Religion Expression in Aus post-1945 Flashcards
Outline changing patterns of religious adherence from 1945 to the present using census data
- predominantly religious country (60%)
- immigration most dramatic effect - helped to reshape profile of Aus religious affiliations
- reason for changing landscape: movmt from denominations, increase in seeking answers, increase in ‘no religion’
- Aus offered displaced Europeans home + job
- Jewish immigration from Europe kept proportion of Jews in Aus. fairly constant (around 0.4% in 2016)
- Immigration from Aisa + Middle East expanded Buddhist, Hindu + Muslim numbers → increased ethnic diversity
- changes in religious affiliation: denominational switching, rise of Pentecostalism, New Age Movmt
- Most significant changes = decline in proportion of Christians (down by 35.7%) + increase in ‘no religion (up by 29.8%)
CENSUS DATA
No religion = 30.1% of pop. Christianity on the whole made up 51.6% of pop. Hinduism = 1.9% Buddhism = 2.4% 1.1% = Pentecostal 22.6% = Catholic 2.1% = Orthodox 13.3% of pop. = Anglican Islam = 2.6% Judaism = 0.4% Total number of non-Christian religions = 8.2%
Account for the present religious landscape in Australia in relation to:
- Christianity as the major religious tradition
- dominated by Christianity (52.1% 2016) = largely due to historical + immigration factors (first fleet 2/3 primarily Anglican)
- most significant change in affiliation from 1947 to 2016 = continual % decrease in proportion of Christians (88%, 1947 to 52.1%, 2016)
- Anglicanism was most prominent (39%, 1947) due to British colonisation = dropped (13.3%, 2016) = Catholicism now largest since early 90’s (22.6%, 2016) + increase in Orthodox
- decline + increase = abolition of WAP 1972 = increased Catholic immigration from Asia e.g. Phillipines, Vietnam
= contributed to more diverse + multicultural practices within Christianity, including Masses in many languages - Although still numerically largest = declined as a % of total pop = emergence of other religious traditions, more people identifying as ‘non-religious’ = abolition of WAP = rise in Buddhism (2.4%), Hinduism (1.9%)
Account for the present religious landscape in Australia in relation to:
- Immigration
- major factor in diversifying Aus religious landscape
- Post-WWII = increase in migration of Southern Euro Catholics (Italy, Malta, Spain) + Orthodox Christians from Eastern Europe (Greece)
- Jewish immigration from Europe kept proportion of Jews in Aus fairly constant (0.4%, 2016)
- non-Christian religious identification has grown to 8.2% of Aus pop in 2016
- abolition of WAP 1972 = migration from non-Euro countries grew:
→ Hinduism (1.9%, 2016) from India, Sri Lanka, Fiji (practice: yoga, temples + festivals including Ganesha Festival) + now fastest-growing tradition
→ Buddhism (2.4% 2016) from Thailand (practice: aspects like meditation embraced as New Age spirituality; temples including Nan Tien Temple)
→ Islam (2.6% 2016) from Indonesia, Malaysia, Middle East (practice: rituals like Ramadan; mosques including Lakemba Mosque) - abolition of WAP facilitated Muslim immigration from Asia + Middle East = no. of Muslims grew by almost 1 million over 10yr period leading into 2016 = 2.6% of pop = largest non-Christian tradition
- Islam continued to grow in 90s = world + civil conflicts, particularly in Iraq, Afghan, Lebanon + North Africa
- net influx of migrants = predominantly Christian (34%)
- 1966–1975 = 5% of migrants not Christianity –> rose to 17% 1976–1985 driven by Buddhist migrants from South–East Asia + now sits just under 1/3 of migrants 2007–16
- Since 1966, Christianity = fallen from 88.2% of pop to 52% of pop 2016 = rise of secularism (30.1% ‘no religion’ + migration)
Account for the present religious landscape in Australia in relation to:
- Denominational switching
- feature of Aus’s increasingly individualistic society + diminishing significance of lifelong commitment to one particular church
- places a high priority on personal spiritual fulfillment + less to denominational loyalty
- formation of Uniting Church 1977 = disappearance of Methodists from landscape in 1980s
- shift from traditional churches like Anglican + Uniting to Pentecostalism (0.3% 1976, 1.1% 2016), including Hillsong + C3 (free forms of liturgy + contemporary music with use of tech + megachurches) = younger demographics - attracted to freshness + vitality of services
- increase in DS = impacted Church membership profiles with National Church life Survey 2016 = Pentecostal churches = highest proportion of young attenders (24% between 15 + 29) + traditional churches, like Anglican, on average having only 13% in this bracket
- Orthodox adherents = least likely to switch due to inextricable connection of faith + culture
- 2011 census: identification with Anglican faith = continued to drop while Pentocostal identification has slightly increased (1996 → 60% increase)
- under 40 switch denominations = less likely to view lifetime of loyalty to a church as essential, whereas over 60 do
Account for the present religious landscape in Australia in relation to:
- Rise of New Age religions
- increase in practice of new forms of religious expressions, potentially from 9.6% not stated (or included in 30.1% indicating no religion) on 2016 census
- practices including astrology + channelling became trendy form 60s from a percifed failure of traditional religions to provide personal fulfilment + ethical guidance with growing emphasis on individualistic ideologies
- most differ from trad practices with no formal leadership, sacred texts or central org
- practices e.g. MBS Festival held biannually in Aus cities = attract many due to dynamic structure
- social + cultural movmts including Feminism contributed to growth of Neo-Paganism + WICCA = increased rejection of trad religions
- Evidence of this also includes growth of practices like meditation (from Hinduism/Buddhism) emphasising eco-spirituality + wellbeing, conferences + rituals such as full moon rituals, + websites like Body+Soul.
