-Christian creation stories is that the Aboriginal story speaks mainly about Australia, making reference to Australian landmarks and Australian Aboriginal tribes. The Judeo-Christian creation story however speaks about the creation of the universe, the planets and the creation of man. And, unlike the Aboriginal creation story which speaks of “tribe” indicating the creation of several people, the Judeo-Christian story tells of only one man, and later one woman.
While both the “Book of Genesis” and the Aboriginal ‘Dreamtime’ were created in very different circumstances, and by different peoples, with different cultures and for different belief systems, and on different sides of the globe, it is clear that at heart they are the same thing; a way for humans to explain the unfathomable mystery of why we are here, and how we came to be here in the first place.
Creation
ReplyDeleteBoth; Aboriginal Australian views and Judeo-Christian views on creation are extremely different. Aborigines believe the world was created during the dreaming, by several God- like spirits and Judeo-Christian believe that God created the world. Even with two completely different answers to the most basic questions of human existence: Who am I?, Why is there evil, pain and suffering? and Is there life after death?, they also have some similarities.
The Judeo-Christian story of creation is written within their holy book, ‘the Bible’. In the Book of Genesis, the story of creation is said to have been work of one God and done over seven days, the seventh day being the day of rest after six full days in which the world was created.
The Aboriginal Australian stories of creation come from ‘the Dreaming’. These stories of creation are not written down, but passed on by word of mouth. In the Dreaming stories, their spirit ancestors created; landforms, animals, plants and water sources and all other aspects of the world. Some are the stories of the Rainbow Serpent, Water Serpent and many other dreaming stories of creation exist.
One major difference between Aboriginal Australians and Judeo-Christians views on creation is that of the argument of monotheistic vs. polytheistic (God vs. Gods). As stated above, Aboriginal Australians believe that their many spirit ancestors created the worlds and Judeo-Christians believe the there is only one God. Another difference is that Judeo-Christians believe that their God created the world in a six day time slot; whereas Aboriginal Australians believe that the creation process is ongoing, as they believe that their spirit ancestors are still roaming their lands. Whilst these may be major contributing differences, both religions are trying to and succeed in joining the natural with the supernatural.
One major similarity is that even though the two views are different, they are both methods that are being used by Aborigines and Judeo-Christians to bridge together their transcendent dimension and their immanent dimension. In both spiritualities whilst trying to answer the question of human existence, they believe in their own version of the story of creation, which in the end is detailing the creation of the same world which they both share.
By: Dona Adikari, 11 Ludovic
Comparing and Contrasting the Origin Story of the Aboriginal Australians with the Catholic Views
ReplyDeleteDominic Centrone
Yr 11 Religion
Mr. Bosco
Both stories of creation share the same belief, in which is there is a godly spirit that has come down and seen the bare land before him/her.
The similarities in both of the stories:
• Share the same belief (as stated in the first line).
• The land before them was bare and empty with no form of life or formation.
• Both spirits created life and formation from the emptiness.
Now it is after the Spirit / God came down that makes the difference.
The differences are:
• In the Catholic view there is only one God that created everything in seven days, while in the Aboriginal Australian version one spirit came down and then had to awake another spirit to create the water. Therefore the difference is the amount of spirits that were used to create the earth.
• As said before ‘God’ created the earth in seven days while there is no specified time in which ‘Guthi-guthi’ formed the land and called upon ‘Weowie’ (The Water Serpent).
• The Catholic version explains in more detail what ‘God’ had created while the Aboriginal Australian version is brief.
• The Aboriginal Australians explain that Guthi-guthi made two tribes and placed them on the earth while ‘God’ made images of himself and then blessed them and told them the things they needed to know.
So as you can see the essence of the story is the same but it is the little variations that make all of the difference. Although the Christian side of the story has been put in the bible and been passed down throughout the years so the story has not changed. With the Aboriginal Australian’s they pass on their origins through arts and word of mouth so we cannot be sure if the story that is being told is the same for every tribe as some may have added in their own twists and beliefs.
So overall the creation story is important in both ‘The Dreaming’ and The Book of Genesis in the Bible. Both are important to their respective religions and those are the main similarities and difference between the two stories.
Comparing and Contrasting the Origin Story of the Aboriginal Australians with the Catholic Views
ReplyDeleteThe first Australian aboriginals were considered hunter-gatherer people and are believed to have arrived at least sixty thousand years ago from south East Asia. However the origin of the Catholics is rather different as they believe they originated from Jesus Christ. The Catholic Church teaches its believers that it was founded by Jesus Christ through peter the apostle. This differs from the Australian aborigines as they believe they have been here from the beginning. The Latin term for this is ab oringine.
