Religious Expression in Australia - 1945 to the present Flashcards
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what is the percentage of Catholics in Australia in 2016?
22.6%
what is the percentage of ‘no religion’ in Australia in 2016?
30.1%
what is the percentage of Anglicans in Australia in 2016?
13.3%
what is the percentage of Buddhists in Australia in 2016?
2.4%
what is the percentage of Hindus in Australia in 2016?
1.9%
what is the percentage of Catholics in Australia in 2011?
25.3%
what is the percentage of ‘no religion’ in Australia in 2011?
22.3%
what is the percentage of Anglicans in Australia in 2011?
17.1%
which religion is the major religious tradition?
Christianity
has there been a decline in Christianity?
yes (according to Australia’s Census)
86% –> 52.1%
how often is the Australian Bureau of Statistics National Census held?
every five years
what are the main reasons for the shifting religious landscape of Australia?
- immigration
- denominational switching
- secularism
- new age religions
how has immigration shifted the religious landscape of Australia?
- abolishment of White Australia Policy in 1973
- immigrants from Asia
- Vietnamese immigrants after the Vietnam War
- Vietnamese bought Buddhism
what are a few religions that have been introduced due to immigration?
- buddhism
- hinduism
- islam
what is denominational switching?
switching from one denomination of a Church to another
how has denominational switching shifted the religious landscape of Australia?
- changes the composition of Australia’s religious landscape
- statistics are different
why do people switch denominations?
- focus on evangelisation
- youth are more attracted to vibrant services
what is an example of a Christian denomination that youth are more inclined to switch to?
Hillsong Church
what are new age religions?
- not formal religions
- no formal creeds or sacred texts
- spiritual, not religious
what do new age religions generally believe?
- all that exists is God
- karma and reincarnation
- existence of aura
what are some common practices in new age religions?
- meditation
- astrology
- crystals
- channeling
- feng shui
why is there a rise in new age religions?
increase in society questioning traditional authorities
what is an example of a new age religion?
scientology
what is secularism?
based on the idea that society and government should be free from religious influence
why is secularism becoming more prominent?
- people are becoming more suspicious of institutionalised religion
- feel that it is not relevant to a modern society
what is a good example that shows that Christianity is the major religious tradition in Australia?
some public holidays are linked to the Christian calendar
what religion has gained the greatest number of followers as a result of
denominational switching?
pentecostalism
what percentage of Australian’s identify as having no religion?
30%-39%
what is ecumenism?
the movement among Christian, Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant churches
what does ecumenism work towards?
works towards Christian unity especially on social justice issues
what is are examples of ecumenism?
- The National Council of Churches Australia (NCCA)
- The Uniting Church
what churches became a part of the Uniting Church of Australia?
- Methodists
- Presbyterians
- Congregationalists
when was the NCCA formed?
1994
what religious groups are a part of NCCA?
- Anglicans
- Protestants
- Catholics
- Orthodox
what does the NCCA promote?
promotes collaboration in social justice initiatives among Christian groups
what is interfaith dialogue?
formal discussion that aims to develop greater mutual understanding between different religious traditions
why is interfaith dialogue important?
- Australia is pluralistic & multi-faith
- allows for greater respect and appreciation of other religions
- united voce on key concerns
- promotes unity and strength
what is the main function of the National Council of Churches Australia?
the promote ecumenism
what is an example of interfaith dialogue?
NSW Council of Christians and Jews
what is reconciliation?
long and difficult process requiring the recognition of past wrongdoings involved in the destruction of Aboriginal spiritualities
what is an example of an organisation that works toward reconciliation?
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ecumenical Commission (NATSIEC)
what does NATSIEC work towards?
- acknowledgment of all Christian Churches of their role in Aboriginal dispossession
- promotes indigenous rights
- empower indigenous women
- helping repair Aboriginal spiritualities
