A brief discussion of my concern over the use of the word "Dreaming"
As an Atheist living in 2016, I'm using my "modern" view of the meaning of "religion", as I live in a time and place where only a tiny minority of christian, Islamic, and other religious extremists believe a religion must apply to one's everyday life (and everyone else's as well, despite their individual beliefs). In the time whites were learning about First Australian spirituaL beliefs, perhaps "religion", like the Dreaming, applied more generally to believers' everyday life. And therefore the word "religion" can be accurately applied to First Australian spiritual beliefs.
I am, however, more dubious about the use of the word "Dreaming" to refer to First Australians' spiritual beliefs and, if you like, religion. However, this is coming from complete ignorance of the meaning of the First Australian words for their beliefs, and whether or not they actually closely translate as something usually rather transient and disconnected from real life one experiences while asleep.
I note, however, that some non-First Australians believe in the importance of dreams as predictors of the future and so on. Insofar as I've never seen any properly tested analysis of this experience, until I do I find it impossible to believe. It's much the same reason I'm Atheist, in fact.
I also note "Dreaming" is the common word used by at least most First Australians, as far as I'm aware, as the correct English-language word for their religion. However, I don't know to what extent they're happy or unhappy with its use in this way, or the extent to which white use of the word, especially white christian missionary use of it, has influenced First Australian usage.
Nonetheless, until I'm shown evidence of the word's suitability and acceptance by First Australians, it remains one with which I have some difficulty.
The fact is, whites rarely regarded First Australian beliefs to be anything but a collection of myths, rather than the basis of a genuine religion, and sadly this is still a very common belief among non-First Australians, a belief thoroughly fostered among us by the christians.
This view, of course, also continues to foster the belief in the view of First Australians as primitive stone-age savages who were not able to develop a true religion, especially not one that applied in general terms to the entire continent.
My suspicion is that associating First Australians' spiritual beliefs with dreams is to belittle them. Whereas, christians might say, the tenets of their christian spiritual beliefs are a reflection of reality, and therefore comprise a genuine religion.
I would prefer to use a First Australian term which more accurately applies to their spiritual beliefs. The problem of course, would be on getting First Australian agreement, considering the only language they hold in common is English!
I am, however, more dubious about the use of the word "Dreaming" to refer to First Australians' spiritual beliefs and, if you like, religion. However, this is coming from complete ignorance of the meaning of the First Australian words for their beliefs, and whether or not they actually closely translate as something usually rather transient and disconnected from real life one experiences while asleep.
I note, however, that some non-First Australians believe in the importance of dreams as predictors of the future and so on. Insofar as I've never seen any properly tested analysis of this experience, until I do I find it impossible to believe. It's much the same reason I'm Atheist, in fact.
I also note "Dreaming" is the common word used by at least most First Australians, as far as I'm aware, as the correct English-language word for their religion. However, I don't know to what extent they're happy or unhappy with its use in this way, or the extent to which white use of the word, especially white christian missionary use of it, has influenced First Australian usage.
Nonetheless, until I'm shown evidence of the word's suitability and acceptance by First Australians, it remains one with which I have some difficulty.
The fact is, whites rarely regarded First Australian beliefs to be anything but a collection of myths, rather than the basis of a genuine religion, and sadly this is still a very common belief among non-First Australians, a belief thoroughly fostered among us by the christians.
This view, of course, also continues to foster the belief in the view of First Australians as primitive stone-age savages who were not able to develop a true religion, especially not one that applied in general terms to the entire continent.
My suspicion is that associating First Australians' spiritual beliefs with dreams is to belittle them. Whereas, christians might say, the tenets of their christian spiritual beliefs are a reflection of reality, and therefore comprise a genuine religion.
I would prefer to use a First Australian term which more accurately applies to their spiritual beliefs. The problem of course, would be on getting First Australian agreement, considering the only language they hold in common is English!