Although the Aborigines did not have a civilization I regard some of their ideas as sophisticated. The Jewish God is not a human being. He is a somewhat inscrutable presence. The pagan peoples, unable to accept a God removed from humanity invented the Christ figure, a god both human and divine. God was reduced to a humanoid form like Zeus or Aphrodite. Christians, contemptuous of Aboriginal spirituality tried to replace the Aboriginal religion with Christian and Jewish myths. The Aborigines in their mythology had the Rainbow Serpent as creator. Their creation figure was part of nature. Humans came from nature. I regard the Rainbow Serpent as a better myth than Jesus. Of course, I regard Jesus, the inscrutable god of the Jewish Bible, and the Rainbow Serpent as all myths of a pre-scientific age which humankind will eventually discard as our species becomes more civilized.

David

With respect, what you 'regard as' is not in line with what 'is' and what most people accept. You have a very eccentric view of the world. Interesting, though.

Dear ttbn,

Of course, my view is not in line with what most people accept. There is no reason why it should be.I doubt that what is and what most people accept will ever be the same. I try to know what is to the best of my ability, but I know I will die not knowing what is.

I have a son who is an anthropologist. He is interested in learning about what people think what is. I have another son who is a biochemist. He deals with the chemistry of living matter. I have a grandson who is studying to be a theoretical physicist. He will probably deal with the behaviour of inanimate matter.

I think most people retreat from learning what is to a security of myth.

SM,

"The minimum requirement for civilization is a written language", and who said that? Written language developed over centuries or even millennia, from early pictorial representation of events to the modern forms of written script. For most of human history the majority were excluded from written language, unable to read or write. Modern English has developed from earlier Latin and other forms of writing. Written language is only one indicator of civilisation, its a complex melange of things such as beliefs, laws, practices etc within a society that gives it a degree of ordered sophistication that it can be deemed a civilisation.

The European definition of "civilised" which only embraced European civilisation, and the consequential failure of all others to be civilised seen the European engage in the most uncivilised acts in an attempt to civilise so many others, including Australian Aboriginals.

Pauliar,

Civilization is an English word with a reasonably clear definition which is significantly different from culture.

It does not include nomadic hunter-gatherers grouped in small villages.

To be considered a civilization, the following requirements must be met:
Stable food supply.
Social structure.
System of government.
Religious system.
Highly developed culture.
Advances in technology.
Highly developed written language.

http://www.studentsofhistory.com/characteristics-of-a-civilization
http://msvurusic.weebly.com/6-characteristics-of-civilization.html

SM,

There is nothing there that says; "The minimum requirement for civilization is a written language", so did you just make that up. From your post, I could say the minimum requirement for civilisation is having a religious system, just as valid. Pictorial rock art could be considered written language, the development of stone tools as advances in technology etc. Sumerians with only early cuneiform writing, and lacking to any great degree many of the other things on your list are considered a civilisation. Your list is arbitrary and is open to debate.