The importance of dreaming in Australian Aboriginal Religion

‘The Dreaming’ is a term that refers to all that is known and all that is understood by Aboriginal people. It is central to the existence of traditional Aboriginal people and their lifestyle and culture, for it determines their values and beliefs and their relationships with every living creature and every feature of the landscape. It is the way Aboriginal people explain the beginning of life and how everything in their world came into being. …

…what is good and bad and the history of their environment. They are not 'fairy stories' but rather an accurate and valid oral history of Aboriginal people. The Dreaming should be treated with a great reverence and respect. Bibliography ü Edwards, W.H. (1988). An Introduction to Aboriginal Societies, Wentworth Falls, Social Science Press. ü Edwards, W.H. (1987). Traditional Aboriginal Society, South Melbourne, Macmillan. ü Berndt, C.H. & Berndt, R.M. (1985). The World of the first Australians, Adelaide, Rigby.