Religion and Belief Systems

in

Australia post - 1945

D.Webster

Religion and Belief Systems in Australia post - 1945

This PowerPoint deals with the areas of the syllabus that seeks to account for the present religious landscape in Australia in relation to:

• Christianity as the major religious Tradition in Australia and

• Immigration

The changing patterns of religious adherence from 1945

Using census data

Major religions in Australia 2006

Australian Bureau of Statistics

Religious Affiliation in Australia, 2001-2006

Number % Number %

- Roman Catholic 5,126,884 25.8 5,001,624 26.6 -0.8 +2.5

- Anglican 3,718,241 18.7 3,881,162 20.7 -2.0 -4.2

- Uniting Church in Australia 1,135,417 5.7 1,248,674 6.7 -1.0 -9.1

- Presbyterian and Reformed 596,672 3.0 637,530 3.4 -0.4 -6.4

- Orthodox 544,161 2.7 529,444 2.8 -0.1 +2.8

- Baptist 316,744 1.6 309,205 1.6 0 +2.4

- Lutheran 251,107 1.3 250,365 1.3 0 +0.3

- Pentecostal 219,687 1.1 194,592 1.0 +0.1 +12.9

- Other Protestant 736,012 3.7 675,422 3.6 +0.1 +9.0

- Oriental Orthodox 40,904 0.2 36,324 0.2 0 +12.6

Total Christian 12,685,829 63.9 12,764,342 68.0 -4.1 -0.6

Number % Number %

• Buddhist 418,749 2.1 357,813 1.9 +0.2 +17.0-

• Muslim 340,394 1.7 281,578 1.5 +0.2+20.9-

• Hindu 148,130 0.7 95,473 0.5 +0.2+55.2

outline changing patterns of religious adherence

from 1945 to the present using census data

account for the present religious landscape in

Australia in relation to:

– Christianity as the major religious tradition

– immigration

– denominational switching

– rise of New Age

The Christian Research Association is the

most authoritative source for analysis of Australian religious demography. In this article from Pointers, Philip Hughes provides an insight into the recent movements and current profile of Religion in Australia.

In 2006, the Australian Bureau of Statistics conducted the census of Australian households. This is the most comprehensive and up to date source for this section of the syllabus.

Here are some interesting figures for Wollongong:

Religion2006

NSW %

Christian Total 132,803 72.1 67.7

Non Christian Total 7,274 3.9 8.0

No Religion 27,432 14.9 14.3

Australia: A culturally diverse society

Australia

has a tolerant

and inclusive society made up of people

from many different backgrounds.

Cultural diversity is a central feature of our national identity.

In 1900, the Australian population consisted of a relatively small number of Indigenous people (estimated at 95 000) and an overwhelming majority of Europeans (3.7 million), mostly from Britain. By 2008, Australia’s population had exceeded 21 million, including people from around 200 countries.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait

Islander people are culturally diverse and belong to many language groups. Their lives were changed irrevocably after the British claimed Australia in 1788.

European settlement began with the establishment of British penal colonies, and more than 160 000 convicts were brought here until transportation as punishment ceased in 1868. From the early 1790s, the

convicts were joined

by free immigrants.

The gold rush era of the 1850s was also influential in bringing people from many parts of the world. The largest non-European group who came during this time was Chinese.

Immigration restriction 1901–1973

The ‘White Australia’ policy—embodied in the Immigration Restriction Act 1901—was focused on ending the employment of Pacific Islanders, who had been brought in as cheap labour on sugar plantations in northern Australia.

The policy was gradually abolished after the Second World War, but the emphasis on European immigration remained until 1966, when the government allowed the migration of ‘distinguished’ non-Europeans. The last vestiges of the policy were discarded in 1973.

From 1901 to the early 1970s, policies towards newcomers were based on assimilation. The preference for British migrants remained, and all others were expected to shed their existing cultural identities, including their native languages, to promote their rapid absorption into the host population.

From the mid-1960s until 1972, it was

increasingly recognised that large numbers of people whose first language was not English suffered hardships when settling in Australia. Most were Europeans of non-British origin who had come to Australia after the Second World War.

By 1973, the word ‘multiculturalism’ had been introduced and minority groups were forming local and national associations to promote their languages and cultures within the mainstream.

The post-war years

The two world wars had a profound effect

on Australia’s migration program. The resettlement of refugees in the post-war periods, especially after the Second World War, played a significant role in Australian immigration history.

From the Second World War to 2006–07, more than 6.6 million migrants from around 200 countries came to Australia. The mass migrations of the immediate post-war decades subsided in favour of an emphasis on the entry of people with needed skills and expertise.

Assisted passage immigrants arrive in Australia, 1950. Source - Unknown

Since the 1970s, there have been echoes of post-war migration policies in Australia’s responses to people displaced by events in their homelands. These included migration from Indo-China in the 1970s following the fall of Saigon, from East Timor in 1975 following the fall of Dili, and from the Balkans during the Yugoslav Wars of 1991 to 2001.

In 1999 Australia responded to people displaced by the conflict in the Yugoslav province of Kosovo. At the request of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the Australian Government established temporary havens for 4000 people and granted special visas allowing them to stay until it was safe to return home. Later that year Australia gave similar assistance to people from East Timor who were displaced when violence erupted following the vote for independence from Indonesia.

Migration has contributed to Australia’s emergence as one of the most cosmopolitan and dynamic societies in the world.

It has also resulted in the growth of community language schools, ethnic media, businesses, diverse religious and cultural activities, and variety in foods, restaurants, fashion, art and architecture. Immigration supports Australia’s economy, provides the people and skills needed to ensure productivity and growth, and helps with meeting future demographic challenges.

Top 10 countries of birth, 1901 and 2006 censuses1901 Census 2006 Census

Country of birth Number %* Country of birth Number %*United Kingdom 495 074 13.1 United Kingdom 1 038 150 5.2Ireland 184 085 4.9 New Zealand 389 460

2.0Germany 38 352 1.0 China 206 590

1.0China 29 907 0.8 Italy 199 120

1.0New Zealand 25 788 0.7 Vietnam 159 850 0.8Sweden and Norway 9 863 0.3 India 147 110

0.7India 7 637 0.2 Philippines 120 540

0.6United States 7 448 0.2 Greece 109 990 0.6Denmark 6 281 0.2 Germany 106 530

0.5Italy 5 678 0.2 South Africa 104 130

0.5

Top 10 total 810 113 21.5 Top 10 total 2 581 470 13.0Other 47 463 1.3 Other 1 834 560 9.2Total overseas born 857 576 22.8 Total overseas born 4 416 030

22.2Total Australian 3 773 801 100.0 Total Australian 19 855 290

100.0population population

Immigration policy

Australia administers separate migration and humanitarian programs which provide a balance between international humanitarian obligations and the government’s economic, social and environmental objectives.

The migration program has two main streams: a skill stream, which targets skills that contribute to Australia’s economy, and a family stream, which recognises the value and importance of family migration.

The Migration Act 1958 sets out the criteria for migration. An applicant’s nationality, ethnic origin, sex, race and religion play no part in determining their eligibility.

Humanitarian program

• Migrants under the humanitarian program are people from overseas who have been designated as refugees by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and other people who are in humanitarian need.

This can include peoples who have suffered persecution or substantial discrimination amounting to gross violations of their human rights in their home country, who are outside their home country, and who have close links to Australia.

Since the end of the Second World War,

more than 690 000 refugees and people in humanitarian need have been resettled in Australia. In 2006–07, more than 13 000 visas were granted under the program. In 2007–08, the humanitarian program was maintained at 13 000 places.