Is the role of religion changing the face of contemporary multicultural Australia?
Since the days of colonization religion in Australia has been predominantly Christian. However Christianity has been declining since the 1990's as fast growing religions like Buddhism and followers of Islam are on the increase. This essay will briefly discuss the influence that Christianity has had on education, the part it plays in political and economic arenas, and historically how the role of religion has changed and adapted within our growing multicultural nation.
Before colonization occurred in Australia, Indigenous Australians had their own religious tradition of the Dreamtime. They believed, and still do, like many Indigenous peoples that the world, man and various animals and plants were created by supernatural beings that afterwards disappeared, either ascending to the sky or entering the earth (Eliade, M 1973). In 1650 the Macassan and Bugis tribes who followed the Muslim faith sailed from Indonesia to trade with Indigenous Australians and inter marry (Macknight,
c.c 1976). When European settlers arrived with the first fleet in Sydney cove in 1788, they founded the
first Christian church led by Reverend Richard Johnson. Governor Phillip believed the church provided a necessary way for controlling social order (State Library Religion church and missions in Australia 2008). Thereafter immigrants from China, Sri Lanka and Japan arrived in Australia in the late 1800's searching for work as gold miners, pearl divers and plantation workers bringing with them a mixture of Buddhist and Eastern religions (ABC Religion & Ethics Buddhism viewed 2012). In 1860, 3000 camel drivers immigrated from Afghanistan and India. These Muslim men and women contributed to the exploration of the outback, the railway line from Port Augusta to Alice Springs and the Overland Telegraph from Adelaide to Darwin (ABC Religion & Ethics Islam viewed 2012). Around the 1900's, 4500 ethnic south Asians of whom 25% were Hindu, arrived in Australia in search of work on cotton and sugar plantations. Because of the Immigration Restriction Act (the White Australia Policy) of 1901, immigration was restricted until 1970 when Indian immigration surged (ABC Religion & Ethics Hinduism viewed 2012).
For many people in Australia religion is regarded as a set of beliefs and practices, usually involving acknowledgement, praise and worship of a divine higher power, by which people order the conduct of their lives, practically and morally (Australian Bureau of Statistics). According to the 2006 census statistics, 63% of Australian's are Christian, 8% of these are actually practicing, 18.7% of people are non religious and 11.2% are unknown. The remaining 6.2% are practicing non- Christian predominantly Muslim, Jewish, Hindu and Buddhist. Despite these statistics and the changing face of a once secular Anglo-European society, the Australian education system and the government are still strongly influenced by Christianity (ABS).
The education system was first established in Australia by the church in 1880. The church saw education as not only a means to develop widespread literacy but also a way of fixing Christian ethics and doctrine into the minds of the masses (Roberts, A.S. viewed 2012). For more than 100 years, Special Religious Education (SRE) classes in schools have provided an avenue for children to learn about the bible and the life of Jesus. But for those children who are not Christian the Australian education system developed non scripture classes where children do homework instead. As a result children from a non-Christian background easily feel alienated from public schools, and in 2006 21% of Muslim students moved away from the government system to attend independent schools. This coincided with a 70% rise in the
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Muslim community. (Jennifer Buckingham, The rise of religious schools in Australia 2010). Following 8 years of lobbying by parents, the Federation of P & C Associations of NSW and the St James Ethics Centre, the Australian government amended the NSW Education Act on December 1st 2010 to give students who don't attend SRE in NSW the legal right to attend Philosophical Ethics classes as an option (St James Ethics centre 2010).
Consequently Dr Simon Longstaff, executive director of the St James Ethics centre, reported in The Age that official public support for the ethics classes has come from the three major Christian denominations and a host of other faith groups. Then there are parents with different faiths and those without a faith, who in overwhelming numbers support the right of their children to have a meaningful option if their faith is not offered or if they do not believe their children, should be exposed to religion in schools(The Age, August 2, 2011). In addition the premier of NSW Barry O'Farrell commented recently on this topic saying 'children should not be influenced at an early age to decide what religion they want to be. They need to mature before making a choice for a belief system.'
The Australian Constitution states, "The Commonwealth shall not make any law for establishing any religion, or for imposing any religious observance, or prohibiting the free exercise of any religion, and no religious test shall be required as a qualification for any office or public trust under the Commonwealth"
Another role religion plays a part in is politics. Religion and politics have always made an unholy alliance. The bible is a political manifesto because it contains principles which are meant to guide us through our lives and describes how we should live together (Rev. Poulos, E, 2005). Jesus was a political figure as he cared for the sick and the poor and pushed boundaries for change in the political arena. Churches, especially the Catholic Church, have also used the power of their wealth and influence to promote their conservative and sometimes oppressive values through political channels.
