Category talk:Aboriginal gods

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This category was nominated for deletion, renaming, or merging with another category on 2008 January 8. The result of the discussion was no consensus.

This is the talk page for discussing improvements to the Category:Aboriginal gods page.
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[edit] earlier comments

It is my understanding that there are no 'gods' in the dreaming, only spirits. Doktor Waterhouse 11:42, 10 May 2006 (UTC)

I agree with Doktor Waterhouse. The Dreaming treats of spirits, who are not deities in the Western sense. I urge the category to be renamed 'Aboriginal Dreaming Spirits'. I suggest the present wording would be offensive to Australian Aboriginals.--Gazzster 02:11, 5 May 2007 (UTC)

Again I strongly suggest that the title 'Aboriginal gods' be changed. The Australiann Indigenous do not have the concept of deities. Just as animists in Africa or Native Americans do honour spirits, not gods. The new category's title could be Australian Aboriginal Dreaming Spirits.--Gazzster (talk) 02:56, 8 January 2008 (UTC)

I concur with sentiments expressed above.. that within pan-Australian Aboriginal 'speak' it would seem Dreaming Beings, Ancestral Spirits, even 'Cultural Heros' or other such terms are more commonly used than the term 'Gods' to refer to the many and multiple of characters occurring within Australian Aboriginal mythology, cultural landscapes, and religious beliefs/ceremonies/performances.

It would seem to me that this differentiating of terminology, is consistent with and assists understand/differentiate sometimes radically different Australian Aboriginal religions/religious beliefs from Christian/European/other world religious beliefs and systems .. but that is, of course, an unconfirmed opinon.!

I do however note that in seeking consensus on a single all encompassing terminology for a currently uncontextualised list of ancesteral spirits etc.. care should be taken not to collapse into a single, simplistic category and/or list .. a whole continents actual full, rich diversity of over 400 distinct Aboriginal groups/peoples' mythical characters/ancestoral spirits/and/or dreaming beings .. all with their own names and categorisation within their own langauges ..

Finally, in relation to most of the above, and its Wikipeida Project implications/ need for care and attention, I refer you to recent discussions here and here and here. Bruceanthro (talk) 06:39, 8 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] No consensus?

Who declared that? 8 want a rename, 3 oppose, as far as I can see! Another example of edit by consensus, and not by academic review! I do despair of Wikipedia sometimes.--Gazzster (talk) 19:47, 16 January 2008 (UTC)

I draw attention to, and recommend Bduke (talk) suggestion here. What do you reckon? Bruceanthro (talk) 15:47, 18 January 2008 (UTC)