Religious expression in Australia from 1945 to the present
Patterns of Religious Adherence in Australia
From ABS accessed March 2020
2016 CENSUS DATA SUMMARY
Religious beliefs are an important aspect of many people’s lives. Information about the religious affiliation of Australians has been collected since the first Census in 1911.
TYPE OF RELIGION
Reflecting the historical influence of European migration to Australia, Christianity was the most common religion reported in 2016 (52%). Islam (2.6%) and Buddhism (2.4%) were the next most common religions reported.
Nearly a third of Australians reported in the Census that they had no religion in 2016 (30%).
Here you can access the media release for the 2016 Australian Census
Australia is a diverse nation when it comes to religious affiliation
Census reveals Australia’s religious diversity on World Religion Day
EMERGING RELIGIONS AND HAVING NO RELIGION
In the 10 years from 2006 to 2016, the proportion of people reporting a religion other than Christianity in the Census increased from 5.6% in 2006 to 8.2% in 2016. Although the increase was spread across most of the non-Christian religions, the top two were Hinduism (0.7% in 2006 to 1.9% in 2016) and Islam (1.7% to 2.6%).
Those reporting no religion increased noticeably from 19% in 2006 to 30% in 2016. The largest change was between 2011 (22%) and 2016, when an additional 2.2 million people reported having no religion.
Source ABS
There are factors which have caused these changes in religious affiliation over time
Effect of Post-War Immigration
Non-Christian Immigration
The Impact of Recent Immigration on Religious Groups in Australia
It is important that there is dialogue between religions when there is so much diversity in Australia's religious practice
Lecture Series on Ecumenism & Interfaith Dialogue by Rev. Dr Patrick McInerney
1 Sydney Catholic Schools 20-07-01 Religious Diversity in Australia.pdf2 Sydney Catholic Schools 20-07-01 What is Intereligious Dialogue.pdf3 Sydney Catholic Schools 20-07-01 Why Interreligious Dialogue.pdf4 Sydney Catholic Schools 20-07-01 How to go about IRD.pdf5 Sydney Catholic Schools 20-07-01 IRD Events and Resources.pdf6 Sydney Catholic Schools 20-07-01 Key Interreligious Organisations.pdfPast HSC Questions to think about
2018 HSC: Question 11 (5 marks)
With reference to TWO religious traditions, explain the effects of immigration between 1945 and 2016 on Australia’s religious landscape.
2014 HSC: Question 11 (5 marks)
For some Australians, God is no longer important. Religion does not seem attractive as the country is becoming increasingly secular. With reference to the statement, account for the current religious landscape in Australia.
2011 HSC: Question 11 (5 Marks)
Explain the role of the ecumenical movement and/or interfaith dialogue as religious responses to growing secularism. Include examples in your answer.
2009 HSC: Question 11 (5 Marks)
With reference to the two signs above and your own knowledge, account for changes in Australia’s religious landscape since the 1960s.
Formatted Practice Questions
ASR Practice question Ecumenism 20191026.pdfQ11 Ecumenism
ASR Practice question Immigration 20191029.pdfQ11 Immigration
ASR Practice question Secularisation 20191028.pdfQ11 Secularisation
Practice question Denominational Switching 20190911.pdfQ11 Denominational Switching
Practice question Ecumenism 20190702.pdfQ11 Ecumenism
Practice question Secularisation 20190911.pdfQ11 Secularisation