Lyla Lindsey
Australia is a religiously diverse country with no official religion. While Christianity is the most common religion in Australia, the country has seen a decline in Christian identification in recent years, with a growing number of people identifying as having no religion. In the 2021 census, 43.9% of Australians identified as Christian, down from 61% in 2011. This decline is particularly pronounced among younger generations, with Millennials having the highest proportion of no religious affiliation at 46.5%. Despite this, Christian festivals such as Easter and Christmas are still publicly celebrated and remain important cultural touchstones for many Australians. The Christian churches have played an integral role in the development of welfare services in Australia, and Christian organizations continue to provide aid and support to over a million Australians each year. While there is some criticism of Christianity in Australia, particularly online, many Australians still identify with the religion culturally and socially, and it remains an essential part of the country's religious and cultural landscape.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Christianity is Australia's most common religion | 43.9% of Australians identify with Christianity |
| Australia has no official religion | 38.9% of Australians declared "no religion" |
| Christian identification and practice don't always align | 88% of Australians identified as Christians in the 1966 census, but only 25% reported attending church services regularly in 1970 |
| Australians are accepting of diverse religions | People are happy for others to make their own lifestyle choices |
| Australians are critical of Christianity | People openly criticise Christianity, especially online |
| Christianity in Australia is cultural | Many Australians identify with the churches of their parents or grandparents |
| Christian groups are growing | Pentecostal churches are growing, and overall service attendance has increased since 2016 |
| Australians are becoming less religious | Millennials had the highest proportion of "no religion" (46.5%) |
| Australians are open-minded | More than half of 15-24-year-olds are open to conversations about different views |
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What You'll Learn
Christian criticism and tolerance in Australia
Australia is a pluralist country with a legislated principle of state neutrality and no state religion. While Christianity is still Australia's most common religion, the country is becoming more religiously diverse. Almost 10 million Australians reported having no religion, and the number of people affiliated with Christianity has decreased by more than 1 million.
The younger generations in Australia are less likely to be affiliated with Christianity, with Millennials having the highest proportion of no religion at 46.5%. This shift in religious affiliation has also been reflected in the media, with several current and past media personalities presenting themselves as Christian, such as Brooke Fraser, Dan Sweetman, and Guy Sebastian.
Christian truths, values, teachings, and practices have been criticised as intolerant by both non-Christians and people within Christian circles. One common point of criticism and debate is the use of polarising social or political issues, such as marriage or abortion. While Christians value the sanctity of human life and choose non-violent options for dealing with disagreements, they are also known for their extreme intolerance of certain issues, particularly those related to sin.
In Australia, freedom of religion is protected to varying degrees through the constitution and legislation at the federal, state, and territory levels. The Constitution of Australia prohibits the Commonwealth from establishing laws that create, force, or prohibit any religion, or from using religion as a qualifier for holding public office. However, the absence of a Federal Bill of Rights or Human Rights Act has been criticised as a failure to solidify religious freedom rights.
A survey by the Pew Research Center in 2023 found that only 18% of Australians believe it is important to be Christian to be truly Australian, indicating that religion may not be a strong factor in Australians' national identity. Additionally, the survey revealed that Australians are generally tolerant of interreligious marriage, with respondents expressing more tolerance when asked about specific traits or behaviours rather than broad religious groups.
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Christian media representation
Christianity is Australia's most common religion, with 43.9% of Australians identifying as Christian according to the 2021 census. However, this number has decreased over time, with the proportion of Australians identifying as Christian dropping by 8.2% since 2016. This is particularly true of younger generations, who are less likely to affiliate with a religion and more likely to identify as having 'no religion'. In fact, the number of Australians identifying as having '"no religion" has risen to 38.9% in 2021, up from 30% in 2016.
Despite this, Christian media representation in Australia appears to be varied and multifaceted. Christian carols, such as 'Three Drovers' and 'Christmas Day' by John Wheeler and William G. James, place Christian hymns in an Australian context. Christian festivals such as Easter and Christmas are public holidays in Australia, and church services are well-attended.
There are also several Christian media personalities in Australia, including Brooke Fraser, Dan Sweetman, and Guy Sebastian. Christian organisations also play an important role in Australian society, with Catholic organisations such as Centacare, Caritas Australia, and the Jesuit Refugee Service providing welfare and charity services. The Christian churches themselves played an integral role in the development and provision of welfare services in Australia, and they continue to do so today.
However, there is also criticism and scepticism of Christianity in Australian media. Online, Christianity is often criticised, perhaps even more so than other religions. Some Australians view religious people as "'gullible fools', while others see religion as insignificant. There is also a perception of a disconnect between Christian identification and Christian practice in Australia, with a large gap between the number of people who identify as Christian and those who regularly attend church services.
In conclusion, while Christianity is the most common religion in Australia, Christian media representation in the country is diverse and multifaceted. It includes traditional religious programming, such as coverage of worship and devotion, as well as music, festivals, and the involvement of Christian organisations in welfare and charity work. However, there is also criticism and scepticism of Christianity in Australian media, particularly online, and a perceived disconnect between Christian identification and practice.
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Christian festivals and holidays
Christianity has several festivals and holidays that are celebrated annually. Here is a list of some of the most important ones:
Advent
Advent Sunday marks the start of the Christian year and the beginning of the Advent season, which lasts through Christmas. It falls on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and is considered a season of reflective preparation for the birth of Christ and his Second Coming. It often involves the use of an Advent wreath as a focus for prayer.
