1. Religion in Australia post 1945

2. How is it assessed?
10 Multiple Choice questions (10 marks) 1 x Short Answer Question (5 marks) TOTAL = 15 MARKS

3. Syllabus outcomes Contemporary 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

4. Syllabus outcomes Religious 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

5. ABORIGINAL SPIRITUALITY 1
Discuss how Aboriginal spirituality is determined by the Dreaming
kinship
ceremonial life
obligations to land and people

6. ABORIGINAL SPIRITUALITY 1
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

7. Aboriginal spirituality 1
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

8. Aboriginal spirituality 1
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

9. Aboriginal spirituality 2
discuss the continuing effect of dispossession on Aboriginal spiritualities in relation to:
separation from the land
separation from kinship groups
the Stolen Generations

10. Aboriginal spirituality 2
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

11. Aboriginal spirituality 2
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

12. Aboriginal spirituality 3
Outline the importance of the following for the Land Rights movement:
Native Title
Mabo
Wik

13. Aboriginal spirituality 3
Land 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

14. Aboriginal spirituality 3
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

15. Aboriginal spirituality 4
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

16. Religious landscape 1
Outline the changing patterns of adherence from 1945 to present using census data

17. 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
22.0
20.7
18.7
17.1
Baptist
2.0
1.6
1.5
1.4
1.3
1.7
Catholic
26.2
22.7
19.6
20.9
26.3
25.7
26.0
27.3
27.0
26.6
25.8
25.3
Churches of Christ
0.6
0.9
0.5
0.4
0.3 ?
Jehovah's Witness
Lutheran
1.2
Methodist
5.6
13.4
10.3
11.5
9.7
7.3
3.4
Orthodox
0.2
2.2
2.7
3.0
2.8
2.9
2.6
Pentecostal
0.7
1.0
1.11
1.1
Presbyterian
11.3
10.8
9.8
9.0
6.6
4.4
3.6
4.3
3.8
Salvation Army
0.8
Uniting Church
4.9
7.6
8.2
7.5
6.7
5.7
5.0
Other Christian
3.9
1.9
2.4
4.0
3.2
4.6
% 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
2.11
2.5
Hindu
0.1
Muslim
Jewish
Other Non-Christian
% TOTAL NON-CHRISTIAN
2.1
4.8
7.2
Inadequately described
No Religion
8.3
12.7
12.9
16.5
15.5
22.3
Not Stated
12.8 10
11.8
10.9
11.9
10.2
8.7
11.7
11.2
9.4
% NO REL. /NOT STATED
13.8
11.1
20.5
22.2
25.0
23.4
25.5
27.2
29.9
31.7
TOTAL (Millions)
11.6
13.5
15.6
16.9
17.75
18.8
19.9
21.5

18. Religious landscape 1 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

19. Religious landscape 2
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

20. Religious landscape 2 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?

21. Religious landscape 2 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

22. Religious landscape 2 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

23. Religious landscape 2 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

24. Religious landscape 2 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

25. Religious landscape 3
Describe the impact of Christian ecumenical movements in Australia
The National Council of Churches
NSW Ecumenical Council

26. Religious landscape 3 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

27. Religious landscape 3 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

28. Religious landscape 3 NSW 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

29. Religious landscape 4
Evaluate the importance of interfaith dialogue in multi-faith Australia

30. Religious landscape 4 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

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

32. 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