Religion Essays – Diversity of Religious Cultures

The impact of in-migration greatly affected the diverseness of spiritual civilizations and traditions in Australia

The impact of in-migration greatly affected the diverseness of spiritual civilizations and traditions in Australia. It dramatically increased in some groups and causes a diminution in others, because of the debut of new denominations. Before 1945, Australia was preponderantly a Christian based society, missing diverseness. The impact admidst the Second World War led to an addition in the Orthodox churches and several subdivisions of Christianity. The abolition of the White Australian Policy ( 1970 ‘s ) meant that Australia was freely unfastened to assorted peoples from other states seeking migration to Australia. As a consequence of this more Africans, Asians and Middle Easterns were able to migrate, most of which brought new spiritual denominations such as Islam, Hindiusm, Buddhism etc.

Prior to 1945, Australia’s spiritual landscape was largely dominated by Christians- largely Catholics and Anglicans. Even within Christians, Anglicans dominated more in Numberss as they were supported by the authorities and held some societal authorization. However, the wake of WW2 with the refugees seeking new lives enabled Jews to come to Australia- which contributed in increasing the figure of Judaic disciples in Australia. Besides, the slogan ‘populate of perish’ in the 50s- sixties enabled other Europeans to immigrate to Australia, therefore increasing the figure of Orthodox Christians. Although since 1945, Christianity still outnumbered other faiths in Australia, the bead of the White Australian Policy in the early 70s allowed in-migration from non- Christian states such as: Asia, India, Africa and Middle East- conveying faiths Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam into Australia. This non merely shapes the current spiritual landscape of Australia holding diverse faiths other than Christianity, but besides effected the rate of Christianity to drop to 67.9 % out of the whole population of Australia.

Changing forms of spiritual attachment – 20 per centum of Australians are not spiritual – From 1996-2001 — & gt ; dramatic addition in Islam, Buddhism, Hindu and Judaism – Due to the abolition of the white Australian policy in-migration increased. – After 1976 the Methodist church seized to be. – After 1976 the two new Christian denominations arose in Australia — & gt ; Pentecostal church & A ; the uniting church in 1981. Christianity as the major spiritual tradition – Originally migration came from Irland / Britain Immigration – 14 Orthodox denominations in Australia – Abolition of white Australian policy. Denominational exchanging – Within Protestant or Anglican denominations people are really prepared two switch denominations. – 1991 the church life study shows that 29 % of people had switched in the last 5 old ages. – Reasons for shift is because ; New comers fall ining or rejoining after a figure of old ages. Rise of new age faiths: – New Age instructions became popular during the 1970 ‘s – Often use reciprocally sole definitions for some of their footings – A free-flowing religious motion Secularism: the belief that faith should non be involved with the ordinary societal and political activities of a state. – from 1788 to the present twenty-four hours, regular church attending has increased from 10 % to 20 % . – Peoples who associate themselves with no-religion in the nose count rose from 7 % in 1971 to 16 % in 2001. – The ANU study showed 42 % of responses believed faith was non of import.

Outline altering forms of spiritual attachment from 1945 to the present utilizing nose count informations

• There have been important diminutions in the figure of Christians on a regular basis go toing spiritual services.
• This diminution is most apparent in the Anglican Church, the Presbyterian Church and the Uniting Church.
• The bead in the figures for these three denominations represents both a lessening in the per centum of those who are affiliated with that denomination every bit good as a diminution in existent Numberss over the last decennary.
• The proportion of Orthodox Christians in Australia grew quickly after the Second World War and has remained rather changeless over the past decennary.
• Roman Catholics have continued to increase both numerically and as a per centum of the population, and have overtaken Anglicans as the largest denomination in Australia.
• Pentecostal figures have demonstrated strong growing both numerically and as a per centum of the population since the 1960s.
• In the last 10 old ages nevertheless, this steep acclivity appears to hold slowed down and make a tableland.
• The important bead in the Numberss of people on a regular basis go toing spiritual services should be read in concurrence with the significant tendency in the increasing Numberss of people composing “ No Religion ” or “ Religion Not Stated ” in the nose count.
• The figure for faiths other than Christianity, on the whole, appears to be steadily increasing from a reasonably little base.
• Buddhist figures have grown at a steady rate from 1972 onwards and is now the largest faith other than Christianity in Australia.
• Hindooism has maintained steady growing.
• The Numberss of Muslims in Australia have besides increased dramatically since 1945.
• In 2001 the proportion of Jews was similar to that recorded in 1947.

