OccidentalChristian

I have wonderful news for you. Despite the vilifying god haters there are many among the aboriginals who have a love for the Lord Jesus. I know many of them and many communities have a non denominational church. Sometimes it is the only alcohol free place.

Generally aboriginals in the outback get around in car loads of people. They pile in as many people as possible and many are quite good bush mechanics.

In many of the communities they have church services a number of times a week. In some communinties its not that often.

Generally with the hardships most aboriginals go through they are far more spiritually aware of their need for the Lord Jesus Christ than most whities. Most communities have actually gone backwards since the Government took control of the communities. There is an aboriginal industry where a few Government workers and leaders make a packet but the rest miss out. I have been told by some elders how much more self respect they had when the missionaries ran communities.
The sacrifice of many of the early missionaries has really paid off in that many reverenced the Lord.

Like with most places the god haters have a very selected bias view of history. They are more concerned about dogma than results. They would even rather prsevere what they see as 'culture' than prevent child abuse and women bashing. They really have no idea and are more concerned about their self loathing dogma being pushed than results for aboriginal people.

Rest assured the aboriginals in Australia will be represented in heaven

Thank you very much for your post, runner. I have researched the web for some communities but did not find the mentionIng of a church within the community.

I am wondering ihow the Aboriginal Christians integrate the christian faith into their tribal identity. I would like to know how they celebrate church services. I hope not in the same way as white Australians. I have, for example, a clear image of how black Africans celebrate church services, but none of all how Aboriginal Australians or native Americans do.
Nowadays, there are christophobs in Europe who say that introducing the christian faith into Europe was a mistake and that we ought to return to our ancient faiths. Such statements are, as you can see, not limited to indigenous contexts. One woman said to me that one day I will be estonished about the new strength of the ancient faith. But I personally am proud of what missionaries had done around my region and that we had integrated the christian faith well into our identity.

I suppose that rising petrol prices effect Aboriginal communities much harder than more urban areas.

I have read about alcohol bans on Aboriginal lands many times. Do many inhabitants act against such bans in secret?

100 years ago, the Aboriginal people have been seen as a group as a whole whose dying out would be unavoidable. But today, they have even become more numerous. In the U.S., there has been predicts about the end of native Americans, too. This is not to say that present living conditions do not threaten their existance of their distinct culture.
In any case, earth would suffer a huge loss if a great amount of distinct indigenous identities got extinguished. Australia would be among the countries effected the most heavily.

Alex

I am sorry to intrude on OC's thread but I feel deeply offended and villified by runner's comments about "villifying god haters".

How can one hate something that does not exist. I have trouble in understanding runner's constant attacks on atheists as 'god haters'. It is as if he must attribute a negative stigma to the atheist as a 'hater' rather than a non-believer for his own spurious purposes.

If he is that uncomfortable and insecure about his own faith that he cannot speak about others in non-judgemental and harsh tones, then I suggest he re-examine his own position.

OccidentalChristian,

Often the meetings are held outside around a campfire. The aboriginals that I know and have worshiped with sing country style. No matter what song they sing it becomes country style.Meetings can sometimes go for hours and a far less structured than what most Europeans have.

Pelican

Assuming the comments were made to you how can you be offended at being called a hater of Someone you claim does not exist. A bit bizzare. I am certainly not insecure about my faith and am more convinced than ever of the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

The whole dogma of God not existing however is totally absurd. You are actually in a good place if you are offended. Jesus offended many people in order to bring them to repentance and hence eternal life. You are in real strife when your conscience is so hard that you are unable to receive forgiveness and grace.

runner
I was being somewhat tongue cheek - I am not easily villified.

However, you continue to denigrate and pass judgement on atheists as lacking in morals, god-haters (not possible by definition), corrupt etc.

While I understand those with faith may resort to that approach to validate and justify their own choices, I believe that the only thing that is borne from this behaviour is ultimately hatred. The world would be a better place if we loved each other and helped each other without a missionary's objective in my view, although I know many missionaries act from a belief in their own good.

Pelican

'The world would be a better place if we loved each other and helped each other without a missionary's objective in my view, although I know many missionaries act from a belief in their own good.'

No doubt the world would be a much better place if we loved each other. The state of the world is that most can't even keep a marriage vow. Then they blubber on about love. Love is action not some sloppy feeling that we should all just get along. A true missionary does not act from a belief in their own good. They know they have no good apart from what they receive in Christ. There would of been no need for Christ if man had his own goodness. History and current day observations consistently confirm the Scriptures view of the corrupt nature. Thank God for sending His Son who is and was the only incorruptible One.

What I think offends most who reject Christ is the fact that they can not rely on their self righteousness to be accepted by a holy and righteous God. No doubt that is why the prostitute and druggie is more likely to come to God than the self righteous. Interesting many turn to an environmental religion when the reject being cleansed inwardly.