Towards a Dialogue with Traditional Aboriginal Religion
Pacifica Australasian Theological Studies June 1, 1996 DOI: 10.1177/1030570x9600900204 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Citations | 2 |
| Key points | Argues that dialogue with traditional Aboriginal religion requires Westerners to "pass over" into a symbolic, aesthetic mentality, and proposes that Aboriginal religion belongs within the tradition of kataphatic manifestation, so that the sacred mystery is approached as both intra-cosmic Immanence and meta-cosmic Transcendence. |
Abstract
To prepare ourselves as westerners for a dialogue with the traditional Aboriginal religion will demand an ability to “pass over” to what is clearly quite a different mentality. There are two obstacles to this “passing over”. First, where westerners have predominantly developed the intentionality mediation of meaning, Aborigines developed the symbolic or aesthetic mediation of meaning. Secondly, the profoundly metaphorical or aesthetic cast of Aboriginal mentality and their religious experience of cosmic manifestations is at odds with western outlook. The Aboriginal religion should be accepted within the tradition of kataphatic manifestation. This understanding should help us accept that the sacred mystery should be approached as intra-cosmic Immanence as well as meta-cosmic Transcendence.