- Reasons: Disillusionment with govt. media → church clergymen in sexual abuse, growing emphasis of autonomy + individualistic ideologies, questioning of authority structures
Account for the present religious landscape in Australia in relation to:
- Secularism
- due to increasingly individualistic, materialistic society + growing disenchantment with religions providing responses to existential questions
- Aus = dramatic rise in ‘no religion’ (22%, 2011, 30.1%, 2016)
- decline symptomatic of decline of trad religion + growth of secular perspectives like humanism + agnosticism
- main cause of decline is disenchantment with religions, mainly Christianity, due to perceived lack of relevance in contemporary society + ethical guidance like contraception in Catholicism + outdated liturgy + conservative attitudes e.g. stance on women
- Implications include:
→ Approx 70% of Aus marriages = conducted by civil celebrants
→ Recent legislation (Same-Sex Marriage Act 2017, Euthanasia in Victoria 2019)
→ shift from “Happy Christmas” to “Happy Holidays”
→ Increased Sunday trading
→ ‘No religion’ top option (2016 census) - However, trad churches practice interfaith dialogue e.g. JCMA, in reaction to this = aiming to preserve religious impact on society
- Religious perspectives abandoned for non-religious response to life’s questions e.g. science
- 1947 → recorded 99.7% of Aus with some religious affiliation, recent 2016 → 30% of Aus = ‘no religion’
Religious dialogue in multi-faith Australia
- Ecumenical movements within Christianity
Describe the impact of Christian ecumenical movements in Australia
- The National Council of Churches
- NSW Ecumenical Council
- refers to movmt towards religious unity amongst Christian denominations
- not about combining all denominations into one, but rather an acknowledgement that their unity in Christ outweighs their diversity in practice + beliefs
- recognition of ‘Christian disunity’
- provides greater sharing + recognition of similarities b/w Christian denominations = increased tolerance
- provide opportunities for faith to be more transparent to non-religious sector of Aus society
- building fellowship b/w churches = providing united response in terms of Christian message e.g. can be towards political movements
National Council of Churches - 15 different member churches
- represent voice of Christian churches in public debate + voice common concerns to govt. that affect Christian life
- deepen r/s’s b/w Christian churches; express unity more visibly, working together
- INITIATIVE = aid + development agency called Christian World Service = works to develop better future for people suffering from injustice + poverty, resources for annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity - STAT
NSW Ecumenical Council - 16 churches throughout NSW + ACT
- promote working together of Christian Churches
- aims to maintain ‘unity of Spirit in the bonds of peace’ (Ephesians 4:3)
- INITIATIVES = unite different denominations by providing a platform for different churches to address SJ issues e.g. setting up House of Welcome to assist refugees
- Working together towards common grounds e.g. SJ Sundays - focusing on relevant issues (prisons, envt etc), sharing of resources, common statements regarding euthanasia etc
- OTHER: Ecumenical Christian carol services, Way of the Cross/Easter services, world peace initiatives
Religious dialogue in multi-faith Australia
- Interfaith Dialogue
Evaluate the importance of interfaith dialogue in multifaith Australia
- formal discussion aimed towards developing greater mutual understanding b/w different religious traditions
- significant to foster understanding, ensuring peace + security, ensuring religious harmony
IMPORTANCE: - Aus = multi-cultural, multi-faith nation = due to immigration; post WW2 + refugee situations
- Aus current demographics make ID of paramount importance in terms of promoting enduring values of peace, harmony, racial + religious tolerance, knowledge, understanding + respect
- core of ID = promotion of positive interaction + collaboration b/w members of all religious traditions as a means of building harmony, respect + understanding
- Christainity prominence declining (52%) = more diverse (pluralist) = need for ID to promote mutual understanding
- Aus increased secularisation = pertinent time for religious tradition to come together to promote values of community, justice + peace
e.g. participating in community events such as multifaith service projects, participants leave touched by common desire to help underprivileged that underpins all traditions - ID = opportunity for people to come together + address injustice
