Secularisation Of Religion In Australia

Religion is a pivotal aspect in society to date with a diverse array of religions known to be practised in Australia, creating opportunities to embrace individuality though also sparking social divisions. French sociologist, Emile Durkheim described religion as “a unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things, that is to say, things set apart and forbidden -- beliefs and practices which unite into one single moral community”(Jones, 2011). So how does religion influence Australian society? With a vast incline in religions practised in Australia, it is extremely feasible to presume that it does affect Australia significantly. It is through cultural diversity, morality and ethics and laws in which the true relevance of religion in Australian society can be identified.

The atheism is accounted for its historic existence of fundamentalist religion in Australia. Australians perceived to be peculiar in responding to religion which neither gives comfort to believer nor to atheist, as both are appalled by anything but full commitment. Peter Jensen, future Anglican Archbishop of Sydney, and Bruce Wilson claimed at the same time that Australia was a ‘pagan’ nation and not a religious by its actions or attitudes. Australians’ objection to Christianity is that it failed to make people morally any better than those with unbelief. While Peter Jensen emphasized that morality is not Christianity. Tom Frame explained that the abandonment of religion is inevitable as the growing body of scientific evidence

Sociologists argue that in Britain, there has been an overall steady decline in the importance of religion since the 19th century, which has led some sociologists to suggest there was a ‘golden age’ of religiosity. Many sociologists have proposed explanations for the secularisation thesis, for example Weber, Berger and Bruce. However Postmodernists criticise the secularisation theory as they believe that religion hasn’t declined it has just become modernised. Other theories, such as religious market theory and existential security theory, also go against the view that Britain is becoming a secular society as they believe religion takes form in

The textbook rightly points out the secularism and pluralism dominates many aspects of this worldly culture. This has been reflected in many different ways. Much of America has lost belief in a divine creator, which has moved us down a path of no foundation for order. Second, modern thought has instilled a sense of individual achievement and a loss of a moral conscience where our moral norms are absent of religion. Finally, as we have progressed in modern society, these effects have lead to a fragile secular

Australia’s religious landscape has changed dramatically since the 1960’s. In 1977 the Uniting church formed from a collection of Methodist, Presbyterian and Congregationalist churches, this foundation meant that from that date the Methodist church did not exist anymore and is now referred to as the Uniting church.

If I had the opportunity to create my own college course, I would address the enduring question of why society is growing more secular. Over the last two decades, the American society has abandoned its faith roots. This secularization is evident within my own family as I have noticed that each generation is becoming more secular with time. My grandparents are devout Catholics, attending daily masses and actively participating in their parish’s activities. My parents and siblings, on the other hand, were practicing Catholics when I was a toddler. We read the bible every night before bed, said our nightly prayers, and went to mass each Sunday; however, now they rarely practice their faith, attending mass on only Christmas and Easter. I know my family isn’t the only case where this gradual secularization of generations is occurring. According to a study done by Newsweek, the total number of Catholics in the United States has

West, especially the United States, is evident in their laws against women's rights. You have old white men in Congress passing laws on what a woman can and cannot do with their body, as it pertains to abortion, based on their views that it’s a sin against God.

As previously stated, the word secular very simply just means not pertaining to religion. Secularism, on the other hand, is a system of beliefs that religion should be ignored in social and political matters. For example, the US is secular because we practice secularism. In other words, our government is non-religious because we do not believe that religion belongs in our civil affairs. Pakistan is founded as a religious country in the sense that its government is based on Islamic beliefs. Their very constitution makes references to Islam various times and people are expected to live their lives according to what was stated in religious books such as the Quran or Sunnah. This is relevant to Bhutto's ideas because she wants people to understand

“Religion is often still another determinant of political behavior, and in many societies, plays a role in the formation of social and political values, especially when religions diversity is present”. (Camp.1993.Pg. 86) Even though the pre-dominance of Catholicism has strong religious differences, it can be described as a battle between secularism and religion.

In 2017 Pauline Hanson entered into the Australian Senate covering herself with a Burqa, ridiculing Muslim’s all over Australia and mocking their religious garments. This is certainly not the first time Australian Muslims have been mocked, discriminated and harassed for their faith and it was certainly not the last. The Burqa is a full face covering, which is chosen to be worn by a minority of Muslim adherents in Australia. If the burqa is to worn in public places within Australia (e.g. shopping centres, schools) it inhibits the ability of the Muslim adherent to fully function in Australian society. This may occur for a number of reasons including harassment, discrimination and cultural differences. For this reason divergence is created in

There are different types of church in Sydney, and most of these churches are dedicated to the overall benefit of the human kind. The Protestant Church, the Catholic Church, the Presbyterian Church, the Bible-based reformatories, and the Anglican Church are different types of church which have different methods of operating, but with a view to dedicate most of their free time and spirit for the upliftment of humankind. The main teachings of the Bible are well enshrined in the Bible-based churches. They believe in the birth and existence of God as given in the Christian holy book, the Bible, and they also have immense faith on the Lord, Christ, and his benedictions.

Australian is continually growing in religious diversity. But some people may not be as ‘free’ because of the disapproval that some people have of other religions. They may not feel comfortable to show their religious background and they aren’t being who they truly want to be. It would seem that religious diversity does advance Australia fair, but it produces complications and struggles in Australia aswell. Australia’s multiculturalism is reflected in our food and cultural practises.

In this critical response, I will go over the three consequences regarding secular – religious binary that the author addresses in this chapter. In the examination of world politics in association to secular – religious binary, three consequences were mentioned by the author that I found quite thought – provoking. The first consequence being that many social scientists are being trained to ignore religion and conduct their research and demonstrate their findings on the basis of only the “secular”. The next consequence mentioned was that the study of religion has a tendency to focus on presumed religious practices in addition to religion and secularism.

In Australia religion is a very important belief to the many different Australians. As Australia is a very diverse place there are many different religions and cultures in small towns and cities of Australia. The population of Australia is 22,751,014. From 22,751,014 30.1% are Protestant 30.1%, 17.1% are Anglican ,5.0% are Uniting Church, 2.8% are Presbyterian and Reformed,1.6% are Baptist, 1.2% are Lutheran, 1.1% follow Pentecostal 25,3% follow Catholic, 25.1% follow Roman Catholic, 2.9% of people follow Christianity, 2.8% follow Orthodox, 2,5% follow Buddhism , 2.2% of people follow Muslim, 1.3% follow Hinduism and a massive 9.3% don't identify themselves with a certain religion.

Mr Brown puts the date at 1963 and believes that, the 1960s saw the British people going to church less and less, whilst other religious denominations thrived, the Christian ‘benchmark of moral’ such as attending church and Sunday school, baptizing children, marrying in church has all but disappeared. The decline is attributed to the ‘decentring of rigid moral codes such as increased sexual freedom and freedom for diverse sexualities, greater gender equality and a new tolerance of religious and ethnic difference’ .