Exploring the Influence and Connection

As an Aboriginal person raised in a Christian home, I find myself standing at a unique crossroads, seeking to understand and connect with both my Christian faith and my Aboriginal heritage. Both traditions offer rich, deep wisdom about the world, creation, and our place in it, but they often seem to speak in different languages — one grounded in the spiritual world of the Dreamtime, and the other in the divine narrative of a Creator God.

For many in the Aboriginal community, the relationship with the Church is fraught with pain, as it has historically been tied to colonization and the loss of cultural practices. Yet, for me, there’s a curiosity — a longing—to understand how these two parts of my identity can coexist. I’m not seeking to ignore the history or the hurt, but I’m wondering how my Christian faith can be enriched by the teachings of my ancestors, and vice versa.

In this blog, I want to explore my journey of finding connection between these two worlds. I’ll reflect on Aboriginal creation stories and how they compare to the Christian creation narrative, as well as the ways both perspectives shape my understanding of the world, my relationship with the land, and my faith.

Aboriginal Perspectives on Creation

For many Aboriginal people, our connection to the land is sacred. The Dreamtime, or Dreaming, is the period when our ancestors—the spiritual beings that are part human, part animal—shaped the world, the animals, the rivers, the mountains, and the very laws of nature. These stories are not merely ancient history; they are a living, breathing part of who we are. The Dreamtime continues to shape our understanding of the world today, as we see ourselves as custodians of the land, maintaining the balance that our ancestors established.

1. The Dreamtime: The Dreamtime is where the world began, and it is a space where ancestors—spiritual beings that could take on human, animal, or hybrid forms—travelled across the land, shaping the world. In one well-known story, the Rainbow Serpent emerged from the earth or water and carved out rivers, mountains, and valleys as it travelled. It brought life into the world and is seen as a creator god, maintaining the natural balance. This presence of the Dreamtime isn’t just confined to the past — it is an ongoing, living connection to the land, a connection that guides us in our daily lives.

2. Sacred Land and Spirituality: For Aboriginal people, the land is not separate from us; we are one with it. The land, the animals, the trees, and the rivers carry spiritual significance. It’s not just that we live on the land; we are part of it, and the land is part of us. The Dreamtime teaches us that our ancestors’ spirits live on in the land and that by honouring the Earth, we honour them. It’s a deep and sacred connection that shapes how we live, how we care for the land, and how we respect all living creatures.

3. Ongoing Presence of Ancestors: In Aboriginal culture, the ancestors are not just figures from the past; they are present in the world today. They live in the land, in the animals, in the elements. When we walk on the land, we are walking in the footsteps of those who came before us, and their stories guide us. The Dreamtime is not just a historical event—it is a presence that continues to influence our lives.

   
   

My Christian Upbringing and Faith

In contrast to the living connection I feel to the Dreamtime, my upbringing in a Christian home taught me about a Creator God who made the world in six days and rested on the seventh. Christianity emphasizes the divine act of creation and sees humanity as stewards of the Earth, responsible for its care. Yet, even with the historical legacy of the Church in colonization, my relationship with Christ has brought me a profound sense of peace and freedom—a freedom that I believe is deeply transformative.

1. The Creator God: Christianity teaches that God created the world with intention and purpose. The Creator spoke the world into existence and gave humanity dominion over it. From a Christian perspective, creation is both a gift and a responsibility, and we are called to care for the Earth as stewards of God’s creation. This idea of stewardship feels deeply important to me, as it aligns with my understanding of the sacredness of the land in Aboriginal culture.

2. Redemption and Restoration: Christianity also speaks of a fallen world—a world broken by sin that needs to be restored. In Christ, we find redemption and healing, not just for humanity but for all of creation. The brokenness in the world, from a Christian perspective, can be healed through Christ, who reconciles all things to God. While this perspective is different from the ongoing, living connection to creation in the Dreamtime, I can’t help but wonder if redemption, too, is an ongoing process—a continuous return to the Creator, just as the Dreamtime is a constant, living force.

3. Curiosity and Longing for Connection: My personal faith in Christ has brought me a sense of divine freedom — freedom from fear, from guilt, from shame. Yet, I can’t help but feel a longing for a deeper connection with the land and the ancestors. I’ve been taught to view creation as something to steward, but I long to experience the land as the Aboriginal people do—as something sacred, something alive with the presence of the Dreamtime. I wonder if the Christian faith can be enriched by this understanding, if there is a way to view creation not only as something to care for but as something alive, carrying with it the presence of the Creator.

   
   

Exploring the Connection: A Journey of Curiosity

In my heart, I am seeking to understand the connection between these two worlds—how the Dreamtime teachings of my ancestors can deepen my relationship with the Creator I know through Christ. I want to explore the ways in which both perspectives can coexist, not as competing forces but as complementary threads that enrich my spiritual journey.

I’m curious about how the sacredness of the land in Aboriginal culture can inform my Christian faith. Can I see Christ in the land, in the animals, in the elements? Can I honour the Dreamtime in a way that deepens my faith, while still acknowledging Christ as the ultimate Creator? These are questions I don’t have all the answers to, but the longing to connect these two parts of my identity is growing stronger.

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The more I reflect on both my Aboriginal heritage and my Christian faith, the more I realize that both offer profound wisdom and beauty about creation and the Creator. The Dreamtime teaches me to revere the land and see it as sacred, while my Christian faith teaches me to care for creation as God’s stewards. These two perspectives need not be in opposition—they can complement each other, offering a fuller picture of the world and our place in it.

As I continue to explore and seek connection between my faith and my heritage, I hope that I’ll find a way to honour both—seeing God in the land, in the ancestors, and in the beauty of creation, as I walk the path of faith and curiosity with an open heart.