Christmas
Christmas is a festival that celebrates the birth of Jesus and is one of the most widely celebrated holidays in the Western world. It involves family gatherings, feasting, lights, music, and gift-giving, among other religious and cultural traditions. In Australia, Christmas often falls during the summer, and it is a tradition for international visitors to gather at Sydney's Bondi Beach on Christmas Day.
Epiphany
Epiphany marks the end of the "12 days of Christmas" in Western Christian tradition. It commemorates the visit of the Three Wise Men to the baby Jesus, bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Lent
Lent is a period of preparation leading up to Easter, commemorating the 40 days Jesus spent fasting and praying in the desert. It begins on Ash Wednesday and is a time for personal reflection, improvement, prayer, fasting, and study for Christians. Many Christians observe Lent with a Lenten sacrifice, giving something up until Easter.
Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday is the last Sunday of Lent and the beginning of Holy Week. It commemorates Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem and is marked by worship and prayer.
Maundy Thursday
Maundy Thursday is a remembrance of the Last Supper, when Jesus shared a meal with his disciples before his crucifixion.
Good Friday
Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus and falls on the Friday before Easter. In Australia, it marks the beginning of a four-day holiday weekend that coincides with school holidays, providing an opportunity for families and friends to travel and reunite.
Easter
Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, marking his victory over sin and death. It is considered the most important Christian festival and is a time of new life and rebirth. In addition to its religious significance, Easter is celebrated with symbolic gifts of eggs and gatherings with family and friends.
Pentecost
Pentecost commemorates the gift of the Holy Spirit, sent by God in the form of a mighty wind and tongues of fire to Jesus' followers after his ascension.
Saints' Days
Saints' Days are official days recognized by many Christian denominations, especially Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican churches. They honour the lives of those who have lived exceptionally holy lives and are recognized as saints. All Saints' Day, also known as All Hallows' Day, celebrates all the saints of the church, known and unknown, who have attained heaven. It is followed by All Souls' Day, a day for commemorating the faithful departed who are believed to be in purgatory.
These festivals and holidays are significant occasions in the Christian calendar, providing opportunities for worship, reflection, and celebration for Christians around the world, including those in Australia.
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Christian identification and practice
Christianity is Australia's most common religion, with 43.9% of Australians identifying as Christians in the 2021 census. However, this number has decreased over time, with older generations more likely to be affiliated with Christianity and younger generations increasingly identifying with "no religion". In the 1966 census, 88% of Australians identified as Christians, but by 2021, this number had dropped to 43.9%. This shift may be due to younger Australians moving away from the cultural identification with Christianity of their parents or grandparents and towards a measure of active practice. Late-life conversions are also becoming more common, with nearly 195,000 Australians over 55 moving from no religion to Christianity in the last five years.
Christianity in Australia is diverse, with the Catholic Church, the Anglican Church, and the Uniting Church having the largest number of members. Pentecostal churches are also growing, with megachurches like Hillsong Church and Planetshakers Church found in most states. Christian festivals like Easter and Christmas are public holidays, and Christian carols and traditions are part of the Australian cultural context.
Some Australians view Christianity positively, admiring those committed to their faith. However, others may see it as a personal choice that should not be imposed on others. There is also criticism and scepticism of Christianity, especially online, and some people may view it as insignificant or comparable to other interests or beliefs. The association between Christianity and right-wing politics has also driven some younger and more liberal people away from Christian identification.
Despite the decline in Christian identification, Christian organisations continue to play an essential role in welfare and charity work in Australia. Various Catholic and other Christian humanitarian aid organisations provide support to Australians in need, and Christian churches have historically been involved in developing and providing welfare services in the country.
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Christian immigration and conversion
Christianity is Australia's most common religion, with nearly 700,000 people identifying as Christian in 2021. However, older generations are more likely to be Christian, with younger generations tending towards no religious affiliation. Since the 19th century, immigrants have brought their own expressions of Christianity to Australia. For example, Prussian Lutherans settled in the Barossa Valley and Queensland, and Methodists from Cornwall settled in South Australia.
In recent years, diverse responses to immigration that claim a grounding in the Christian faith have emerged, especially among Protestants and Evangelicals. For example, the book 'Welcoming the Stranger' by Soerens, Yang, and Anderson has influenced evangelical Christian discourse around immigration. Another example is the essay 'Immigration from a Christian Perspective: The Challenge and Imperative of Racial Justice' by Ryan Burge, which encourages Christians to advocate for greater humanity in immigration policy and engage with the interconnectedness of racial justice and immigration law.
In the United States, Christians continue to make up a majority of legal immigrants, although the share of new legal permanent residents who are Christian has declined from 68% in 1992 to 61% in 2012. This shift may be due to changing geographic origins, with a growing share of immigrants coming from Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and the Middle East-North Africa region.
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Frequently asked questions
People, especially online, usually openly criticise Christianity. However, there is a general attitude of live and let live.
Christianity is the most common religion in Australia, with 43.9% of Australians identifying as Christian in the 2021 census. However, this number has been decreasing.
Older generations are more likely to be affiliated with Christianity, while younger generations are more likely to have no religious affiliation.
Overall, across all age groups, 60% of churchgoers are women and 40% are men.
