Changes In Christianity In Australia Since 1945

Australia faced many major changes in the religious patters since 1945 to the present day; the reasons of these changes dependent on Christianity as the major religious tradition, Immigration and Secularism.
Christianity as the major religious tradition: which means that Christianity is still the major religion in Australia since 1945, although that Christianity underwent many changes in its branches, some of churches has been raisin such as Catholic 25.3%, others has been decreases such as Anglican( the church of England) 17.1%. (Figure 1.1) illustrate that Christianity is the major and highest population in 2011 census data comparing to the Other Christian Religions and No Religion. This huge declined of the numbers of Christianity adherences
is due to the immigration factors. In 1788, the first fleet arrived to Australia; the majority of the settlers were Anglican. There was also a minor numbers of Jews and about 10% of Catholic in the first fleet, thus the majority numbers of settlers was the Church of England. Therefore, Christianity proven and recorded as the highest religion in Australia since 1945 until today. Another reason that strengthened the presence of Christianity in Australia is the Immigration Restriction Act in 1901, which is commonly known as the White Australia Policy which was preventing the influx of other religious traditions (other Christianity).
This Act is based on the idea of allowing immigrants only for European people because mainly all the Europeans are identified themselves as Christian, thus this Act ensured the religious demographic stayed the same for the subsequent years. After the world war the population of Christianity increased in Australia because of the encouraged of British migration to Australia. In the following years, Australian government changed its policy which is based on the migration of British people, migration started including people from other European countries not only Britain (Assisted Passage Scheme), subsequently Christian people in Australia has been rise. Christian adherence brought and performed most of their English system, rules and customs in Australia, for example, Easter and Christmas are public holydays celebrating important events for Christian. Therefore, Christianity is still the major religious
tradition in Australia despite of all the changes and decreases numbers of adherents due to the low rate of birth and converting to other Christian religion and loss of adherents to the ‘No Religion’ category.
Immigration: After World War two, the White Australia policy does not exist anymore thus, the lifting of that policy lead Australian to be much more extended migration country. (Figure 1.3) shows the increasing of immigration to Australia after the world war two. This is increased the diversity of religions, because lifting the White Australian policy established the increasing of Catholics from Italy and Orthodox from Greece to migrate and settle in Australia. Therefore immigration had an extreme impact on Australian adherents and on Australia’s culture because the refugees from other countries affected the Australian society and made it multicultural. Furthermore, the majority of settlers were Christians although there was also minor numbers of Other Christian. Subsequently, this lead to change Australia from being mono faith to multi faith, such as the growing population of Hinduism is due to the increasing migration of refugees from India to Australia.
Secularism: is the phenomenon in which people identified themselves belonging to No Religion.
Australian community faced this phenomenon since 1947 for about 0.3% of the population. People believed that secularism is an appropriate situation for their current life and future therefore, secularism continued for the next following years accompanied high extended increasing rates. In 1966 census data shows rising rates of No Religion reaching 0.8%, other radical rate in 1996 for secularism had doubled to 16.6% and the recent census date of 2011 shows the population of No Religion people reached 22.3%. Secularism has occurred consistently with initiate declined numbers of church’s construct and less attending Mass on Sunday, lack of interest parents send their children to Sunday schools. Secularism means being free from religion or spirituality, based on the reason, facts and scientific analysis, in order secularism system unlike religious systems, which is incline to be derived from divine revelation and spiritual insight. An individual who belongs to No Religion focuses on the idea of separated the religion from the country system, rules and laws because each person has the freedom of choosing what religion wants belong to rather than follow and obligate to what their ancestors’ tradition and religious group, in order Christianity has been declined (96%- 61%). Moreover, the current religious landscape had passed through several changes over the years and these current
religious landscapes depend on Christianity as the major religious tradition, immigration and secularism.