In the beginning of time aborigines adapted to the unique food and climate Australia had to offer. To not completely wipe out the food source the aborigines gradually spread out across the land; finding ways to survive, even in the harshest environments. Though the development of aborigines’, they began to stick together in what was called “mobs”. In time customs were made and ceremonies for different occasions. In this particular culture the amount of knowledge one knew depended on their, age, and status of their family relationship to certain sites.
Australian aborigines’ religion is based on the “dreamtime”. It is considered the essence of aboriginal beliefs about creation and the spiritual and physical existence which supposably gives meaning to all aspects of life.
Compared to the Catholic Church there is a vast difference. The Catholic Church has traditionally regulated the type of Bible translation used in the church. This is not apparent in the Australian aboriginal’s origin. The Eucharist is the central act of worship and Catholics believe that Jesus is physically present in the bread and wine.
Catholics do not believe in dreamtime stories however Catholicism stresses a sacramental view of human existence and also church life.
In relation to aboriginals knowledge in reference to their age, gender etc, the catholic church does not follow the same custom however it does show some similarity in the rules of priest hood. To be in priest hood one must be male and unwed however the church does not exclude those whom are widowed.
In conclusion the two origins of both these cultures/religion have vast differences and few similarities.
The Judao-Christian and Australian Aboriginal creation myths have many similarities in conjunction with their differences. A similarity between both myths, as well as most creation stories is the idea of a supernatural being, (in this case God or Guthi Guthi) shaping and making the world as we know it from scratch. This perplexing idea then forms a firm belief and link to the transcendent dimension and helps explain the mysteries of life.
ReplyDeleteWhen God created the world he did it in 6 days and rested on the 7th, hence the importance of the Sabbath day to recognise the great work of God. When Guthi Guthi created the special land for all to live on, he outlined the boundaries of sacred sights and the birthplace of all the Dreamings. Both ensure that the creator of the world and everything in it is remembered, be it on a day of rest or when walking past a sacred place.
Both stories also show traces of the beginning of all human existence. God created Adam and Eve the same way Guthi Guthi created the Eaglehawk and Crow tribes. Both myths say that everyone in the world has come to be because of these ancestors, the original beings or tribes. Each show that all believers are related; brothers and sisters, sons and daughters of God and sub-groups of Eaglehawk and Crow.
Although both creation myths show a supernatural influence over the creation of the world there is a distinctive difference. In the Judao-Christian creation story it is God who creates the world and everything in it. Whereas, in the Australian Aboriginal myth Guthi Guthi shapes the land the then releases Weowie the water serpent to make streams, waterholes and the like. The difference being that the Judao-Christian story is in every respect monotheistic, that is, believes in one god. On the other hand the Australian Aboriginal story shows that the belief system is a polytheistic one, that is, believes in multiple gods.
Another similarity between the stories which is the same for all creation stories is that it is used to explain the unexplainable natural phenomenon and the questions asked by most humans including “how did I get here?” and “how did that come to be?”, via the use of the supernatural.
The major difference between the stories is apparent mainly because of where they come from. The Australian Aboriginal belief is a very localised, oral and informal system and hence has many variations in the way the creation myth is passed down from each generation to the next due to tribal languages and interpretations. Alternatively the Judao-Christian religions are very main stream and are represented all over the world by many different people, they pass the creation myth down via the book of Genesis which is still the same as it was thousands of years ago and is not interpreted differently due to geographical location or native language.
Both the Judao-Christian and Australian Aboriginal creation myths have many differences. However, once you tear each down to its core values you can see that they are both used in an attempt to create a sense of understanding, trust, faith and wellbeing among their followers by explaining the unexplainable natural phenomenon as best they can.
Steven Vail 11 Xavier
Kim
ReplyDelete11 Chavoin
The question as to how our universe was initially created is one which all religions give their own unique answer to. When looking at the similarities and differences between the origin story from the Catholic perspective and the Australian Aboriginal perspective, many observations can be made.
The basic Dreamtime story of creation (although it varies in detail from tribe to tribe), is that before time started, all there was, was plain, dark matter. Then, the Dreaming came, and the first spirit ancestors arose from eternal sleep within the earth. Landscape features such as caves and waterholes were considered to be sacred sites. From here, the spirit ancestors became various beings such as humans and animals. These spiritual creatures created the world we see today, arranging nature into an orderly fashion. Now, each and every landmark has a Dreamtime story behind it.
The Catholic faith however, believes that God created the world in seven days. On the first day, God created light, enabling a distinction between night and day. On the second day, God created the sky to separate it from water. On the third day, God created land, sea and vegetation. On the fourth day, God created the sun and moon so that time could be measured. On the fifth day, God created all birds and sea creatures. On the sixth day, God filled His land with living creatures, including male and female. God rested on the seventh day, and mankind evolved from here.
Some similarities between the Dreamtime story of origin and the catholic story of origin are the ways in which the entire world was created by a supernatural being. This being has no face, no specific name, and no physical features. Also, the element of the transcendental dimension is prominent throughout both stories.
