The religious landscape currently exhibited in Australia has been developed and has fluctuated significantly through the impact of immigration since the end of World War II, 1945. In 1947, just 0. 5 % of the population claimed to be non-Christian and 0. 3 % claimed to have no religion, thus promoting the fact that Christianity was the most prominent religion in Australia. The end of the War stimulated much immigration from Europe, as did the Vietnam War in the 1970s.
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Such organisations as the NSW Ecumenical council and The National Council of Churches have assisted in the ecumenical movements and immigration as a whole has resulted in increased interfaith dialogue between a diverse religious landscape that is Australia. The end of World War Two was a major stimulus for the immigration and diversity in regards to religion that was about to change Australia. Thousands of immigrants came to Australia from their war-torn countries seeking peace and a new beginning.
The Assisted Passage scheme was put into operation in order to help British migrants reach Australia, which was then altered to welcome immigrants from any European country. The White Australia policy which was in place at this time was reflected through the immigration into Australia coming from Europe only. As a result of the significantly large number of immigrants from Europe, the population of Roman Catholics rose nearly 6% between the late 1940s to the late 1960s.
The majority of migrants entering Australia from Italy, Croatia, Malta, Germany and Hungary contributed largely to the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic adherents in the country. A large number of Greek immigrants which arrived in the country also boosted the Eastern Orthodox community from 0. 2% to 3% by 1981. The addition of other Christian denominations than the already existing, mostly Protestant churches in Australia caused and saw a need for a rise in Ecumenical movements – the restoration of unity between Christian denominations and variants.
Organisations such as the NSW ecumenical council – who organise events such as the Christmas bowl and run the House of Welcome – and The National Council of Churches (NCCA) – who work with refugees, youth issues, Indigenous rights and other issues within Australia – are ecumenical movements within Australia which aim to create unity within Christian variants and assist the wider community.
Through the history and fluctuation of Australia’s religious landscape – including the diversifying of the variations of religion – it is evident already that immigration has had a ignificant impact on religion since 1945. The rise of the Jewish population in Australia has been slow but continual, as several historical events have contributed to the small influxes of Jewish adherents. Before WWII Australia’s Jewish population was minute, and it had existed since the First Fleet. Many of the Jewish adherents in Australia today emigrated from Poland, Germany and other European nations as a result of the holocaust. Another small influx of Jewish people came about due to the Hungarian Revolution which occurred 1956.
The end of the White Australia policy in 1973 heralded the beginning of Australia embracing multiculturalism and a new level of diversity within the religious landscape of the nation. The Vietnam War brought about approximately 120 000 Indo-Chinese immigrants who had been displaced. Thus, the 1981 census represented a number of Buddhists for the first time. It is evident, from the analysis of this information, that Buddhism is the second fastest growing faith purely due to immigration, therefore emphasising its significant impact.
Islam is another religion which has impacted Australia significantly through immigration. Significant numbers of Islamic adherents did not arrive in Australia until the late 1960s. The Islamic population in Australia rose a large 69. 4% in ten years, most of which can be put down to immigration from countries such as Lebanon, Turkey, Sudan, Iraq and Afghanistan. The Muslim community in Australia is particularly diverse, with Muslims from over 60 countries representing both the Sunni and Shi’a variations.
The diversification of religion in Australia since 1945 saw means for a reassessment of the old sectarian outlook towards religions other than Christianity and inevitably created a powerful sense of interfaith dialogue. In 1989 Australia held the fifth world conference on Religion and Peace and thus created a turning point for interfaith dialogue in Australia. Initiatives such as the Council for Christians and Jews and The Columbian Centre for Christian-Muslim Dialogue are examples of how immigration has diversified and impacted the religious landscape of Australia and thus contributed to an increase in peace and dialogue between churches.
The historical events which have stimulated the large amounts of immigration are the reason for Australia’s religiously diverse communities today. The varied atmosphere created within Australia has inevitably lead to a rise in Ecumenism and Interfaith dialogue and an overall larger focus on peace between adherents of different faiths in the increasingly diverse Australia. It is clear when analysing the patterns and fluctuation of Australia’s religious landscape that immigration alone has been a prominent and significant impact.
