Religion and Systems in Australia

Assessment Task 1: Religion and Systems in

Australia Post 1945

Religion, as evident throughout the course of history, changes with time, and those changes are occurring at a faster pace than ever before as we witness the twenty-first century unfold bringing new ideals and an even more diverse community. These changes account for the present religious landscape in Australia and are apparent in the statistics provided in the 2006 census which indicate rises in secularism and denominational switching.

Secularism has attracted a build up of Australian residents which are defined by the developing separation from religious influence. Secularism was furthered by the reformist agenda of nineteenth century Protestant Australia which encouraged an education system that was ‘compulsory, free and secular’ because of ongoing religious-political education debates between rivaling denominations. The increasing tendency of Australians stating that they have ‘no religion’ in each succeeding national census provides a clear view of the extent to which secularism has influenced the current religious landscape of Australia. The number of residents identifying themselves as having ‘no religion’ increased from 17% in the 1996 census to 19% in the 2006 census. These statistics are explained in the article by Michael Gilchrist which states that ‘…only 64 percent of those under 15 at the time of the 1996 Census who were identified as Catholic (presumably by their parents) still described themselves as Catholic ten years later. And most of these are graduates of the Catholic education system’. The reason for increases in secularism can therefore be seen as a product of a background of gradual trans-national changes in social values and attitudes of modern society; highlighted by the most significant growth being ‘among the younger age categories’ who are more likely to embrace alternatives to traditional, institutional religion (which may perhaps be seen as constricting to these new values and attitudes).

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The effect of contemporary culture and its changing values, morals and attitudes on the religious landscape of Australia is also evident in rises, as well as a constant inflow and outflow, of denominational switching within the Christian faith. Free movement between the Anglican/Protestant denominations, it seems, has long been a feature of Australian church life (and the most common). This originated perhaps during Australia’s early settlement when only the Church of England and few other denominations were accounted and provided for leaving no alternative option to minority religions, such as the Irish Catholics, than to attend another church service. The ever-present tendency to ‘shop around’ for the kind of church that suits one’s particular needs reflects a widespread attitude highlighting the importance of the purpose a church offers to a member of its congregation. An example of this can be seen in the experience of Brett Macpherson who converted to Hillsong, stating that ‘There was a great feel to the place, there were a lot of youth… super-positive. I had felt so negative for so long. It takes you away from being self-conscious...’. This story is not uncommon in today’s society where Pentecostal Churches have among the greatest number of switchers into their denomination for reasons such as ‘Hillsong's famous blend of expressive happiness and devotion’ as Rowbotham has suggested. The census figures clearly substantiate this through the most significant change for all the states and territories being a 48% increase in Pentecostals in New South Wales since 1996. Despite this, Pentecostal Churches also hold some of the highest numbers of switchers out, indicating an inability to gain and hold adherents. This reflects the individualism of the age. In contrast, the conservative churches tend to shield adherents form the uncertainties of the modern world and offer a very clear sense of salvation seen in the 7% increase in the Catholic Church.

The trends of the 2006 census seem to state that Australia’s religious landscape is relying increasingly on ‘… a matter of being relevant’ as Hillsong Pastor Brian Houston stated in Rowbotham’s article, yet, in today’s fast-developing society, what is relevant quickly tends to become irrelevant.

Bibliography

Morrissey. J. (2005). Living Religion: THIRD EDITION. Melbourne: PEARSON Education Australia.

N/A. (2007). Media Fact Sheet: Census shows non-Christian religions continue to grow at a faster rate. N/A. The Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Rowbotham. J. (2007). Pentecostals are the big winners in a world that's hungry for hope. [Internet]. Australia: The Australian. Available from: . [Accessed 18th November 2008].

Gilchrist. M. (2008). Census 2006: ‘No religion’ up, Christians down. [Internet]. N/A. Available from: . [Accessed 18th November 2008].

Census 2006: ‘No religion’ up, Christians down

Michael Gilchrist.

