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Full name and IC No: CHEAH OOI LUN 960617-08-5955

Date: 14/9/2018

Tutor Marked Assignment (TMA)

Semester/Year SEMESTER 2 YEAR 1
Student’s Name CHEAH OOI LUN
Student’s ID No: 051180057
Course Code MPU3313/03
Course Title COMPARATIVE RELIGIONS
Class Code 5CRG1
TMA No: TMA 1
No. of pages of this 13 PAGES
TMA (including this
page)

Tutor DR.TAN CHENG HAI

Course Coordinator DR. OOI CHIA-YI
T-DF TMA Declaration Form (version #002/2017)
Q1A:

Creation theory abounds with a vast diversity of creation myths that describes
how the universe, earth, and all species of life including humans came into being, each
according to the individual tradition to which the religion was revealed. The principal
conviction about creation or about the origins of man is that humanity descended from
a Divine origin and thus develops from a Divine, higher order to a lower order, which
is the earthly life. √ Commented [U1]: Good intro. Short and precise

One of the examples of creation theory is that: God created the world in 6 days.
Earth was shapeless and barren at the very beginning when universe was created by
God. The entire world was immersed in the ocean and surrounded by darkness. God
came over and created light. Light was separated from darkness by God. Light and
darkness are named as “Day” and “Night” respectively. So for the 1st day, “Day” and
“Night” were created. God split out the water from under and above and named the
dome as “Sky” on the 2nd day. On the 3rd day, water was gathered in one place by the
God, and lane appeared. Land was named as “Earth” while water was named as “Sea”.
Sun, moon, and stars were created by God on the 4 th day. All kinds of birds and all
kinds of animals that live in water were created by God on the 5 th day. On the 6th day,
male and female human beings was created by God. Fish and birds were under the
control of human being. (BibleGateway,1992) √

For evolution theory, it is a science-based and Western secular theory forwarded

mainly by exponents of the human sciences like sociology, biology, and anthropology.
Based on the scientific evidence to support the Big Bang theory, the notion of evolution
was developed by Darwin that homo sapiens are a species evolved from proto-humans
to full humans. In this perspective, man advanced from a lower into a higher species or
from less evolved species to more evolved species of human beings. √

One of the examples of evolution theory is Charles Darwin’s Theory of

Evolution. The theory of evolution by natural selection was fist formulated in Darwin’s
book “On the Origin of Species” in 1859. It is the process by which organisms changes
over time as a result of changes in heritable physical or behaviour traits. Changes that
allow an organism to adapt better to its environment will help it survive and have more
offspring. Evolution by natural selection is one of the best substantiated theories in the
history of science, supported by evidence from a wide variety of scientific disciplines,
including paleontology, geology, genetics and development biology. Take the example Commented [U2]: Spelling.

of whales, random genetic changes resulted in at least one whale having its nostrils
placed farther back on its head. Those animals with this adaptation would have been
better suited to a marine lifestyle, since they don’t have to get out completely from the
water surface in order to breath. In later generations, more genetic changes occurred,
moving the nose farther back on the head. The other body parts of early whales also
changed. Their front legs became flippers and their back legs disappeared. Their bodies
became more streamlined in shape and they developed tail flukes to better propel
themselves through water. (Ker Than 2018) Commented [U3]: Citation format.
Q1B:

Mythology is the collection, study and analysis of myths of a culture and may
be approached from varying perspectives, by interpreting or comparing them. We often
find many themes and images in myths that are common to a wide diversity of religions ,
such as the tree of knowledge, the sacred mountain and the teacher of great wisdom,
the occurrence of a great flood. The study of religion from myths often reveals universal
patterns in religion, as well as unique features that are specific to individual cultures.
Many theories have been forwarded to explain the similarities of myths between
cultures. They arise out of shared and common human values or the possibility that they
are transmitted from one culture to another through various processes such as conquest
and war. √

(Wikipedia, 2018) In the religion of Taoism, there is a myth which is “Sun

Wukong”, the Monkey King. Sun Wukong is one of the figure from Chinese’s myth
which is produced during Song dynasty. There is a magic stone located on the top of
the Mountain of Flowers and Fruits. Magic womb is developed by the stone. One day,
it bursts and produces a ball size of stone egg. This egg transformed into a stone monkey
when wind blows on it. By that time, the monkey is already able to walk and crawl. √

Sun possesses great strength and he can easily raise up his staff with a mass of
7960 kilograms. He can reduce the size of the staff as small as a needle and put it behind
his ear when he is not using it as weapon. Sun possesses very high speed. In one
somersault, He can move for a distance of 21675 kilometres. He can transform into 72
types of object and animals. Sun is expert in fighting and he is able to beat off the top
heaven fighter. His hair carries properties of magic, can turned into clones of himself,
a variety of weapons, and different kind of things.

