Indigenous religion not protected, ANU academic tells Ruddock review

by Andrew Brown
Sydney Morning Herald
6 April 2018 

A leading Canberra academic has told the Turnbull government's review into religious freedom that Aboriginals are not adequately protected to practice their religion.

Ernst Willheim, a visiting fellow at the Centre for International and Public Law at the Australian National University, said the current legal system failed to accommodate the difference between Aboriginal and "mainstream religions".

An ANU fellow has said the current legal system fails to accommodate differences between Indigenous religion and "mainstream religions".

The submission was one of more than 16,000 received by the review, headed up by former Attorney General Philip Ruddock, recently made public.

The inquiry was announced last year following concerns surrounding religious freedom after same-sex marriage was legalised.

The religious freedom review is being headed by former Howard government minister Philip Ruddock.

In his submission to the review, the expert on Aboriginal heritage protection said Indigenous Australians were not fully protected by the law to practice their religious beliefs.

"Aboriginal religious or spiritual beliefs commonly require that particular knowledge be restricted to certain individuals or groups and not to be further disclosed," Mr Willheim said.

"Yet the statutory procedures for obtaining protection ... require full disclosure of the details of secret knowledge or beliefs to non-Aboriginal decision makers and to the opponents of protection.

"Disclosure of secret knowledge or beliefs through a public inquiry process destroys the values Aboriginal people seek to protect."

The academic said current laws enacted to protected the religious beliefs of Aboriginals have failed to achieve their purpose.

Mr Willheim said there was a "collision" of the core values of Aboriginal religious practices and the Australian legal system.

"The Australian legal system establishes a non-Aboriginal process for the authentication of Aboriginal religious belief," he said. "That in itself is inherently offensive to Aboriginal people."

A key part of Mr Willheim's submission noted secrecy was an essential part of Aboriginal religious beliefs, with elders guarding knowledge and passing it on selectively to the next generation.

According to the ANU visiting fellow, Indigenous people would have to break these traditions if they were required in a legal setting.

"These beliefs, ceremonies and rituals form part of the religious life of the community. Access to religious knowledge is a basis for power in the community," he said.
"Aboriginal religions are fundamentally different from mainstream religions but the legal system fails to accommodate the difference.

"International law principles and international authorities clearly support the view that the rights of Indigenous people to pursue their religious, spiritual and cultural practices are important legal rights."

While 16,000 submissions were received by the review, almost 2000 were made public before the Easter weekend.

The rest of the submissions are due to be published on May 18, when the review is expected to hand down its report.

Do you have Religious Literacy? In a secular society, have we lost the understanding of what motivates deeply religious groups, societies, nations?

What is Religious Literacy?

Get the gist of what Religious Literacy is all about

by exploring Lapidomedia.

LAPIDO MEANS TO SPEAK UP in the Acholi dialect of Northern Uganda.  Religiously literate media work helped to end a war there between 2003-5.  We were founded by journalists to advocate for greater awareness of the faith dimension in policy, governance, and conflict in the UK and abroad.

Many news stories do not make sense - whether to journalists or policy makers who feed off what they report - without understanding religion. Lapido Media is an internationally networked, British-based philanthro-media charity, founded in 2005, that seeks to increase understanding among journalists and opinion formers of the way religion shapes world affairs. 

It’s called religious literacy.  We run media briefings, publish research and essays and work with journalists around the world.  Our stringers practise on our website the kind of religiously literate journalism we wish to see, going deeper to the sources of social motivations, and providing a resource for other journalists.  And we work with civil society groups on campaigns and media strategy to improve the flow and quality of stories with a religion dimension. 

Lapido Media e-newsletter - View email in browser | Forward to a friend THE DAWKINS EFFECT ON RELIGIOUS DEBATE – AN APPRAISAL HAVE New Atheism and Richard Dawkins contributed to or hindered our understanding of modern faith? Read more here>> EGYPT EXPORTS INTERFAITH 'BRIDGE' AS IRAN comes in from the cold, Iranian-born artist highlighted among 47 Middle Eastern works coming to London. Read more here>> TOP PICKS FROM OUR WORLD MEDIA WATCH AS the 100th Armenian genocide anniversary approaches, initial delight in Turkey's AKP government among Christians sours amidst rising sectarianism (Al-Monitor). Meanwhile, the World Bank gets religion as its president declares 'we have to have the partnership of religious leaders' to end extreme poverty (Washington Post). Finally, to mark Holocaust Day last week, the story of a Muslim country–the only European nation to boast a larger Jewish population than it had before the war (Australian Broadcasting Corporation).