Christian religion as the major spiritual tradition

• The important diminution in the figure of Christians on a regular basis go toing spiritual services, particularly in the Anglican, Uniting Church and Presbyterian denominations, can be attributed to the aging population, the deficiency of migratory consumption and the general dissatisfaction impacting on other mainstream Christian groups.
• Roman Catholics are go oning to increase numerically, though non at the rate of the population because of its younger rank and significant migratory consumption.
• The important additions in the Pentecostal figures can be attributed to factors such as the lively nature of its worship, its accent on modern-day music, the strong sense of community and religious support it provides, the magnetic leaders which lead the fold and the clear cut replies it provides for times of uncertainness.
• Pentecostalism is an evangelical ( fundamentalist and focused on transition ) and magnetic ( a strong accent on the gifts of the Holy Spirit ) strand of the Christian faith.
• The slow down in the addition of Pentecostal figures in the last 10 old ages can be attributed to the ‘revolving door syndrome ‘ which recognises that big Numberss of Pentecostalists remain with the Church for a comparatively short period of clip and because many Pentecostalists were encouraged by their leaders to compose “ Australian Christian Church ” instead than “ Pentecostal ” on the 2001 nose count.

Immigration

• Changed Australia from being mono-cultural, mono-faith to multi-cultural, multi-faith.
• Since World War 2 and the lifting of the White Australia policy at that place has been much more diverseness in migration and an attach toing addition in the diverseness of spiritual groupings.
• Migration after World War 2 led to increased figure of Catholics from states such as Italy, Malta etc.
• This besides increased Numberss of Orthodox Christians from Greece and Eastern Europe.
• After the stoping of the White Australian policy in 1972 migration developed from a larger scope of states conveying a wider scope of faiths.
• Migration has led to important additions in the Numberss of people who are Buddhist, Muslims, Hindus and Jews.
• Buddhists came from Indo-Chinese states – Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia – and in more recent times Malaysia, Hong Kong and China.
• Moslems came from states such as Indonesia, Lebanon, Iran and Iraq, Bosnia.
• Additions have besides occurred in Christian denominations where there is a big non-Anglo population – Orthodox ( Eastern Europe ) and Catholic churches ( from preponderantly Irish to include Mediterranean, Eastern European, Asian, South American, African members ) .
• Increased presence of a assortment of spiritual groups has besides led to a greater grasp of this diverseness.

Denominational shift

• The huge bulk of people affiliated with spiritual groups in Australia were born into that faith.
• The phenomena of trading between denominations or groups of the same spiritual tradition is known as denominational shift.
• Denominational shift is more common in Protestant Churches than in the Catholic Church.
• The bulk of Pentecostalists have moved from another Protestant denomination to fall in the Pentecostal group.
• Pentecostal is the term used to depict Christian denominations which have a strong accent on the gifts of the Holy Spirit ( talking in linguas, mending, prophecy etc ) .
• They are frequently comparatively little groups which provides for more personal interaction, they besides have lively worship.
• Pentecostalism is the fastest turning Christian group.
• Most Pentecostalists have switched to the group from another Christian denomination. Many leave once more after about 2 old ages – this is known as the ‘revolving door syndrome ‘ .

Rise of New Age faiths

• Census figures show a considerable degree of dissatisfaction with traditional spiritual groups.
• Aboard this dissatisfaction is an indicant of a strong and turning hankering for a religious dimension to life.
• “ New Age ” is an umbrella term which refers to a scope of alternate and/or pseudo-religious groups that people are attracted to.
• New Age faiths are characterised by their acceptance of elements of Eastern faiths and their subsequent rejection of traditional Western positions, and the fact that it favours creative activity centred spiritualty.
• Some illustrations of new age faiths are feng shui, yoga, Thai qi, star divination, tarot cards, numerology etc.
• Many people uphold traditional spiritual beliefs and patterns but supplement them with new age elements.

Secularism

• Secularism is the belief that faith should non interfere with or be integrated into the public personal businesss of a society.
• There are multiple factors which have contributed to the diminution of faith ‘s relevancy for the integrating and legitimation of modern life.
• The increasing pluralism and philistinism of society alongside society ‘s increasing individuality and dissatisfaction with traditional faiths are major grounds for secularization.
• This tendency is most apparent in the important addition in the figure of people reacting “ No faith ” in the nose count alongside an overall diminution in the Christian figures recorded in the nose count.