In the myth story of Journey to the West, Tang Sanzang is assisted by Sun
throughout the journey to India. Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing follow along Tang Sanzang
in order to atone their previous crimes. Sun often acts as Tang Sanzang’s bodyguard to
combat the threats of demons and other supernatural beings. Sun is being given a title
of “Victorius Fighting Buddha” after completing the journey and safely come back to
China. Sun have done quite a lot of mysterious act. For example, Hell tried to collect
his soul but he successfully resisted. After that, he took the Book of Life and Death and
wiped out his name from this book along. Hence, he had been reported by the Kings
of Dragon and the Kings of Hell to Jade Emperor due to his action. √ Commented [U4]: Ok but need citation to support your
discussion.
Q2I:

Basic terminologies and rites of aboriginal group in Australia:

The term of aboriginal is derived from Latin words, which means “the people
who were there from the beginning.” Australian Aborigines are one of the aboriginal
group in Australia. They are descended from native groups that existed in the Australia
& surrounding islands around Tasmania prior to the European colonization dated
50,000 years before present. They were some of the first humans to migrate out of
Africa. Anthropologists recognise Australian Aborigines as possessing the longest
continuing religion and art forms. They are less than 3 percent of Australia’s population
today is made up of Australian Aborigines. Generally, Australia Aborigines are
originally came from Asia via insular Southeast Asia (now Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei,
East Timor, Indonesia, and the Philippines. (Tonkinson, Robert & Ronald M. Berndt
1963-81) Commented [U5]: Citation.

Rite of passage which exist among Australian Aborigines is called “walkabout”.

They belief the experience passage into manhood is compulsory where he male
indigenous people must undergo a journey during adolescent (10-16 years) to venture
and live in the wilderness away from the family or the community for at least 6 months
to make a traditional and spiritual transition into manhood. Other example of Initiation
and Mourning Rites of Passage is that, the urethra of a boy is being cut deeper by an
elder with sharp flake of stone to further strengthen the bonds of kindship. √

Basic terminologies and rites of pribumi native group in Malaysia: Commented [U6]: Avoid writing thi form.

The pribumi native group in Malaysia is mainly split up by the Orang Asli who
are native to Peninsular Malaysia, and the other native ethnic who live in Sarawak and
Sabah. The indigenous people and the oldest inhabitants of Peninsular Malaysia are
being referred as a term of Orang Asli. Orang Asli is the oldest inhabitants and there
are officially known 18 tribes in Peninsular Malaysia. Semang is one of the main
groups among Orang Asli. The writers during 19 th century used the term of “Semang”
to describe the people with characteristics of small body size, skin with dark tone, and
curly-hair who is living in Peninsular Malaysia’s forest. (Endicott, Kirk et al 1996) √

For Rites of Passage, Orang Asli in Malaysia beliefs that every boys have to
exit from homes at the age of seven and start staying in the hall of community or “surau”
in order to attend and also learn religious & cultural studying. (Encyclopaedia, 2018)
Another example of Rites of Passage, training the sons is a responsibility of the father.
The mother is mainly responsible to the daughters. Usually, a son is take care by his
mother until around five years old. Then, he starts follow his father as an example and
also as a teacher. He learn hunting from his father while the daughter learn how to
prepare food and take care of family from mother. √

Q2II:

One of the sacred time of Australian Aborigines is the Dreamtime which is

referring to a time of before human came to earth and also heroes who live before nature.
It is quite long time ago and it contain records linked with certain geographical sites,
concerns of sociological, and experiences of personnel. The stories of the dreamtime
are being act out by Aborigines through songs and ritual ceremonies.

Uluru, one of the sacred place for Aborigines. As stated by the myths, the beings
of ancestral dream the world into existence and travelled across the land creating life
forms. When the work of creation is done, they left behind images of their forms in the
rocks and boulders like the Uluru which is a massive sandstone rock in an isolated bare
plain of the Northern Territory. It is more than 600 feet high with a circumference of
almost 600 feet which is a living embodiment of the myth of creation or dreaming. For
a few ethnic group of Aborigines, Uluru is still a sacred place and they are still using it
for rituals and they leave paintings in its caves. √

Australian Aborigines beliefs that the surface of earth was just a huge and
boundless mud. The ancestral spirit rose from the beneath of the surface from the sky
and created the forms of animal, plant, and human. The ancestral spirit beings travelled
across the earth, turned the mud into rivers, islands, hills, and other features. Besides
that, they gave birth to every living things including humans and humans are being
granted language, knowledges, and beliefs from them.