Does our daily life reflect our belief?

Prayer ... in the lowest depths of need - Julian of Norwich

1.  Retweeted by Daniel Hill

   lynne hybels ‏@lynnehybels  13h

   "The best prayer is to rest in the goodness of God, knowing that (it) can reach right down to our lowest depths of need." Julian of Norwich

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Prayers and rhymes. Poems and songs..... Rumi

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Brad Gooch ‏@RumiSecrets  Jun 7

“I used to recite prayers. Now I recite rhymes and poems and songs.”—Rumi, Ghazal #2351

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11:32 PM - 7 Jun 2014 · Details

Spiritual searching in India #1

Michelle Boorstein @mboorstein A religion reporter asks: Why do Westerners still seek spiritual help in India? Why did she? Read @JRavitzCNNcnn.it/1oI3d1O 08 Jun

	Indian Awakenings It's been a Hindu holy spot for millennia and a spiritual playground for Westeners since the Beatles put it on the map. CNN's Jessica Ravitz came to Rishikesh to try her hand at everything it offers. What she didn't see…

Anti-mosque and anti-Islamic sentiments: can Islam be singled out like this?

This article has appeared in the Ballarat daily newspaper, The Courier, to-day.  Ballarat Interfaith Network was on to this early this morning and, during to-day, will work out a considered response.  This blog does not want - at this stage anyway - to give acknowledgment to this group and therefore will not name them here nor will a link be given to their website.

However, one thing this post will do is to look briefly at anti-mosque sentiment in Australia.

The Australia First Party is a well known extreme political party in Australia. More could be written about them, particularly their involvement in the Cronulla riots of 2005, but this site does not want to enter into such a discussion.  More could also said about an historic organisation with a similar name and similar prejudices. 

As for Islam in Australia, this Wikipedia site provides a diversity of information both historical and contemporary. 

The movement toward building a mosque in Ballarat has been a slow but progressive one.  Students from overseas came to the University of Ballarat where prayer facilities were established.  The small number of local residents were able to join in.  Because of the close proximity of Ballarat to Melbourne, it has also been possible for residents here to participate in mosques there.  Ballarat Muslims have held land for a while and are now moving towards the reality of a building by going through all the local government processes that everyone has to pursue.

Ballarat Interfaith Network has friendship with a number of Muslims in Ballarat.  We have also, courtesy of the Shepparton Interfaith Network, visited the mosque at Muroopna in Shepparton.

Shepparton is a diverse city and region - with four mosques.  Below is a video of that mosque and what happens there.  On our visit, we were warmly and hospitably received - and had the most beautiful lunch of Turkish food.  We were presented - without charge - with our choice of books relating to Islam.  The video below was taken from the website of the Shepparton Interfaith Network.

All religions - or, at least, a lot of religions - have those within who are 'extremist' or have other adverse characteristics.  If we were to ban or bar them from having facilities, it would be a bare landscape indeed.  Think of some of the adverse behaviours being brought to public view from within some Christian denominations and cultures at this time.

There are many beautiful and wondrous things within Islam.  They are worth exploring.  One particular Islamic contribution is being seriously explored these days by many outside Islam. It is Islamic finance and banking.  The Abrahamic faiths (Judaism, Christianity, Islam) have prohibitions against usury.  Judaism and Christianity have 'fallen by the wayside' in a manner of speaking on this topic and its adherents do get involved with financial transactions involving the charging of interest.  Islam is the one 'hold-out' on this and, in this era of ever-diverse financial products, there is currently widening interest  - even from main-stream banking organisations - in Islamic finance.

