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Are Indigenous smoking ceremonies cultural gestures or spiritual rituals? This article examines their religious meaning, constitutional implications, and spiritual risks from a Christian worldview.

On Australia Day, our Prime Minister participated in a smoking ceremony. It seems now that smoking ceremonies are a normal part of life for dignitaries on special occasions.

An Aboriginal source explains the following about smoking ceremonies:

Smoking ceremonies have been an integral part of Aboriginal culture for millennia, weaving together the spiritual, physical, and social threads of Indigenous Australian life. These ancient rituals, still practised today, hold a deep significance that goes beyond the visible act of burning native plants. They are a powerful means of cleansing, healing, and connecting with the land, the spirits, and the community. [1]

For those who hold to aboriginal traditional culture and spirituality, these ceremonies are an integral part of their belief system and worldview. I suggest that they are not to be taken lightly as a mere “thing to do” to accommodate indigenous folklore. This article is a review of smoking ceremonies from a Christian perspective.

Contemporary Australia and religious beliefs

Australia is a secular nation. This is because its constitution (Section 116) states:

The Commonwealth shall not make any law for establishing any religion, or for imposing any religious observance, or for prohibiting the free exercise of any religion, and no religious test shall be required as a qualification for any office or public trust under the Commonwealth.

As well, the latest census indicated that now nearly 40% of Australians designate themselves as having “no religion”. [2] Religion still has some influence in the public arena. However, this is marginalised and challenged.

This situation is significant in how we are to respond to smoking ceremonies. They are not simply cultural ceremonies but religious and spiritual events. They are conducted in accordance with a stated belief system. This involves belief in “spirit beings” of both good and bad character. As stated above, “they are a powerful means of cleansing, healing, and connecting with the land, the spirits, and the community.”

Our Constitution supports religious freedom, and so such a belief system is permitted in Australia. However, according to our Constitution, religion should not be imposed on members of Australian society. I am concerned that, because of the widespread practice in many areas of our society, a religious practice is being imposed on people whether they desire that or not.

Also, because of the secular nature of contemporary Australia, we seem ill-equipped to respond to this indigenous religious ceremony involving the belief in the activity of spirits. In the main, it seems most simply go along with it, as referenced in the conduct of Victoria’s Liberal leader.

Bultmann is alive and well, but …

Rudolf Bultmann is probably a name unknown to many who may read this article. However, last century, he was a significant German theologian. He popularised the view that the New Testament worldview of demons, spirits and angels was a myth. [3] His influence was important, and many liberal or progressive Christians followed him and still do. I suggest that mainstream Australia lines up with this view as well.

However, there is another story. As already pointed out, traditional indigenous religion believes in spirits. They are not myths. Islam, according to the Quran, warns of the activity of demons. [4] Hinduism has a strong belief in spirits and their dangerous activity. [5] As well, there are the many-faceted aspects of “New Age” beliefs that recognise the activity of spirits and angels. [6]

So, embedded in secular Australia are many belief systems that are not secular but believe in transcendence, which includes the reality of demons and spirits.

I conclude here that to the secularist, a smoking ceremony may be accommodating indigenous folklore, but to the practitioners, this is not the case. The consequences of this will be examined in a moment.

Refuting the Butlmann myth theory

 A Christian worldview embraces the reality of spirits and demons. The late James Kallas, a Lutheran scholar, wrote a rebuttal of Bultmann’s demythologising of the New Testament. He argued:

One could begin a response to Bultmann by insisting that the fundamental conviction of the New Testament worldview, which cannot be argued away as mythological or philosophically untenable, is the belief that there is more to evil than existential bad intention. There is a non-existential force to which man is subject which perverts all of man’s labours when his intentions are not bad.

…

Evil seems to be superhuman and endowed with its own malignant power to act even apart from man’s intentions.[7]

Erudite contemporary biblical scholar Craig S. Keener concurs with this.

Keener[8] challenges the Western anti-supernaturalist approach to the miraculous in the gospel narratives. [9] He relates a criticism of Bultmann by some Asian theologians. Bultmann’s approach to the supernatural is seen as irrelevant in Asian thinking because the Asian worldview affirms belief in miracles, angels, and hostile spirits. [10]

The Christian in affirming the worldview of Jesus as reported in the Gospels, recognises the reality of demons and spirits and their malevolent intent towards humankind.

The dark side of smoking ceremonies

This report in Family Life International, a conservative Catholic organisation, highlights the dangers of participating in a smoking ceremony. It refers to Catholic exorcists, and they are seeing harmful consequences from smoking ceremonies. [11] Here is part of the report:

Fr John Rizzo, former exorcist of the Diocese of Parramatta, has had years of experience in delivering unfortunate souls from demonic attack. In the two weeks before he spoke to FLI, Fr Rizzo had been contacted by three families whose children are at two different schools. Each family wanted his assistance because a child was exhibiting disturbing symptoms that the parents believe are linked to indigenous smoking ceremonies.

Fr Rizzo told Family Life International that he has seen “unpleasant consequences” from children attending smoking ceremonies.

“Children have become irritable after being involved in such situations. Students at some schools are forced to walk through the smoke against their will. Their well-informed Catholic conscience makes them feel uncomfortable! They know that it’s wrong!”

The priest said that he has been seeing “… a certain moodiness and a type of fear that is hard to understand.” Thankfully, he has found that minor exorcisms, which can be prayed by any priest, are proving effective in liberating the children.

The dark spirits operating in a smoking ceremony will oppress participants and the above report is a warning to those who unwittingly involve themselves in one.

Conclusion

I support religious freedom and, therefore, the right of people to hold to their religious or non-religious beliefs. However, a religious practice should not be forced on people without their knowledge and permission to participate.

Especially, students in schools should not participate in smoking ceremonies. Would we permit students in a state school to participate in a Christian service of preaching and prayer? No, we do not. On the same basis, it is inappropriate to involve students in a smoking ceremony in which they have no knowledge of the religious and spiritual nature of the event.

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[1] “The Sacred Smoke: Smoking Ceremonies in Aboriginal Culture“, BW Tribal.

[2] “2021 Census shows changes in Australia’s religious diversity“, Australian Bureau of Statistics.

[3] See: Rudolf Bultmann, New Testament Theology (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1989), Kindle Ed. Location 58-154.

[4] See for example: N. J. Dawood trsnsl., The Koran (London: Penguin Classics, 2003), 91.

[5] Hinduism features a vast array of spirits, from powerful deities (Devas) like Shiva & Vishnu, nature spirits (Yakshas) & serpent beings (Nagas) to more troublesome ghosts (Bhutas, Pretas) & entities dwelling in cemeteries (Vetalas), all existing alongside the ultimate spirit, Brahman, and the individual soul (Atman). These beings interact with the mortal world, representing natural forces, divine aspects, or unresolved karmic energies.

[6] For many years now, I have led a team on an outreach at Adelaide’s Body Mind Psychic Expo. As my team engages people at the Expo, we meet a variety of belief systems, but most believe in spirits, angels and spirit guides.

[7] James Kallas, The Significance of the Synoptic Miracles (Woodinville, WA: Sunrise Reprints, 2010), 146.

[8] Craig S. Keener, Miracles: The Credibility of the New Testament Accounts Volumes 1 and 2 (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2011).

[9] Ibid., 7.

[10] Ibid., 215.

[11] Kathy Clubb, “Exorcists are seeing harmful consequences from smoking ceremonies“, Family Life International.

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Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.