Religion in Australia post 1945

RELIGION IN AUSTRALIA POST 1945

HOW IS IT ASSESSED?

10 Multiple Choice questions (10 marks)

1 x Short Answer Question (5 marks)

TOTAL = 15 MARKS

SYLLABUS OUTCOMESContemporary Aboriginal Spiritualities

Discuss how Aboriginal spirituality is determined by the Dreaming

• kinship• ceremonial life• obligations to land and people

discuss the continuing effect of dispossession on Aboriginal spiritualities in relation to:

• separation from the land• separation from kinship groups• the Stolen Generations

Outline the importance of the following for the Land Rights movement:

• Native Title• Mabo• Wik

Analyse the importance of the Dreaming for the Land Rights movement

SYLLABUS OUTCOMESReligious Expression in Australia – 1945 to present

Outline the changing patterns of adherence from 1945 to 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 religions• secularism

Describe the impact of Christian ecumenical movements in Australia

• The National Council of Churches• NSW Ecumenical Council

Evaluate the importance of interfaith dialogue in multi-faith Australia

Examine the relationship between Aboriginal spiritualities and religious traditions in the process of Reconciliation

ABORIGINAL SPIRITUALITY 1

Discuss how Aboriginal spirituality is determined by the Dreaming

• kinship• ceremonial life• obligations to land and people


KINSHIP

• Kinship refers to the interconnectedness of the people and environment

• “Family” is understood differently than our contemporary, Western society

• Each member of the clan played an important role and part in the daily living

• Kinship systems determine these roles, as well as rules for marriage and other relationships

• Dreaming determines these relationships


CEREMONIAL LIFE

• Ritual and artistic expression of the Dreaming

• Through these, the Dreaming is understood and lived

• Include: dance, ceremonies, music, paintings, initiation (and other) rites


OBLIGATIONS TO LAND AND PEOPLE

• The Dreaming is inextricably connected to the land

• Cannot separate their religion from their very specific land

• Symbiotic relationship between the people and the land


discuss the continuing effect of dispossession on Aboriginal spiritualities in relation to:

• separation from the land• separation from kinship groups• the Stolen Generations


CONSIDER:

• Various government policies systemically contributed to the destruction of Aboriginal spirituality

• “Half-cast” children were taken from their families as part of the Stolen Generation. Missions were set up, run by government and church organisations. Children in these missions were not allowed to speak their language, and were assimilated into “White” culture

• Aboriginal people were only given citizenship and voting rights mid-20th Century

• Many First Nations people today are still living with the direct effect of some of these policies


CONSIDER:

• With this much disruption and systemic oppression, Aboriginal spirituality (language, culture, knowledge) has been almost entirely wiped out

• With dispossession came the destruction of the kinship system, resulting in the loss of almost all information. Remember, theirs was predominantly an oral tradition


Outline the importance of the following for the Land Rights movement:

• Native Title• Mabo• Wik

ABORIGINAL SPIRITUALITY 3Land Rights Movement

• The movement towards official recognition of ownership of land by our First Nations people

• Dates back to mid 1900s

Mabo (1992)

• High Court decision which ruled:

• Terra Nullius was incorrect• Aboriginal people can make claim to land in some cases

Native Title Act (1993)

• Already established types of land ownership included Freehold Title (privately owned) and Crown Land (government owned).

• New type of land ownership: Native Title


Wik (1996)

• High Court decision which ruled:

• Native Title could be claimed on Crown land which was privately LEASED

• HOWEVER, should there be a conflict, and the tribunal unable to resolve it or reach a compromise, the lease holder’s rights outweighed the Native Title Claim

• Some other conditions


Analyse the importance of the Dreaming for the Land Rights movement

REMEMBER

• The Dreaming is inextricably connected to the land

• The stories, artworks and history refer to specific parts of the land and its features

• Without this land, the connection with the Dreaming is severed

RELIGIOUS LANDSCAPE 1

Outline the changing patterns of adherence from 1945 to present using census data

Religious Affiliation 1851 1901 1933 1947 1966 1976 1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006 2011

Anglican 52.6 39.7 38.7 39 33.5 27.7 26.1 23.9 23.9 22.0 20.7 18.7 17.1

Baptist 2.0 1.6 1.5 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.7 1.7 1.6 1.6 1.6

Catholic 26.2 22.7 19.6 20.9 26.3 25.7 26.0 26.1 27.3 27.0 26.6 25.8 25.3

Churches of Christ 0.6 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.3 ?

Jehovah's Witness 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.4 0.4 ?

Lutheran 2.0 0.9 0.9 1.6 1.4 1.4 1.3 1.5 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.2

Methodist 5.6 13.4 10.3 11.5 9.7 7.3 3.4

Orthodox 0.2 0.2 2.2 2.7 3.0 2.7 2.8 2.8 2.8 2.9 2.6

Pentecostal 0.3 0.5 0.7 0.9 1.0 0.6 1.11 1.1

Presbyterian 10.3 11.3 10.8 9.8 9.0 6.6 4.4 3.6 4.3 3.8 3.4 3.0 2.8

Salvation Army 0.8 0.5 0.6 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.3 ?

