SOR1 – Core – Religion and Belief Statements in Australia post-1945

Resource Description

CORE: Religion and Belief Statements in Australia post-1945

Changing patterns of religious adherence from 1945 to the present using census data

1. Arrival and establishment of Christianity and TWO other religious traditions in Australia

From colonization, Christianity as a faith and Christians as a group have been empowered by the authority of the soldiers, settlers, and force of arms. So, Christianity was encouraged and supported by official and unofficial government policy and reforms.

In 1788, the King of England was considered the defender of the faith. Due to the institutionalization of Christianity in Australia, it has remained the major religious tradition

Immigration Restriction Act (1901) allowed European immigrants only, bringing the majority of Christian adherents ensuring the demographic stay the same for at least 50 years

With the relaxation of the White Australia policy in the 1950s and its abolition in 1973, Australia has seen increasing diversity of faiths, however most remain British and therefore Christian.

Traditional Indigenous religions were not recognized or were even banned and missionary efforts were made to convert the ATSI population. Despite sectarianism (bigotry/discrimination) between different denominations, the tradition of Christianity was dominant in Australia and to some extent shaped the nation’s identity.

By allowing in only people from certain European countries the ‘White Australia’ Policy (enshrined in the Immigration Restriction Act, 1901) effectively also kept out religious traditions other than Christianity