Australian Spirituality (DS3035W)

Content

This unit will examine the ways in which spiritual yearning manifests itself in contemporary Australian culture. There will be particular focus upon signs of spirituality as they are revealed in the arts, Indigenous culture, volunteerism and the interpretations of religious experience in daily life. Students will examine the ways in which spirituality finds expression in a multicultural, multi-faith context. The unit will also examine some of the reasons for the decline in formal religious life whilst grappling with the reasons why spirituality is largely ignored by the secular mainstream.

Learning outcomes

Unit sequence

This unit may be taken within an under graduate award. Students will have completed at least two units of prior study, including one in field D.

Pedagogy

Lectures, seminars and group discussion

Indicative Bibliography

• Bouma, G., Australian Soul: Religion and Spirituality in the 21st Century (Melbourne: Cambridge University Press, 2006).
• Grieves, V., Aboriginal Spirituality: Aboriginal Philosophy: The Basis of Aboriginal Social and Emotional Wellbeing (Darwin: Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal Health, 2009).
• Hudson, W Australian Religious Thought (Melbourne: Monash University Publishing, 2016).
• Lohrey, A., A Short History of Richard Kline (Melbourne: Black Inc., 2016).
• Mackay, H., Beyond Belief: How we find meaning, with or without religion. (Sydney: MacMillan Press, 2016).
• Paranjape, M. ed., Sacred Australia: Post-Secular Considerations (Melbourne: Clouds of Magellan, 2009).
• Stanner, W. E. H., ed. Robert Manne, The Dreaming and Other Essays (Melbourne: Black Inc, 2009).
• Tacey, D. Re-Enchantment: The New Australian Spirituality (Sydney: HarperCollins, 2000).

Assessment