Talk:Australian Aboriginal religion and mythology

The Dreaming
Is it just me, or should this just thrown into Dreamtime (mythology). All Aboriginal mythos is Dreaming isn't it.

Comments?--ZZ 07:59, 11 Sep 2004 (UTC)

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Requested move 11 June 2020

 * The following is a closed discussion of a requested move. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made in a new section on the talk page. Editors desiring to contest the closing decision should consider a move review after discussing it on the closer's talk page. No further edits should be made to this discussion. 

The result of the move request was: Widthdrawn. Pretty evident unanimous opposition once explained. ItsPugle (talk) 01:45, 16 June 2020 (UTC) ItsPugle (talk) 01:45, 16 June 2020 (UTC)

Australian Aboriginal religion and mythology → Australian Aboriginal spirituality – The words religion and mythology are not appropriate terms to use when referring to Australian Aboriginal spirituality, like the Dreaming. A myth (mythology) is false, and Wikipedia does not exist to judge or make statements of validity about spirituality, theology or ideologies. Calling Aboriginal spirituality "mythology" is a) unbelievably inconsiderate, inappropriate and demeaning, b) increadibly ignorant, and c) is in pure violation of WP:NPOV and perpetuates a white, Eurocentric and Christocentric perspective. Nor is Aboriginal spirituality a "religion", which suggests a formal structure and consistency in teaching, which isn't seen in Aboriginal spirituality (most Aboriginal Nations appear to have varied interpretations and representations of the Dreaming, for example). ItsPugle (talk) 09:06, 11 June 2020 (UTC)
 * Oppose. Both the references and the article makes reference to myths or mythology, and not spirituality. It’s not that I disagree with the rationale, the problem is that Wikipedia needs to follow the sources.  Wikipedia does not lead.  This retitling means a rewriting, which may be justified, but point to the strongest sources first please. —SmokeyJoe (talk) 10:22, 11 June 2020 (UTC)
 * Sure. Overarchingly, I'm trying to combat the Eurocentrism and Christocentrism of the article, which is reflected in its choice of references. The Ipswich City Council's Appropriate Indigenous Terminology document directly lists myths as an inappropriate term as it passes judgement about the validity of such beliefs. This is also backed up by Creative Spirits and UNSW Teaching's Indigenous Terminology guidelines. Even the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, which is arguably the peak body in Australia for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs, says that "Words like ‘myth’, ‘folklore’ and ‘legend’ should be avoided... ‘myths’ or ‘lore’ imply that the information is insignificant or untrue". I think it's more important here to be accurate (and WP:CONCISE at the same time) here, and to use what it generally more acceptable language, regardless of the language used by certain sets of sources (I would personally question their scholarship if they're a recent source that uses "myth" to describe spirituality, but that's just me). ItsPugle (talk) 13:35, 11 June 2020 (UTC)
 * Oppose. We also have Jewish mythology and Christian mythology, this follows the same pattern. Calling religious tales "mythology" is fine, Wikipedia has a secular viewpoint. To quote Myth, "Scholars now routinely speak of Christian mythology, Jewish mythology, Islamic mythology, Hindu mythology, and so forth ... Labelling all religious narratives as myths can be thought of as treating different traditions with parity". Also see Religion and Mythology. ThePlatypusofDoom (talk) 01:09, 16 June 2020 (UTC)
 * Oppose. mythology & spirituality are two different things. It is the difference in ways of knowing (epistemology) and ways of being (ontology).   While it is true that there is no current article on Australian Aboriginal spirituality, this does not justify hijacking an article about one thing (ie mythology) and labeling that article as being about something else (ie spirituality), nor would this do justice to Australian Aboriginal spirituality as ways of being in world.   It would seem more appropriate and respectful, perhaps, to create and write a separate article just on Australian Aboriginal spirituality as a subject?  Bruceanthro (talk) 01:35, 16 June 2020 (UTC)
 * From my readings of this article, it does talk about Aboriginal spirituality. Aboriginal Australian spirituality and mythology are synonymous in this instance. ItsPugle (talk) 01:45, 16 June 2020 (UTC)


 * The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

Australian of indigenous origin
I think it is outright racist and offensive to describe indigenous cultures and beliefs as Mythology just Because it does not fit into the mould of Abrahamic doctrines like Islam and Christianity. I request you to edit the sections from Mythology to beliefs and faith. 171.61.91.7 (talk) 10:53, 28 December 2021 (UTC)