1. Australia’s Religious Landscape from 1945 to the present
A1. Changing patterns of religious adherence from 1945 to the present using census data
A2. Present religious landscape in Aust in relation to:
i. Christianity as the major religious tradition
ii. Immigration
iii. Denominational switching
iv. Rise of new age Religions
v. Secularism

2. A1. Changing Patterns of religious Adherents:
Main points to consider:
decline in the those identifying with Christianity from 87.3% of the pop in 1947 to 63.89%
Increase in those identifying with Orthodox Christian. From 0.2% in 1947 to 2.28% in 2001
increase in those identifying w/ trad. Other then Christianity. From 0.5% in 1947 to 6.24% in Due to high levels of immigration census indicated 48% of pop has at least one parent (or themselves) born overseas
increase of those identifying with no religion. “no religion” in census 1st introduced in 1971, with 7% indicating they had no religion, in 2007 census 18.67% responded to having no religion.
Despite decrease in Christianity, there is an increase in Catholicism, with 20.9% in 1945 to in 2007
higher percentage of adherents attending regular church survives in Pentecostal churches 74%, in comparison to other traditional Christian Churches such as the catholic church, which had 10% church attendance.
Also more younger people are attending church services in Pentecostal churches. 73% of Pentecostal adherents aged from years attend regular services compared to other Christian Churches such as the uniting church where 28% of adherents aged from attend regular services.
These two above factors are seeing the growth of Pentecostal churches. (0.3% in 1976 to 1.1% in 2007)

3. A2. Present religious landscape in Aust in relation to:
i. Christianity as the major religious tradition
ii. Immigration
iii. Denominational switching
iv. Rise of new age Religions
v. Secularism

4. i. Christianity as the major religious tradition
Pre 1945.
Euro settlement: 2/3 of first fleet was Church of England, remaining 1/3 were Catholic.
Gold rush of 19th cent brought Buddhism, yet numbers were limited
Afghan Muslims arrived for Ghana railway
high British immigration - therefore increase of Christian population
Christianity remained dominant religious tradition with 87.3% of pop in 1947.
Post 1945
since 1945 Christianity has increased and diversified as immigration has seen Australia merge from its Anglo Celtic Hegemony into a more multifaith multicultural society
post WW2 Christianity was still the dominant Religious tradition however the mix more more exotic
Why?
White Aust policy ( ) attracted European immigration seeing increase in Christianity
Catholic pop grew mainly due to immigration from Italy, Yugoslavia Poland & Ireland
Growth in Orthodox Christians esp. from due to immigration from Greece, Cyprus, and other parts of Europe. Increase from in 1947 to by 2001
while Christianity is continuing as the major religious tradition in Australia, its percentage of the population is decreasing (see page 2), due to increase immigration from non-European countries bringing Religions traditions other then Christianity into Australia such as Buddhism. Buddhism’s numbers have grown from 0.01% of the pop in 1947 to 2.11% in 2007.

5. ii.Immigration
Australia has taken the 2nd most amount of immigrants relative to its population
initially most came from European countries of Christian backgrounds
first immigration post WW2 saw Aust being divided along its original ethnic lines ie.Anglicans were seen as British, Orthodox were seen as Greek.
Today no traditions or denominations can be labeled in ethnic national boxes
post 45 immigration of non Anglo Celtic is one of the most significant events in Austs history
Judaism:
post WW2: Nazi Germany, Austria, Czech, members from Eastern European Holocaust
70’s - now: Israel and Sth Africa
Hinduism
now: recent immigration of people w/ Indian Heritage by from countries such as Fiji and Malaysia
Islam
turkey, Lebanon, Indo, Pakistan, Iraq, Afghanistan, Africa (Somalia, Ethiopia)
Buddhism
not just product of immigration from Asian countries (Japan, China) but Anglo Celtic Australians describing themselves as Buddhist
60’s
decrease of British immigration (post war British economic activity)
end of Vietnam and civil war in Lebanon - refugees
migration from pacific countries
TODAY - South East Asia, Middle East and Pacific Nations are expanding the Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim populations.

6. iii.Denominational Switching
personal changing from one denomination usually from faith of family origin, to a denomination which they feel more enthused and comfortable in.
1991 Church Life Survey - 29% of respondents stated they had switched denominations in the last 5 years
Switching in:
Pentecostal Churches: Enthusiastic, faith healing, emotional preaching, draws many esp. younger people
28% in, with 15% out. Saw attendance grow by 16% in 5 years.
Affected most possessively by denominational switching
Evangelical Churches: Most Protestant denominations, where there is an emphasis on personal devotion
High denominational switching in due to ‘bright lights’ it offers, but can be seen as a ‘revolving door’.
Switching Out: g
low priority of denominational loyalty in Conservative churches such as Anglican, Uniting, Presbyterian and Lutheran, which poses a threat to future validity.
High loyalty in Catholicism = not affected by denominational switching
Denominational switching reflects prevailing value of personal fulfillment.
Interesting that denominations that are benefits from denominational switching, provide factors that people have indicated they DON’T want eg. services over an hour.

7. iv. New Age
1970’s - emerged as a broad movement of contemporary western culture
growth in those seeking spiritual answers in what are known as New Age Religions
Characterised by:
individual electric approach to spiritual exploration
cycle of time, rebirth, divine within
interest in body and experience
objects and rituals
individual fulfillment - higher states of being, mystical experience
no doctrines
Increasing in Australia due to opening of religious market Australia and an acceptance to experiment with new alternate spiritual fulfillment
2001 census indicated:
people were pagans
8 755 were Wiccans (type of witchcraft)
9 272 were spiritualists
new age is becoming more prominent in Australia society, reflected by:
Aust spends $ a MONTH on psychic phone calls and horoscopes
Annual Mind, Body and Spirit Festivals, with yoga, meditation and palm reading etc.

8. v. Secularism
people separating themselves from religious influences
occurred against background of gradual trans-national changes in social values and attitudes
opening of spiritual market place is giving people alternatives to trad. Institutionalised religions
increase of those identifying with no religion. “no religion” in census 1st introduced in 1971, with 7% indicating they had no religion, in 2007 census 18.67% responded to having no religion.
Today nearly 50% of marriages are civil ceremonies
Reasons:
No longer accepting inherited religious identification without question
Rejection constructions of religions
The occurring of a catalyst – death of child
Hypocrisy of church – child abuse
Influence of others who hold atheistic views
Exposure to alternatives at Uni.
No religion – socially more acceptable
Materialism