Christ as Prophet: Redemption and Prophecy in the Novels of Patrick White, Tim Winton and Alexis Wright

In the purportedly secular nation of Australia, literary writers have long been exploring the prophetic and redemptive possibilities, usually in relation to Christian beliefs. The presence of Christ is sometimes made explicit, as in Patrick White’s Riders in the Chariot or Tim Winton’s writings. But a new possibility of spiritual redemption is now being probed by Indigenous writers, particularly in the work of Alexis Wright. This new direction addresses both Indigenous and non-Indigenous readers, leading them to consider the connections—hopes, values and future national well-being—between Indigenous and non-Indigenous spiritualities. This essay examines these three very different authors, asking how distinct exemplars of prophetic values and actions inform each writer’s work. Finally, the essay asks two speculative questions: What place does the prophetic and redemptive Christ have in the diverse spiritual paradigms in Australia? And how do we progress the immense and crucial interchange between Christian, Indigenous and secular worldviews in Australia?