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The Death And Dying Beliefs Of Australian Aborigines

The Death and Dying Beliefs of Australian Aborigines


Although the Aborigines are often classified as a primitive race whose
religion is based upon animism and totemism like the American Indians, the
Aboriginal funeral practices and beliefs about death have much in common with
other cultures.   This paper will discuss the death and dying beliefs of the
Aborigines that share a common thread with many popular religions of today.
Aboriginal beliefs in death and dying are original in that they combine all
these beliefs in a different way.   The purpose of looking at the commonalties is
to examine the shared foundations of all religions by investigating the aspect
of death and dying in a very localized and old set of beliefs.
As in many religions, Aborigines share a belief in a celestial Supreme
Being.   During a novice's initiation, he learns the myth of Daramulun, which
means "Father," who is also called Biamban, or "Master."   Long ago, Daramulun
dwelt on earth with his mother.   The earth was barren and sterile.   There were
no human beings, only animals.   Daramulun created the ancestors of the tribes
and taught them how to live.   He gave them the laws that are handed down from
father to son, founded the initiation ceremonies and made the bull-roarer, the
sound of which imitates his voice.   It is Daramulun that gives the medicine men
their powers.   When a man dies, it is Daramulun who cares for his spirit.   This
belief was witnessed before the intervention of Christian missionaries.   It is
also used only in the most secret initiations of which women know nothing and
are very central to the archaic and genuine religious and social traditions.
Therefore it is doubtful that this belief was due to missionary propaganda but
istruly a belief of the Aborigines (Eliade, 1973).
Another belief that is reminiscent of the Christian faith is that death
came into being only because the communications between heaven and earth had
been violently interrupted.   When Adam and Eve were...