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Australia’s Religious Landscape from
1945 to the present
A1. Changing patterns of religious adherence from 1945 to
the present using census data
A2. Present religious landscape in Aust in relation to:
i. Christianity as the major religious tradition
ii. Immigration
iii. Denominational switching
iv. Rise of new age Religions
v. Secularism
A1. Changing Patterns of religious Adherents:
Main points to consider:
•decline in the those identifying with Christianity from 87.3% of the pop in 1947 to 63.89%
•Increase in those identifying with Orthodox Christian. From 0.2% in 1947 to 2.28% in 2001
•increase in those identifying w/ trad. Other then Christianity. From 0.5% in 1947 to 6.24% in
2001. Due to high levels of immigration. 2001 census indicated 48% of pop has at least one parent
(or themselves) born overseas
•increase of those identifying with no religion. “no religion” in census 1st introduced in 1971,
with 7% indicating they had no religion, in 2007 census 18.67% responded to having no religion.
•Despite decrease in Christianity, there is an increase in Catholicism, with 20.9% in 1945 to 25.82
in 2007
•higher percentage of adherents attending regular church survives in Pentecostal churches 74%, in
comparison to other traditional Christian Churches such as the catholic church, which had 10%
church attendance.
•Also more younger people are attending church services in Pentecostal churches. 73% of
Pentecostal adherents aged from 15-49 years attend regular services compared to other Christian
Churches such as the uniting church where 28% of adherents aged from 15-49 attend regular
services.
•These two above factors are seeing the growth of Pentecostal churches. (0.3% in 1976 to 1.1% in
2007)
A2. Present religious landscape in Aust in relation to:
i. Christianity as the major religious tradition
ii. Immigration
iii. Denominational switching
iv. Rise of new age Religions
v. Secularism
i. Christianity as the major religious tradition
Pre 1945.
•Euro settlement: 2/3 of first fleet was Church of England, remaining 1/3 were Catholic.
•Gold rush of 19th cent brought Buddhism, yet numbers were limited
•Afghan Muslims arrived for Ghana railway
•high British immigration - therefore increase of Christian population
•Christianity remained dominant religious tradition with 87.3% of pop in 1947.
Post 1945
• since 1945 Christianity has increased and diversified as immigration has seen Australia
merge from its Anglo Celtic Hegemony into a more multifaith multicultural society
•post WW2 Christianity was still the dominant Religious tradition however the mix more
more exotic
•Why?
•White Aust policy (1930 - 1973) attracted European immigration seeing increase in
Christianity
•Catholic pop grew mainly due to immigration from Italy, Yugoslavia Poland & Ireland
•Growth in Orthodox Christians esp. from 1045 - 81 due to immigration from Greece,
Cyprus, and other parts of Europe. Increase from 17 000 in 1947 to 529 000 by 2001
•while Christianity is continuing as the major religious tradition in Australia, its
percentage of the population is decreasing (see page 2), due to increase immigration
from non-European countries bringing Religions traditions other then Christianity into
Australia such as Buddhism. Buddhism’s numbers have grown from 0.01% of the pop
in 1947 to 2.11% in 2007.
ii.Immigration
•Australia has taken the 2nd most amount of immigrants relative to its population
•initially most came from European countries of Christian backgrounds
•first immigration post WW2 saw Aust being divided along its original ethnic lines ie.Anglicans
were seen as British, Orthodox were seen as Greek.
•Today no traditions or denominations can be labeled in ethnic national boxes
•post 45 immigration of non Anglo Celtic is one of the most significant events in Austs history
Judaism:
•post WW2: Nazi Germany, Austria, Czech, members from Eastern European Holocaust
•70’s - now: Israel and Sth Africa
Hinduism
•1991 - now: recent immigration of people w/ Indian Heritage by from countries such as
Fiji and Malaysia
Islam
•turkey, Lebanon, Indo, Pakistan, Iraq, Afghanistan, Africa (Somalia, Ethiopia)
Buddhism
•not just product of immigration from Asian countries (Japan, China) but Anglo Celtic
Australians describing themselves as Buddhist
60’s
•decrease of British immigration (post war British economic activity)
•end of Vietnam and civil war in Lebanon - refugees
•migration from pacific countries
TODAY - South East Asia, Middle East and Pacific Nations are expanding the Buddhist,
Hindu and Muslim populations.
iii.Denominational Switching
personal changing from one denomination usually from faith of family origin, to a
denomination which they feel more enthused and comfortable in.
•1991 Church Life Survey - 29% of respondents stated they had switched denominations in
the last 5 years
•Switching in:
•Pentecostal Churches: Enthusiastic, faith healing, emotional preaching, draws many
esp. younger people
•28% in, with 15% out. Saw attendance grow by 16% in 5 years.
•Affected most possessively by denominational switching
•Evangelical Churches: Most Protestant denominations, where there is an emphasis on
personal devotion
•High denominational switching in due to ‘bright lights’ it offers, but can be seen
as a ‘revolving door’.
•g
•Switching Out:
•low priority of denominational loyalty in Conservative churches such as Anglican,
Uniting, Presbyterian and Lutheran, which poses a threat to future validity.
•High loyalty in Catholicism = not affected by denominational switching
•Denominational switching reflects prevailing value of personal fulfillment.
•Interesting that denominations that are benefits from denominational switching,
provide factors that people have indicated they DON’T want eg. services over an hour.
iv. New Age
•1970’s - emerged as a broad movement of contemporary western culture
•growth in those seeking spiritual answers in what are known as New Age Religions
•Characterised by:
•individual electric approach to spiritual exploration
•cycle of time, rebirth, divine within
•interest in body and experience
•objects and rituals
•individual fulfillment - higher states of being, mystical experience
•no doctrines
•Increasing in Australia due to opening of religious market Australia and an acceptance to
experiment with new alternate spiritual fulfillment
•2001 census indicated:
•10 632 people were pagans
•8 755 were Wiccans (type of witchcraft)
•9 272 were spiritualists
•new age is becoming more prominent in Australia society, reflected by:
•Aust spends $150 000 a MONTH on psychic phone calls and horoscopes
•Annual Mind, Body and Spirit Festivals, with yoga, meditation and palm reading etc.
v. Secularism
people separating themselves from religious influences
•occurred against background of gradual trans-national changes in social values and
attitudes
•opening of spiritual market place is giving people alternatives to trad. Institutionalised
religions
•increase of those identifying with no religion. “no religion” in census 1st introduced
in 1971, with 7% indicating they had no religion, in 2007 census 18.67% responded to
having no religion.
•Today nearly 50% of marriages are civil ceremonies
•Reasons:
No longer accepting inherited religious identification without question
Rejection constructions of religions
The occurring of a catalyst – death of child
Hypocrisy of church – child abuse
Influence of others who hold atheistic views
Exposure to alternatives at Uni.
No religion – socially more acceptable
Materialism