There are many differences between the Catholic story and the Dreamtime story of origin. For instance, the dreamers believe that all land, human and animal beings are created equal and therefore be treated with equal value. The Catholics however, believe that humans were made in the image of God and therefore are superior to any other creature on earth. Also, the Aboriginal Australians believe that there were multiple spirit ancestors that created their physical world, whereas Catholics believe that it was God and God alone who made the universe.
Overall, the Catholics and Aboriginal Australians both have stories of creation reaching beyond the immanent dimension, however each religion has its own detailed story to tell the tale of origin.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteKris O.
ReplyDeleteDifferences/Similarities of the Aboriginal and Catholic Religion.
The Aboriginals believe that all was created through during the 'dreamtime'. These dreamtime stories are about the story of creation, and how animals were created by the "Guthi-Guthi" spirit.
The Catholics believe that God created the earth in seven days and that he created all living things and human beings. According the Genesis, each day God created a part of the earth ranging from livestock and vegetation. "Let the land produce vegetation", is a direct quote from the bible.
As you can see, the Catholic version of creation is very well detailed and thought out. Along with the rest of the bible, the Genesis details the entire story, filled with informative words and well structured passages. The Aboriginal stories are quite brief and less structured, as they are not placed in a particular book which is written according to time.
These stories contradict because the Catholics believe that God created the earth within one week whereas the Aboriginals believe that the Earth was created by a spirit over period in time. It is also that the Aboriginal stories relate generally to just Australia, whereas Catholic's creation story is aimed at all over Earth.
They are similar because they both believe that prior to their stories of 'creation', there was nothing/nobody on Earth, or their homeland. They are also relate due to the fact, they both believe that a spirit or person was responsible for such creation.
Overall, they both have their own stories about creation. The Aboriginal story of creation is more laid back, and native, whereas the Catholics creation story comes across as more 'powerful', strong, and planned out.
Aboriginal VS Judao-Christian Origin Stories
ReplyDeleteDaniel Deed
10 Paul
Throughout history there have been many different religions and spiritual stories on the creation of the Earth and all the different life and land that the Earth consists of. By comparison these stories have some similarities and also many differences. This can be seen through the comparison of two entirely different spiritual origin stories, the story of genesis from the bible and the origin story of the Indigenous Australians known as the “Dreaming” or “Dreamtime”.
In comparison these two stories of creation have many differences between them but if they are analyzed closely it can be seen that there are also some similarities even though they were created at different times in completely different parts of the world. These similarities include the fact that the world was barren with nothing inhabiting it and no life on it at all and then a spirit comes down from the transcendent dimension and decides to create life on the barren planet. Another similarity is the way God, Guthi-guthi and the other spirits are still watching over us.
Also in contrast there many differences in the stories, the fact that according to the Christian view there is one God and in the Aboriginal view in the dreaming there were many spirits who helped in creating the Earth. There is also the difference in the two stories of the way in the Christian perspective man is the ruler of all other animals, plants and the environment. While in the Aboriginal view show humans as equals to the environment and that all land is sacred and should be protected rather than destroyed to keep the spirit ancestors happy. Also the way Genesis writes about Adam and Eve and the original sin that they committed and that everyone is born with, while the Aboriginal beliefs don’t talk of anything like that just to keep the land alive will also keep the spirit ancestors happy and alive.
Those are in my opinion the key similarities and differences in the two spiritual beliefs thought there are more they are the ones I see as the most important ones.
Phoebe Yang
ReplyDeleteJust as many other religions, Aboriginal Dreaming and Christianity also provided answers to how the Earth and humans came into being. There are some similarities and differences between the explanations of these two religions.
The first similarity is that both religions believe that supernatural powers or “spirits” created the Earth and everything in it. The difference is that the Aboriginals’ spirits were named differently from the Judeo-Christian. However, there is a common believe between the two religions that a few powers cooperated in the creation of the Earth. The Aboriginals’ spirits were separate individuals and had different forms and different names, such as Gunthi-Gunthi and Weowie the water serpent. The Judeo-Christian’s creator, on the other hand, is trinity, but known simply as God. Although the pronoun “he” is used most of the time in the passage about creation, there is a place that mentioned God in plural pronoun. Genesis 1: 26 says “The God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness…” This shows that both Aboriginal and Judeo-Christian beliefs are similar in believing there is cooperation of a few powers in the creation of the world.
Both religions also believe that the Earth was bare before creation until the creators decided to create creatures and other features. The difference, however, is that God put man in charge of all the other living things, while there is no specific ranking given by Gunthi-Gunthi. Another difference is that there was communication between God and his creations by speech, while the Aboriginals communicate with their spirits by dreaming.