The latest statistics on religious affiliations from the 2006 Australian Census provide little comfort for the leaders of the major Christian churches.

In 1901, the overwhelming majority (96 percent) of Australians described themselves as Christian. One hundred years later, that number has declined to 64 percent (down from 71 percent in 1996). This decline will continue, since the younger the age group the lower the percentage.

The mainline non-Catholic denominations have declined the most, while the Catholic Church has remained fairly stable in recent years at around 25 percent of the Australian population.

The most rapid growth - from very small bases - has occurred with the Christian fundamentalists such as the Pentecostals and the major non-Christian believers, notably Buddhists, Muslims and Hindus.

From a Catholic standpoint, the most disturbing statistic is the number of those brought up as Catholics who have switched to 'no religion'. In 2006, only 64 percent of those under 15 at the time of the 1996 Census who were identified as Catholic (presumably by their parents) still described themselves as Catholic ten years later. And most of these are graduates of the Catholic education system.

This no doubt reflects the influence of secularism, with the number stating 'no religion' continuing to grow, from 16.6 percent of all Australians in 1996 to 18.7 percent in 2006, and with the growth greatest among the younger age categories.

Among those professing any religious belief, the statistics make clear that an undiluted faith attracts and retains adherents while accommodation with the secular culture will ensure further decline.

Pentecostals are the big winners in a world that's hungry for hope

Jill Rowbotham, Religious affairs writer | June 28, 2007

Article from:

BRETT Macpherson came to Jesus the hard way, via a sad and violent family background, drugs and crime, stints in jail, time in rehab and an ultimate realisation that even a life lived clean and sober was not enough.

The 35-year-old Catholic-baptised roofer joined the inner-Sydney campus of Hillsong, Australia's best-known Pentecostal church. Although a Salvation Army chaplain arranged his rehabilitation, it wasn't until he encountered Hillsong's famous blend of expressive happiness and devotion to the Lord that he found a place to stick.

Mr. Macpherson voiced the typical attractions of Hillsong: "There was a great feel to the place, there were a lot of youth. The whole church is super-positive. I had felt so negative for so long. It takes you away from being self-conscious and thinking 'poor me'."

That probably explains the 12.9per cent lift in the number of people identifying themselves with Pentecostal churches such as Hillsong since 2001.

"It's a matter of being relevant and I think people believe there is a sense of authenticity in the way the gospel is preached; I think we give people hope," Hillsong pastor Brian Houston said.

Despite the census revealing sustained growth over 10 years - 25.7 per cent up on 1996 figures - Mr. Houston said the census was not capturing all Pentecostals and that the denomination should be given its own tick-box.

"A lot of people would just say Christian."

Sydney archbishop Peter Jensen endorses the power of a vigorous Christianity of the kind offered by Pentecostals. His diocese is also going well, with annual growth of 1 to 2 per cent in attendance, bucking the national decline in Anglican churchgoing. The number of people identifying as Anglicans has dropped 4.2 per cent since 2001 and although the Catholics were up by 2.5 per cent to 5.1 million, they declined as a proportion of the population from 26.7 per cent to 25.8 per cent.

"Australia is still largely a Christian country - using Christian in a very broad sense," Archbishop Jensen said.

The proportion of Australians with no religion was 18.7 per cent, compared with 16 per cent last time. Although Christianity is declining from a large base - Christians account for 64 per cent of the population, compared with 68per cent in 2001 - other religions are growing. Hindus were up 55per cent on 2001 figures to 148,119, Buddhists were up 17 per cent to 418,000 and Muslims were up by 21 per cent to 340,392.

Morrissey. J. (2005). Living Religion: THIRD EDITION. Pg 265.

Gilchrist. M. (2008). Census 2006: ‘No religion’ up, Christians down. [Internet].

Rowbotham. J. (2007). Pentecostals are the big winners in a world that's hungry for hope. [Internet].