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Searching Altyerre to Reveal the Cosmic Christ

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Searching Altyerre to Reveal the Cosmic Christ Searching Altyerre to Reveal the Cosmic Christ A contribution to the dialogue between the ancient Arrernte imaginary and Christianity Michael J. Bowden Bachelor of Arts, Diploma of Education (Monash University), Graduate Diploma Applied Linguistics, Master of Education (Northern Territory University), Graduate Diploma in Theology (University of Divinity) Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Theology) at Yarra Theological Union a member of the University of Divinity February 2019 Contents Contents .................................................................................................................................................. ii Abstract .................................................................................................................................................. vi Acknowledgments ................................................................................................................................ viii Permission - Authorisation..................................................................................................................... xi Glossary of Arrernte words and terms ................................................................................................. xiii Part One: Pristine Altyerre ...................................................................................................................... 1 Chapter 1: Introduction – Defining Altyerre ....................................................................................... 1 Chapter 2: Arrernte Voices on Altyerre ............................................................................................... 8 2.1 M.K. Turner: “Born to Be” ......................................................................................................... 8 2.2 Kathleen Kemarre Wallace: Deep Listening ............................................................................ 21 2.3 Wenten Rubuntja: Baptised for Lollies ................................................................................... 24 2.4 All the Arrernte Voices: Harmony ........................................................................................... 29 Chapter 3: The Anthropologists ........................................................................................................ 31 3.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 31 3.2 T.G.H. Strehlow and the Broken Song ..................................................................................... 34 3.3 W.E.H. Stanner: The Dreaming ............................................................................................... 42 3.4 Tony Swain: Life is Annexation of Place .................................................................................. 47 3.5 Diane Bell: Women’s Perspective ........................................................................................... 57 3.6 Jenny Green: The Problem of Translation............................................................................... 61 3.7 Altyerre: Conclusion – A Symphony ........................................................................................ 65 Part Two: Altyerre under Assault .......................................................................................................... 69 Chapter 4: Introduction – Fire/Ure and Water/Kwatye ................................................................... 69 4.1 The Healing Spring at Ltyentye Apurte/Santa Teresa ............................................................. 69 4.2 Fire over the Land ................................................................................................................... 73 5.1 The Impact of Invasion and Settlement .................................................................................. 75 5.2 The Impact of the First Missionaries: Cultural Mismatch ....................................................... 77 5.2.1 Lutheran Mission Phase 1: A German “Outback” Village ................................................ 80 5.2.2 Lutheran Mission Phase 2: Ethnography or Mission? ...................................................... 85 5.2.3 Lutheran Mission Phase 3: Finding a Place in Australian Society .................................... 90 ii 5.3 The Impact of Anthropology: Debate and Confusion ............................................................. 94 5.4 The Impact of Government Policy: Protection by Separation ................................................ 95 5.5 Conclusion: Imagining a Better World .................................................................................... 99 Chapter 6: The Catholic Mission to the Eastern and Mparntwe Arrernte ...................................... 101 6.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 101 6.2 Catholic Theologies of Mission ............................................................................................. 102 6.3 Catholic Mission Phase 1: Little Flower at Charles Creek ..................................................... 109 6.4 Catholic Mission Phase 2: Towards Assimilation at Arltunga ............................................... 116 6.5 Catholic Mission Phase 3: Santa Teresa ................................................................................ 121 6.5.1 Government and Mission Collaboration ........................................................................ 121 6.5.2 Not Prepared for Self-Determination ............................................................................ 127 6.5.3 Recovery and Restoration .............................................................................................. 132 6.6 Concluding Reflections on Invasion and Mission .................................................................. 134 Chapter 7: Altyerre – Dynamic Change ........................................................................................... 135 7.1 Arrernte Eclecticism .............................................................................................................. 135 7.2 Transcending Dynamism ....................................................................................................... 136 7.3 Christian Theology in the hands of Altyerre .......................................................................... 140 7.4 Conclusion: An Emergent Altyerre-Christian Theology ......................................................... 148 Part Three: The Cosmic Christ ............................................................................................................. 152 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 152 Chapter 8: Theologies of Creation .................................................................................................. 153 8.1 Creation Theologies in the Old Testament ........................................................................... 153 8.1.1 YHWH: From Elohim to YHWH – A Relational Inclusive God ......................................... 154 8.1.2 Myths: Ultimate Meaning through Story ....................................................................... 157 8.1.3 Traces of the Feminine in Israel’s God ........................................................................... 158 8.1.4 Immanence: God in Creation ......................................................................................... 160 8.1.5 Wisdom in the Book of Job ............................................................................................ 161 8.1.6 Summary ........................................................................................................................ 164 8.2 Creation Theologies in the New Testament .......................................................................... 165 8.2.1 The Cosmic Christ in Paul and John ............................................................................... 165 8.2.2 The Patristic Endowment of the Early Church ............................................................... 169 iii 8.2.3 The Medieval Synthesis ................................................................................................. 172 8.3 Conclusion: Knowing God through God’s World .................................................................. 175 Chapter 9: The Cosmic Christ within The Trinity ............................................................................ 177 9.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 177 9.2 Teilhard de Chardin: Christogenesis ..................................................................................... 177 9.3 Karl Rahner: Trinity, Grace and Creation .............................................................................. 179 9.4 Edwards on Rahner and Teilhard .......................................................................................... 184 9.5 Jürgen Moltmann: Kenosis and Creation .............................................................................. 186 9.6 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................. 191 Chapter 10: Creation Theology and Spirit Christology ...................................................................
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