Aborigines of Australian belief that those sprits are the ancestors of themselves
and it is important for them to trace the creation journey of the world by their ancestor
which is called Storyline, and learn the music and speaks the language of their ancestor.
√
A sacred time and sacred place of Orang Asli:

Aring river is one of the sacred place of Orang Asli. This river is near to Batek
people’s village which is at the location of Taman Negara’s boundaries. There is a
dangerous, and power shaman lived in this river who called Tok Kelambai He had
turned two rhinos into stone. Also, two boulders which stand for a yong Batek woman’s
breast can be found in this river. Tok Kelambai paralysed her and turned her into stones
when she was bathing. Water of Aring river is famous because it possessed the ability
of healing for any problem of fertility among woman.

(Wikipedia, 2018) The sacred time of Orang Asli is Kaamatan. It is a festival of

harvest which is celebrated once in every year in Sabah’s state, Malaysia. Normally,
Kadazan-Dusun’s etnic celebrate this festival. This festival carry on for entire month of
May. It ends with a date of public holiday which is selected by a priestess known as the
bobohizan. A beauty contest known as Unduk Ngadau will be carried out and this
contest closes the festival of harvest with a recent winner of Unduk Ngadau in the
annual host district which is in a town called Penampang. This harvest festival comes
under the scope of “Momolianism”. Momolianism stand for the philosophy of life, and
the system of belief among Kadazan-Dusun. √

Q2III:

For Aborigines, witchdoctors are the shaman, for male while witches are
referring to female shaman. The love magic called “Yilpinji” is apply by them. This
magic is a creative combination of myths, songs, design, and gestures. Witchdoctors/
witches uses the “country” to represent for a love one. They sing of their desire for their
country (love one), for their sadness at the country’s absence, and for their hope to see
the country again.

One of the ritual of aborigines is the ritual of dance calling on the great spirit of
king of the crocodiles. The saltwater crocodile is the animal most feared by Australian
Aborigines. They dance and call on the great spirit of the king of the crocodiles for
support and protection. It is said that the king of the crocodiles is always asleep. Due to
this reason, the dances and shouts last until dawn. √

The woman of aborigines gives something like secretion of body or blood which
carry energy of them to people in order to try to restore healthiness of people.
The Shaman, rituals, and magic for Orang Asli:

(Jeffrey Hays 2015) “Hala” is being called by Semang people, which refers to Commented [U7]: Citation format.

male or female Shaman. They receive some training through their dreams and they
usually act as healers. “Hala” uses massages, herbal medicine, song, and magic in
healing illness. During ceremonies of healing, they go into trances to heal sickness.
“Big hala” is a being of supernatural. He can scare off real tiger by taking the tiger’s
form.

The tribes of Semang thinks that majority sickness are caused by intrusion of
harmful material from environment into the food change or breaking prohibitions. In
order to heal illness, herbal medicines are being drink on infusion or massages into the
skin. Magic spells and songs of healing are leant from super humans or spirits. √

One of the rituals of Orang Asli is the marriage ritual. Once a man and a woman
wants to get married, the villagers will lock two of them inside a building and lock them
from outside for 24 hours. Nobody is supposed to disturb the couple. If no one demands
to get out before 24 hours, their courtship means successful. After the completion of 24
hours, the door will be unlocked and the whole village will celebrate the marriage by
having a feast. √
Reference√

American Bible Society. “The Story of Creation.” BibleGateway.com.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.biblegateway.com/passage/%3fsearch=Genesis%2b1&
version=GNT&interface=amp (accessed September 7, 2018)

Carey, Iskandar et al. “Orang Asli.” Worldmark Encyclopedia of Cultures and Daily
Life. Encyclopedia.com
http://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-
maps/orang-asli (accessed September 12, 2018).

Endicott, Kirk et al . “The Semang People of Malaysia.” Originalpeople.org

http://originalpeople.org/the-semang-people-of-malaysia/
(accessed September 12, 2018).

Jeffrey, Hays. “SEMANG (NEGRITOS), SENOI, TEMIAR AND ORANG ASLI OF

Malaysia.” FACTS AND DETAILS.
http://factsanddetails.com/southeast-asia/Malaysia/sub5_4c/entry-3647.html
(accessed September 13, 2018).

Ker Than, Live Science Contributor. “What is Darwin’s Theory of Evolution?”

LiveScience.com.
https://amp.livescience.com/474-controversy-evolution-works.html (accessed
September 7, 2018)

"Orang Asli." Worldmark Encyclopedia of Cultures and Daily

Life. . Encyclopedia.com.
http://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-
maps/orang-asli (accessed September 12, 2018).

Tonkinson, Robert & Ronald M. Berndt. “Australian Aboriginal peoples.”

Britannica.com
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Australian-Aboriginal
(accessed September 12, 2018).

Wikipedia contributors. "Kaamatan." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.

https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kaamatan&oldid=855213793
(accessed September 14, 2018).
Wikipedia contributors. "Sun Wukong." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sun_Wukong&oldid=858786030
(accessed September 11, 2018).