Uniting Church 4.9 7.6 8.2 7.5 6.7 5.7 5.0

Other Christian 3.9 1.3 1.9 2.0 2.4 4.0 3.2 4.6 2.0 1.9 1.9 1.7 ?

% TOTAL CHRISTIAN 98.6 94.2 85.4 87.3 87.5 78.4 75.9 73.3 73.9 69.5 69.8 63.9 61.1

Buddhist 0.2 0.5 0.8 1.1 1.9 2.11 2.5

Hindu 0.1 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.8 1.3

Muslim 0.3 0.5 0.7 0.9 1.1 1.5 1.7 2.2

Jewish 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.5

Other Non-Christian 0.5 0.8

% TOTAL NON-CHRISTIAN 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.7 1.5 2.1 2.9 3.8 4.8 5.6 7.2

Inadequately described 0.5 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.3

No Religion 0.5 0.2 0.3 0.8 8.3 10.8 12.7 12.9 16.5 15.5 18.7 22.3

Not Stated 1.5 12.8 10.8 10 11.8 10.9 11.9 10.2 8.7 11.7 11.2 9.4

% NO REL. /NOT STATED 2.5 13.8 11.3 11.1 20.5 22.2 25.0 23.4 25.5 27.2 29.9 31.7

TOTAL (Millions) 3.8 7.6 11.6 13.5 15.6 16.9 17.75 18.8 19.9 21.5


Things to consider:

• Overall drop in percentage of Christians• Rise of secularism (“No Religion” and “Not Stated” increase)

and 1971 change on census• Size of the other religion traditions (what is the 2nd largest?)• Shifts in the numbers of particular Christian groups


Account for the present religious landscape in Australia in relation to:

• Christianity as the major religious tradition• immigration• denominational switching• rise of New Age religions• secularism


CHRISTIANITY AS THE MAJOR RELIGIOUS TRADITION

Things to consider:

• History of colonisation of Australia – British and Irish Christians

• Lack of recording of Indigenous beliefs as a legitimate religious tradition

• European settlement and immigration• Catholic numbers rise – why?


IMMIGRATION

Things to consider:

• Post WWII – 1945 onwards – European immigrants• Conflicts in 20th century include:

• Vietnam War – (Catholic, Buddhist) 1960s• Mid-East conflicts; Iraq (Muslim), Lebanon (Muslim, Orthodox

& Catholic) – 1970s-1990s• Sudan – 1990s-2000s• And many others


DENOMINATIONAL SWITCHING

Things to consider

• Denomination Switching – between Christian churches only• Increase in Catholic numbers – denominational ‘loyalty’• Increase in Pentecostal – charismatic movement, popular

among younger Christians; “revolving door”• Decrease in Anglican – less British immigrants• Protestantism – Shifts between the various Protestant

denominations


RISE OF NEW AGE RELIGIONS

Things to consider:

• Individualistic society• Disillusionment with “traditional” religious practices, especially

Christianity• General dissatisfaction with mainstream religions• New Age includes: astrology, feng shui, transcendental

meditation, paganism, etc


SECULARISM

Things to consider:

• Huge advances in scientific understanding of the universe in the 20th century, continuing

• Increasing pluralism (diversity of beliefs and cultures) in Australia

• Increasing sense of irrelevance of religion in today’s life• “No Religion” increasing on census


Describe the impact of Christian ecumenical movements in Australia

• The National Council of Churches• NSW Ecumenical Council


ECUMENISM

Things to Consider:

• Ecumenism – movement towards unity amongst Christian denominations

• NOT intended as an amalgamation of churches• Include theological ‘agreements’ (beliefs)• Include joint practical activities – making public statemtns on

issues such as war, public morality, and other matters of social justice

• E.g. Uniting Church – Formed in 1977 – Joining of Presbyterian, Methodist and Congregationalist


National Council of Churches Australia

• NCCA – formed after WWII• Currently comprised of 15 member churches• Aims to deepen relationships between member churches• Aims to work, pray and grow together• Initiatives include: Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

RELIGIOUS LANDSCAPE 3NSW Ecumenical Council

• Formed in 1982• 16 churches throughout NSW and ACT• Affiliated with NCCA• Aims to promote ecumenism through four major types of

initiatives:• Theology• Local initiatives (grass roots level)• Social justice activities• Educational initiatives


Evaluate the importance of interfaith dialogue in multi-faith Australia


Things to consider:• Inter-faith dialogue: formal discussions aiming to

develop greater mutual understanding between different religious traditions

• Initiatives include:• NSW Council of Christians and Jews• Columban Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations

• Important because of nature of Australia’s pluralistic society, appreciation of diversity, breaking down of stereotypes (e.g. Muslims after 9/11)

• Aim to build relationships between different religions, to join together on issues of common agreement, especially social justice

RECONCILIATION

Examine the relationship between Aboriginal spiritualities and religious traditions in the process of Reconciliation

RECONCILIATION

Some examples:

• Christianity• ANTaR: Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation• Formal apology to Stolen Generation by Pope John

Paul II in 1998• Judaism

• Week of prayer for Reconciliation is held every year• Executive Council of the Australian Jewry urged the

Australian government to implement the recommendations made by the National inquiry into the separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and their Families

Documents

Religion in Australia post 1945