Pantheism on Permanent Display in Anglican Cathedral
The Anglican Cathedral in Melbourne has recently installed an artwork promoting a permanent Welcome to Country. But rather than contain the prescribed words commonly said at Australian community events, the six panels depict the pantheistic creation stories of the Kulin people.
What’s more, they are strategically placed so that worshippers are confronted with their message immediately upon entry into the building.
Significantly, according to the ABC:
“The panels also include an image of the wedge-tailed eagle Bundjil, the creator spirit for the Kulin people.”
Andreas Loewe, the Dean of Melbourne’s Anglican cathedral, went on to further emphasise, “It’s [Bundjil] able to speak and talk and interact and exchange.”
All of which means that the Bundjil spirit of the Kulin people is seen as a continuing spiritual entity. For a fuller explanation of what this First Nations creation story means, see the following amateur video.
Most conservative Christians will immediately understand the theological problem with the above art installation — especially in an Anglican cathedral — promoting Aboriginal pantheism alongside Biblical spirituality. The Bible proclaims an exclusive message that not only is Jesus the only way to God (John 14:6; Acts 4:12) but that all other religious beliefs and practices are forms of idolatry (Romans 1:18-25).
Warnings
Ezekiel 8-10 in particular, is a powerful example of how the LORD views the worship of idols, especially when presented within His temple (i.e. place of worship). It explicitly provokes Him to jealousy (Ezek. 8:3) and results not only in judgment upon His people (Ezek. 9), but also the departure of the Glory of His presence (Ezek. 10).
While the New Testament declares that there are no longer any special buildings or places from which we should worship God (John 4:21-24), the practice of idolatry is still expressing forbidden and we are warned will result in God’s wrath (e.g. Colossians 3:5-6). In particular, we are clearly warned to not go back to the “elemental spiritual forces” (Greek, stoicheia) of this world, for we have been given fullness in Christ (i.e. Col. 3:8-10).
First Nations religion is clearly panentheistic and thus, antithetical to Christian spirituality. The Bible reveals that the LORD God has being distinct from what He has made. What’s more, it also unambiguously declares that He alone made and sustains it (Hebrews 1:1-3).
Recent events at the Anglican Cathedral in Melbourne show the inherent danger of adopting indigenous protocols which inherently compete with the truth of the Gospel. As such, such syncretistic practices should have no place in Christian churches.
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Photo: Victor Dam/Wikimedia Commons
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This sort of spiritual activity within houses of worship generally recognised as Christian makes it very difficult for Christian prayer intercessors to negate the authority demonic principalities have over Victoria. We are unlikely to have political victory until this issue is dealt with. No wonder Dan Andrews is laughing so hard.
Thank you for bringing this to our attention!
Let’s be clear. When you use the English word God. Are you using it, as it is used in the Bible as a translation of the Hebrew Elohim, which is also a plural term?
Are you also saying that as God is the creator of All, and thus the ground of all-being, that the LORD is limited in some way? Are you saying the LORD, as the ultimate, can not be panentheisic, pantheistic, and proto-pantheisic simultaneously?
Are you also saying that you think all Australian First Nation’s traditionally practice the same religion?
How can you ask well read Anglican’s to take your views seriously.
As a so-called “convenant-holder”, which includes, “Love Thy Neighbour”, are you saying in your of holding such limited view’s that you are maintaining faithfulness to Christ and his covenant? As Christ is recorded as a social justice advocate, how do you really think he would view such limited and unloving attitudes? Have you considered that. Look into your own heart. Remember, Jesus Christ was a colonised man of colour. As the prophet Micah 6:8 reminds us. “do justice”, “love kindness”, and “walk humbly with your God”.
Kind regards,
Dr Grant South
Anglican