OTHER IMPORTANCE: - historical + ongoing religious conflicts/persecution = often led to prejudice b/w religions that if not addressed = division within Aus community
- more effectively speak out on common issues + uphold shared values such as the dignity of person, sanctity of life, care for those in need, justice a+ peace
- allows discussions on faith matters + aspects of society + culture = aim of learning, accepting + promoting tolerance + cooperation b/w different faiths
Religious dialogue in multi-faith Australia
- Interfaith Dialogue
(FACTORS THAT LED TO INCREASE)
- rise of immigration + no. of different faith traditions = stem from abolition of WAP 1972 = increase in religious tradition e.g. Hinduism from India + Islam from Middle East = pushed Aus to develop more ID + understanding to breakdown stereotypes = form cohesive + progressive society
e.g. JCMA - Abraimac faiths - live-in seminars for followers - rise in secularism (2016 30.1% ‘no religion’) = losing relevance in society evident in decriminalisation of abortion in Vic + 2021 debate on euthanasia in SA = encouraged ID to gain stronger influence on society = united voice in public discourse
- global issues + conflicts including 9/11 terrorism attack (2001) + Cronulla Riots (2005) = reflected stereotypes + hostilities b/w certain pop. groups = encouraged + increased ID = to relieve tensions + work towards peace + social cohesion + counter negative/stereotpyped portrayal of different religions in media e.g. ISRA education programs + services post tragic events
- social condition worsen for poor in Aus society, ID = increased as a way for faiths to come together to work jointly on SJ issues = greater resources + more coordinated planning + delivery of services = more people in need assisted
Response to secularisation: - ID important for social cohesion
- more identifying with ‘no religion’ (19% 2006, 30.1% 2016) = differing religions should work towards a common goal of overcoming disadvantage + presenting a united front on social issues
- by working towards common good, traditions make themselves more relevant in society
Religious dialogue in multi-faith Australia
Examine the r/s b/w Aboriginal spiritualities + religious traditions in the process of Reconciliation
IMPORTANCE
- religious traditions in Aus = given strong support to process of reconciliation
- recognised that process must include an understanding + valuing of Aboriginal culture + ensuring that programs + strategies to be put in place work towards justice + equity
- refers to acknowledgement by various groups in Aus of great injustices done to Indigenous Aus + dispossession that occurred in past
- expresses their willingness + commitment to rectify these wrongs, where possible, to improve the position of Aboriginal people in future
- vision to move into future with a new r/s based on mutual recognition, understanding + respect b/w various religious traditions + Aboriginal spiritualities
- wide variety of Christian groups = part of reconciliation movmt + in support of issues such as land rights, native title + a formal apology to Stolen Generation
- wants to guarantee equal life chances for everyone + that contribution, place + culture of first Aus is recognised (close the gap)
- Church groups offered formal apologies for role of missionaries in abuse of AP + urged govt. to make a public apology
- Many churches incorporate trad Aboriginal culture into church life, such as rituals, ceremonies + incorporation of Aboriginal ministries + welcome to country
Reconciliation in society:
- Kevin Rudd Sorry Speech
→ 2008, ‘Sorry Day’, - statements of support by religious leaders for long awaited public recognition by govt of past mistakes
- National Reconciliation Week
→ sees a week of Catholic Initiatives promoting reconciliation particularly regarding Aboriginal health
- ANTaR
Initiatives
- Christianity Initiative: NCCA
→ NATSIEC works ecumenically among Aus churches + wider society to advance indigenous rights + help churches understand implications of their history + their current policies + actions
- Judaism Initiative:
→ Jewish groups hold a week of prayer for reconciliation every year. In 1998 Aus + NZ Union for Progressive Judaism voiced support for Wik decision + opposed Ten Point Plan
- Judaism sees Aboriginal reconciliation as a human rights issue while Islam supports reconciliation on both moral + humanitarian grounds
- Corroboree 2000 Bridge Walk
→ religious leaders + adherents of all major traditions
participated
- Other religious traditions = also actively supported reconciliation in Aus, e.g. Jewish leaders, Federation of Islamic Councils, Buddhist Peace Centre + Vishwa Hindu Parishad