2014 Sufi International Festival, India

For some, this will be a "wish I could be there moment"

Picture from here

International Sufi Rang Festival

• 06 Jan 2014 { 08:00-09:00 }
• Description : Chishty Foundation's event International Sufi Rang Festival is based on the blessed vision ,principle and message of "Love towards all, Malice towards none" for the whole of Humanity which is the blessed message of Hz.Khawaja Moinuddin Hasan Chishty (r.a) popularly known as Khawaja Gharib Nawaz (r.a). It’s a universal message for the whole of humanity that we may love and respect the best of creations i.e. Human beings, among all the creations of the One Almighty Creator Allah (swt). The Interfaith message for Indian Sub-Continent and its people living in harmony from last 800 years and continue to do so. Our aim in creating this event is to realizes a blessed vision and to create a platform for people from around the world and walks of lives who believe in blessed message i.e. to love and serve the Humanity ( Khidmat e Khalq ) and to spread the message with all its essence among the people of our beautiful planet Earth . In today’s troubled times we believes that the message the great Sufi’s n Saints is the not just a way but it is the ONLY way for the solutions of the World problems and a perfect road map towards the Path of Love ,Peace n Brotherhood among the whole Humanity . As part of the larger picture through the blessed platform of Chishty Foundation ,we intend to promote the blessed Sufi teachings of Khawaja Gharib Nawaz , Sufi Art of Calligraphy , Sufi Poetry culture , Sufi music and concepts of Spirituality and Music and a strong connection between a Higher state of awearness of the Divine presence through Sama and Qawalli – The Chishty Sufi’s food for the Soul . This concept is yet to have a full vision and realization for the essence of complete Sufi understanding and teachings. The 5th International Sufi Rang Festival 2013 is our fifth edition towards realizing the blessed vision of blessed Chishty Sufi lineage . - ma Salama Ishq Bashad wa Baraka Bashad !- Alhamdulilah , this is our humble journey …………. May Allah (swt) accept this humble efforts and services of Chishty Khadims. Syed Salman Chishty Gaddi Nashin – Dargah Ajmer Sharif Khadim e Khawaja Gharib Nawaz (RA) Director Chishty Foundation Reg.No.2008000197 Chishty Mnazil, Jhalra Street, Dargah Sharif, Ajmer 305001 Rajasthan - India Cell # +91 9829174973 salmanchishty@hotmail.com www.chishtyfoundation.org
• Location : Khwaja Moinuddin Hasan Chishti Shrine, Diggi Bazaar, Ajmer, Rajasthan, India
• Ajmer, Rajasthan ,
  INDIA
• Events Type: Community Service,Entertainment & Arts,Lecture/Seminar,Meeting,Workshop,
• Name: Syed Salman Chishty - Director - Chishty Foundation
• Email: salmanchishty@hotmail.com
• Phone: +919829174973
• Website: www.chishtyfoundation.org

For those cannot make the Hajj - actions that are equal to Hajj in reward

From MuslimMatters.org

Performing Actions Equal to Hajj in Reward | Shaykh Waleed Basyouni

Posted by: Waleed Basyouni October 14, 2013 in Featured, Hajj, Islam, Specialists 10 Comments

There are so many like myself could not go to Hajj this year, but even when we are physically far away from Mecca, our hearts with the Hujjaj (pilgrims), thinking about what they are doing, praying for them and hoping to be like them soon. One of the things that I thought could help us to catch up with them is to do the actions that equal to Hajj in reward! Yes, equal to Hajj as our prophet Muḥammad  informed us.

1. Abu Hurayrah  reported: The poor came to the Messenger of Allāh  and said: “Oh, Messenger of Allāh, the wealthy have gone with the highest ranks and lasting bliss. They offer ṣalāh (prayer) as we offer it; they observe fast as we do; and as they are wealthy, they perform Hajj and 'Umrah, and go for Jihad, and they spend in charity.” The Messenger of Allāh said, “Shall I not teach you something with which you may overtake those who surpassed you and with which you will surpass those who will come after you? None will excel you unless he who does which you do. You should recite: Tasbeeh (Allāh is free from imperfection – Subhan Allāh), Takbeer (Allāh is Greatest – Allahu Akbar), Tahmeed (Praise be to Allāh – AlHamdu lillah) thirty-three times after each ṣalāh.” [Bukhāri]  ~~~ Please read more here