The two religions also share the belief that divine powers created a place for man to live in: God created the Garden of Eden for Adam and Eve while the spirits created the country for the two tribes of people. They also believe that many other beings came from the first creations.
Although there are some differences in the two religions’ belief of creation, the main idea of creation is pretty much the same: divine powers created the world and the things in it and that living things were produced by the first creations.
Chris Eid
ReplyDeleteMany different religions, whether they are Christian, Jewish, Hindu or even Aboriginal, have their own beliefs and culture. The Australian Aboriginals and the Judeo Christians in this case, have different creation stories on how the Earth came about.
The Australian Aboriginals have, what is called, ‘Dreaming’, which is the centre of the Aboriginal religion. They believe that in the ‘beginning’ (before time began) the Earth, as we know it now, was a formless, uninhabited landmass. Then, the aboriginals believe the spirit ancestors arose and created the landscape. (Monotheistic VS Polytheistic)
However the Christians believe that one God (aboriginals identify them as spirits) created the earth in six days and rested on the seventh.
The creation story to the Aboriginals varies between different societies. For example, if a tribe in the Northern Territory believe two spirits created the animals, but an Aboriginal tribe in South Australia believe four spirits created the animals, this creates diversities between them.
On the other hand, the Christian story of creation has remained the same for thousands of years, it has remained constant and there have been no adaptation in the story.
Another difference between the Aboriginals and the Judeo Christians is that the Aboriginals story articulates mainly about the continent Australia, but on the other hand, the Christian story articulates about the creation of the universe “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness”.
Despite these differences, there are a few important similarities such as; both religions believe the earth was created with set laws. For example Christians have the Ten Commandments. Also both creation stories start by informing us that Earth that we know it today started of empty and uninhabited. Last but not least both creation stories have ‘supreme beings’ (god or spirits) which created what we see today.
The aboriginals believe that the ‘creation story’ is the story of Ngiyaampaa County (or Australia as we know it today).
ReplyDeleteIt is believed that Ngiyaampaa belonged to the tribes – Eaglehawk and Crow and that a spirit named Guthi Guthi, who lived in the sky, was the creator of all lands.
Guthi Guthi same down and created a ‘special hand’ for people and animals. He provided force to split mountains and created water ways. He provided caves for shelter, vegetation for food and running streams and rivers for water.
The Judao-Christians Origin stories tell of a six day task where God set out to create the world. Beginning with Heaven and Earth, he created day and night on day number one. He created the sky on day number two. The land and the seas and the vegetation were created on day number three.
The sun, the moon and the stars were created on day number four.
On day number five, god created creatures of the sea and birds for our skys’.
On the sixth day God created live stock- creatures that moved along the ground.
Finally as his work was nearly done God created man, man in his own image – both male and female.
All his works were blessed and on the seventh day God rested.
The similarities in these stories are that they both believed in one creator who created land and vegetation. Either God or Guthi Guthi and that before this time the land was bare.
The differences between these stories are that the aboriginals only really refer to Australia and the Judao – Christian Origin stories talk about heaven and earth – the world as we know it not just Australia.
The aboriginal stories are not formal at all they are in fact ‘dreamtime’ stories and are rather like childlike fantasies. Whereas the Judao – Christian origin take is more documented, structured and more informative.
To conclude I find it interesting that both the Judao – Christian Origin and the Aboriginals believe in a mighty and powerful creator whether he be called God or Guthi Guthi both believe in the one and mighty creator
In the aboriginal community there are many different types of people and languages through out there society, the aboriginals base their entire existence on the dreamtime stories
ReplyDeleteThey mainly involve animal spirits going and creating the world these types of stories are passed down through generation to generation in the community.
While the Catholics base the creation of the world basically on the stories of genesis where the God created the world in six days and finally rested on the seventh, in the book of genesis it goes through how god created the world an example would be ‘god said let be light and there was light’
So the main similarities are that they both believe that world was nothing that it was absolutely nothing and consisted of no type of life before God or the animal spirits changed the world. They believe that their superiors created everything and that there is no other explanation to it and nothing else could of done it,
There are also great differences with the two religions while the aboriginals believe that the animal spirits created everything and are every where at all times, they believe that the spirits are in everything an example would be a tree. While Catholics believe that god created the world in six days and rested on the seventh.
michael kolotas
Ladies and gentlemen, I am immensely impressed with your work here.
ReplyDeleteIt is very pleasing to see people taking far greater care with their punctuation, spelling and grammar. The careful paragraphing of your thoughts and observations also adds greatly to the clarity of your responses.
The thing that I am most impressed with - some of you have done this and I urge all of you to do this - is to incorporate quotations from your source materials into your responses. It is really the best way in Humanities subjects (RE, English, HSIE subjects) to evidence what you are saying. It adds far greater weight to your response and you should all be doing it.