Religious Expression in Australia - 1945 to the Present

Question 1

The drop in Christianity between 1947 and 2021 was

Answer 1

88% in 1947 and 43.9% in 2021

Question 2

The rise in “Other Religion” between 1947 and 2021 was

Answer 2

0.5% in 1947 and 10% in 2021

Question 3

The rise in “no religion” between 1947 and 2021 was

Answer 3

0.3% in 1947 and 38.9% in 2021

Question 4

Order of the major world religions in 2021

Answer 4

Christianity (43.9%) Islam (3.2%) Hinduism (2.7%) Buddhism (2.4%) and Judaism (0.4%)

Question 5

Why is Christianity historically the major religion in Australia?

Answer 5

• Colonisation
• The first fleet was primarily Anglican, with a small number of Irish Catholics

Question 6

What churches have been experiencing decline?

Answer 6

• More traditional churches, (such as Catholic)
  -Anglicanism has decreased most dramatically with a drop from 3.1 million in 2016 to 2.5 million in 2021

Question 7

In 2021 Christianity decreased by approx.

Answer 7

1 million people

Question 8

As people fled war-torn Europe post WW2 (diaspora) what churches increased?

Answer 8

Roman Catholic & Eastern Orthodox

Question 9

How many people fled war-torn Europe between 1947 and 1966, and what was the resultant increase

Answer 9

One million people fled, leading to a 6% increase in Catholicism

Question 10

What year was the White Australia policy abolished? And what was the result?

Answer 10

1973, coincided with a mass migration from Vietnam following the Vietnam war, bringing Buddhism to Australia (which has since been sustained by flow of immigrants from China and SE Asia)

Question 11

Between 1966 and 2006 the Islamic population has risen by

Answer 11

69.4%

Question 12

What is the reason for influx in Islamic migration

Answer 12

War in the middle east, particularly Iraqi civil war

Question 13

Between 2006 and 2011 Hinduism grew by

Answer 13

86%

Question 14

Why has Australia’s Hindu and Sikh population grown so rapidly?

Answer 14

Skilled Migration Program attracting immigrants from India

Question 15

Australia’s Sikh population has — since 2011

Answer 15

trippled

Question 16

What does “spiritual supermarket syndrome” refer to

Answer 16

denominational switching, emphasis is placed on individual needs rather than loyalty to a particular church

Question 17

What churches are people switching to?

Answer 17

More conservative churches, particularly Pentecostal

Question 18

Between 1986 and 1991 Pentecostalism grew by

Answer 18

42%

Question 19

Why are Catholics and Orthodox people less likely to switch?

Answer 19

Bible is considered objective and unchanging
Religion is strongly tied to culture

Question 20

Surveys by the National Church Life show that people under the age of 40…

Answer 20

generally view lifetime loyalty to a particular church as not crucial

Question 21

What are some reasons that “new age” spiritualities have grown in popularity?

Answer 21

• Complications of modern life
• less fulfilment in traditional churches
• Focus on a more individual religious experience

Question 22

What are the characteristics of a new age religion

Answer 22

• interest in the body and experience
• objects and rituals
• ideal in the “oneness of humankind”

Question 23

What are some examples of components from Eastern religions borrowed by new age?

Answer 23

karma, meditation, chakra and feng-shui

Question 24

By what percentage has new age spiritualities increased between 1996 and 2016 census

Answer 24

140% increase

Question 25

Equinox Astrology

Answer 25

exhibitor at the Sydney Mind, Body, Spirit festival, they believe in astrology such as birth charts that come alive to reveal a person's psychological makeup

Question 26

What are some signs of secularisms increase?

Answer 26

- Decline in religious affiliation - Decline in church attendance - Decline in prayer

Question 27

What are some reasons for secularisms increase?

Answer 27

- Materialism - Pluralism - Individualism - Disillusionment with churches - Scepticism toward the supernatural due to science - Not finding answers to life's enduring questions

Question 28

Between 2016 and 2021 how many additional people identified as "no religion"

Answer 28

2.8 million people

Question 29

Church attendance in the 21st century is below what percentage?

Answer 29

20%

Question 30

What percentage of marriage ceremonies did civil celebrants perform in 2018?

Answer 30

80%

Question 31

Define ecumenism

Answer 31

the movement amongst Christian churches promoting unity

Question 32

Define interfaith dialogue

Answer 32

Cooperative and respectful discussion between different religious traditions to promote understanding, peace and tolerance

Question 33

What is the Uniting Church in Australia (UCA)?

Answer 33

- great example of ecumenism in action - Joining of the Presbyterian, Methodist and Congregational churches

Question 34

When did the UCA form?

Answer 34

June 22 1977

Question 35

Catholic Archbishop of Brisbane, Francis Rush, described the UCA as...

Answer 35

"most significant ecumenical event in Australia’s history"

Question 36

What are some of the contemporary impacts of the UCA

Answer 36

- service network of over 400 agencies, including hospital, aged care and youth mental health - UnitingWorld, international aid centred around Asia, Africa and the Pacific, work with 18 other denominations globally to provide nearly 180 000 people with support

Question 37

When did the National Council of Churches in Australia (NCCA) form as is today?

Answer 37

1994

Question 38

What is the aim of the NCCA?

Answer 38

- Gather Christian communities from across Australia that have "embarked on a pilgrimage together" - recognising the common faith in "the Lord Jesus Christ as God and Saviour"

Question 39

How long has the "Act for Peace" department of NCCA been running?

Answer 39

75 years

Question 40

What does the "Act for Peace" do?

Answer 40

- Work for and with people who's lives have been uprooted by disaster - work to ensure the dignity and safety of the human person

Question 41

In 2023, how many projects did "Act for Peace" support

Answer 41

35, including notably the Christmas Bowl appeal and the Middle East appeal

Question 42

When was the Ecumenical Accompaniment Program in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) formed

Answer 42

2002

Question 43

What does the EAPPI do?

Answer 43

- The EAPPI is a program where individuals can be deployed to East Jerusalem and West Bank, to support individuals and deter human rights violations regardless of "side" -Provides a continuous stream of 25-30 people

Question 44

What is the NSW Ecumenical council?

Answer 44

The NSW Ecumenical council is a collective of churches across NSW and ACT representing 18 different churches

Question 45

What are the 3 foundations of the NSW Ecumenical council

Answer 45

1. Maintaining the “unity of the spirit in the bonds of peace” (Ephisians 4:3) 2.Being committed to the gospel and proclaiming it together 3.Living out the implications of the gospel for service in our world

Question 46

What does the NSW Ecumenical council say about peace and justice?

Answer 46

Committed to peace and justice and gives advice to council on issues pertaining to peace and justice.

Question 47

What is the "house of welcome"?

Answer 47

A program that supports and houses refugees and asylum seekers, with 95 housed per night

Question 48

"Inter-religious dialogue is...

Answer 48

an integral element of the Church's evangelising mission" (DP,38, cf RM, 55)

Question 49

When was the Columbian Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations established?

Answer 49

1997

Question 50

What are the twofold objectives of the Columbian Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations?

Answer 50

1. foster relationships with Australia's Muslim community 2. Address the misconceptions and lack of understanding surrounding Islam in Australia

Question 51

What are some programs that the Columbian Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations run?

Answer 51

- Writes for a variety of newspapers to promote religious tolerance and unity -Facilitate youth PoWR