Take the case of the Australian Pentecostal church that chooses to play a powerful role in politics and business. Under the umbrella of the Assemblies of God (AOG}, the church set up their own political party, 'Family First', which won a Senate seat at the last federal election. The Pentecostal church, 'Hill song' regularly attracts visits from politicians like John Howard and Peter Costello (Ferguson, A, 2005). John Howard in an interview with Geraldine Doogue from the ABC's Compass program regarded the Judeo - Christian tradition as the single greatest influence for good in the Australian community and believed it as a stabilizing influence in this country (October 2004). Politicians are well aware of the power and influence of these churches as they are usually situated in higher income voting areas. The AOG also has close links with businesses like Gloria Jean's Coffee, the NAB and QBE Insurance. However some politicians are not swayed by the power of wealthy voters.In 2001 Tony Abbot told a visibly deflated Australian Christian Lobby forum, "Faith has influenced my life but it does not, and I believe should not, shape my politics". Julia Gillard in a recent interview with ABC radio declared that she is not a religious person. She was raised as a Christian but believes that it was not the right thing for her to go through religious rituals forthe sake of appearance. 'I am what I am. I am of course a great respecter of religious beliefs, but they're not my beliefs' (Kelly, J 2010}. In addition the Australian Atheist Foundation
in 2011 encouraged individuals and families to think about ticking the 'No Religion' box on census forms.
The foundation was concerned that how people answer this question in the census would influence
decisions made by the Australian government. Often money that is transferred from taxpayers to religious organizations is justified on the basis of census results.
On a broader scale religion influences governmental policies on issues like abortion, censorship, gun policies, attitudes towards homosexuality and same sex marriage. It could be suggested that narrow minded views from a conservative government in the last two hundred years have been driven by an understanding that Australian society is made up of a majority of Christian believers. The Gillard government has brought a breath of fresh air to the more open minded accepting nation that Australia is today.
In conclusion, the role of religion in Australia is very different to the days of Governor Phillip. Statistics show that Christianity is definitely on the decline. It can be clearly seen that Australians are moving away from a conservative secular society that in the past was governed by an oppressive Christian ethic to a more accepting open minded view of world cultures and religion. Australians today are fortunate to live in a multicultural society that allows them to decide freely what they wish to believe. Religion is an influence that threads its way through all facets of modern life. It is no longer a means of control by the establishment, but a person's right to choose how they conduct their lives both morally and ethically.
Tom Frame, former bishop to the Australian Defense force and author says,' Christianity permeates everything we are today in one sense. In another sense it is disappearing. In its place something new y
in the century's long process of being born '(losing my religion: Unbelief in Australia. pg239). /
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
ABC Religion and Ethics www.abc.net.au/religion viewed May2012
Cornish KS, Religion in Secular Schools www.atheistfoundation.org.au viewed May 2012 Eliade M, Australian Religions: an introduction Oxford University Press, London 1973 Pg 1
Ferguson A, article God1s Millionaires Business Review Weekly 2005 www.trinityfi.org viewed May 2012 Frame T, Losing my religion: Unbelief in Australia UNSW Press 2009
Kelly J, article Julia Gillard respects religious beliefs but will not 'pretend1 to have faith votes The
Australian 2010 www.theaustralian.eom.au/politics Viewed June2012
Longstaff L, 2011 article Ethics lesson 1: don't trade children1s interest/or Nile 1s obsession1
www.theage.com.au viewed May 2012
Macknight CC, The voyage to Marege: Macassan trepangers in Northern Australia Melbourne University Press 1976
Poulos E, speech delivered at Don Chipp Forum, UTS, Sydney, what role should Religion play in Australian Politics 2005 www.unitingjustice.org.au viewed April 2012
Religious Affiliation 2006 Australian Bureau of Statistics, www.abs.gov.au/ausstats viewed May 2012
Roberts AS, Australia 1s first hundred years: the era of Christian Schools www.chr.org. au viewed May 2012
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY
!.Cornish KS, Religion in Secular Schools www.atheistfoundation.org.au viewed May 2012 l_.ln this article Cornish (an AAF member), seeks to persuade the government through public support that chaplains should not be placed in state schools as some students are non Christian.1_The author is very passionate in expressing his view on how children in this day and age should not be brainwashed into believing the Christian story as facts and science have proved the world is older than 7000 years.4. His statement focuses on children and parents rights to decide whether they need such strong Christian views and opinions in the state school system. S. This article is useful to my research as it provides a differing view
.§.,_The main limitation in this article is that it is very one sided and the author is writing from the heart ,.
7. thus the article is more of his personal opinion rather than a surveyed opinion of the whole Fo.undation. /
.§..This article puts forward an excellent argument as to why in a multicultural country we still teach Christian studies in schools in the light of so much scientific research into the evolution of the planet.
h_Australian Broadcasting Commission- Religion and Ethics Buddhism, Islam & Hinduism www.abc.net.au/religion viewed May 2012 2. In these articles the author/s gives information about these religions from varying sources. 3. The authors aim to give the reader a good understanding of these religions. Their research focuses on historical data from their places of origin, what it means to be a Buddhist, Muslim or Hindu and the role they have played in Australian society. 5. These articles are very useful to my topic as they give me legitimate information from Australian sources as well as international databases and links.§.:. The main limitation of this site was that it could have had more informatiorion how these religions impact Australian society.L._These articles are great for resource material, similar to an encyclopedia but summarized. These articles will not be used as the basis of my essay but will contribute to my understanding of these religions, not only in Australia but the world. Well Done ABC.
KEY
1. Citation
2. Introduction
3. Aims and Research
4. Scope
5. Usefulness (to my research/ to topic)
6. Limitations
7. Conclusions
8. Reflection
This essay received a mark of 90%
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