Aboriginal spirituality and ways of knowing.

Much of the scholarly writing on Indigenous religion examines the different 'ways of knowing' involved in certain types of spiritualities. This is excellent, as it gives a firm and realistic context to the study of Indigenous religion, which would probably otherwise be lacking. The problem is that this discussion of different ways of knowing does not occur in everyday transfer of information. That is, it is not discussed in any depth in the media.

This makes it very difficult for an accurate transference of understanding between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.The case study in Aboriginal spirituality in a new age is a good example of this. Silas, Wolmbey, because he had been brought up in Indigenous tradition of knowing, was able to accept two very different faiths at the same time. It was easy for him to reconcile the Christian idea of heaven and hell with the idea of Onchen, the place of the dead. For people who had not grown up with the Wik spirituality, though, the idea that an Indigenous faith and a Christian faith could amalgamate so easily was difficult to believe. This is due to a lack of communication regarding the ways of knowing practised by Indigenous people. The everyday media does not discuss it when dealing with Aboriginal religion.

Perhaps the media is not the best place for this phenomenon to be discussed. In the absence of a better arena which is still accessed by the vast majority of the population, however, it is the only conceivable option. 

Sutton, P. (2010). Aboriginal spirituality in a new age. The Australian Journal of Anthropology, 21: 71-89.