I was thinking (I know, it's always dangerous when I do that)...

I've been reading some material on the particular challenges of Christian communities in rural settings in Australia. In amongst the pages of other stuff, one thing which was mentioned was the need for the "development of a spirituality that is authentically...Australian."

I guess the point is that importing a way of thinking and being and praying which is very English (or indeed Italian, Scottish, American, or whatever else) can be a confounding factor in building a strong and resilient faith in the particular social and environmental context we have here.

But - perhaps because I'm not originally Australian, or because I'm very much a city girl - I'm not sure what that means in practical terms. What does an Australian spirituality look like? How does it contrast with that of other cultures? Where does it hold to the Christian universals, and how does it express those in unique ways? What does it need to nurture and support it? And so on.

What do you think?

I'd point to Mary MacKillop. Australian born of Scottish parents, she had an affinity with the people of Australia and a rugged pioneering spirit. To go to Rome to have her order's rule approved, she travelled not as a nun but as a married woman to avoid difficulties that would have otherwise arisen. Determination and courage because they were necessary to achieve her mission.

She was very devout but not looking for supernatural manifestations of her faith. She was pragmatic and practical. She suffered much at the hands of church leaders but understood the nature of forgiveness. Hers was a generous spirituality that did not condemn others.

Another example of a similar spirit would be Rev John Flynn. Grounded, practical, sleeves rolled up Christianity.

Unfortunately, as in so many areas of Australian culture, I see the American hegemony reshaping the authentic Australian expression of faith and belief. Tele-evangelists have a lot to answer for IMO.

Thanks for that, that's really interesting.

I was also thinking about the influence of America (and so a certain type of Christianity, too) - even if only in its domination of the publishing of Christian writing. Word and Koorong and the like seem to be stocked mostly with authors speaking from and to an American context, and it doesn't always "fit" us here.

I had the opportunity to ask the bishop of Wangaratta today about this (I was reading in preparation for hearing him speak) and he suggested that it was really about answering the question, "Who is my neighbour?" That if we know truly know our neighbours and care for them, that will shape how we serve and pray and live. I like that answer a lot, and it leaves me with much to think about!

'Who is my neighbour' is THE question as far as I am concerned. All deep theological debate is reduced to little more than fussing compared to the challenge of living the answer to this question. At the same time there is value in being open to life, in all its fullness. Open hearted and open minded is the way to go.

I like hymns/choruses that reflect these ideals. I especially love 'Come as you are, that's how I want you" and 'Here I am Lord'. I no longer want to hear songs of the British Empire although I do like Irish and Welsh tunes, often with new words.

For the recessional music at my funeral I want the Star Wars theme taken from the ending of the first movie where Princess Leia rewards Luke and Han Solo with medals. It is a joyous and triumphal anthem that I hope will summarise a life well lived. My life.

Oh, for heaven's sake, I'm dim. WombatWife, I only just twigged about your name change (that's a fairly characteristic post from you). I'd been wondering what had happened to Gertrude!

Like The Doctor, I have regenerated.



I'm off now to sell my plants at our church market day.
Our budget depends on these efforts, unfortunately.

Some other ideas about the expression of Australian spirituality...

There are some attempts to capture it in Australian Psalms by Bruce Prewer and the UCA's Frontier Services publishes a service/liturgy every year that has a strong flavour of the land and the people of the outback. It's available on the UCA Assembly website. David Millikan wrote a book about The Sunburnt Soul that discusses this topic.

I always feel very much at home whenever I venture into a small county chapel. I never feel at home in a cathedral.

The MacKillop nuns have long incorporated Aboriginal symbols in their spirituality. I remember seeing a set of drawings of the Stations of the Cross that consisted of native animals (brolgas etc) and Aboriginal spirit people. It was a lovely fusion of European and native heritage.

I'm having some trouble at the moment reaching the teens in my Sunday School class. Their background is Chinese and I can't get them to talk and discuss anything much so I don't know what is happening inside their heads.