Lyla Lindsey
Australia is a Western liberal democracy with a diverse range of religions. While the country has no official religion, it is undeniable that Christianity is the largest religion in Australia, with 43.9% of the population identifying with a Christian denomination in the 2021 census. With its arrival in 1788, coinciding with British colonisation, Christianity has had a significant impact on Australian society and culture, particularly in the areas of social welfare, education, and the celebration of festivals such as Easter and Christmas. The country's constitution, laws, and values have been influenced by Christian beliefs, and Christian churches play an essential role in providing social services and education. However, it is important to note that the percentage of Australians identifying as Christians has been declining since the 1960s, with an increasing number of people declaring no religious affiliation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of foundation | 1788 |
| First presence of Christianity | 1788 |
| Current percentage of Christians | 43.9% |
| Current percentage of people with no religion | 38.9% |
| Year Christianity started to decline | 1960s |
| Year Australia's constitution was drafted | 1901 |
| Percentage of Australians identifying as Christians in 1901 | 96% |
| Christian churches as social welfare providers | The Salvation Army, The Uniting Church, Anglican organisations |
| Christian festivals as public holidays | Easter, Christmas |
| Christian influence on Australia's constitution | A phrase describing Australians as "humbly relying on the blessing of Almighty God" |
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What You'll Learn
Christianity is Australia's largest religion
Australia is a Western liberal democracy with no official religion. The Australian Constitution of 1901 protects freedom of religion and separation of church and state. However, the nation's historical and cultural foundations are undeniably steeped in Christianity, which remains the country's largest religion.
Christianity was introduced to Australia with British colonisation in 1788, and during the Federation in 1901, 96% of Australians identified as Christians. While this figure has declined over the decades, with only 62% of Australians identifying as Christians in 2015, Christianity still holds a significant presence in the country. In the 2021 census, 43.9% of Australians identified with Christianity, while 38.9% declared no religious affiliation.
Christian churches play a crucial role in social welfare and education. Organisations such as the Salvation Army, the St Vincent de Paul Society, and the Brotherhood of St Laurence provide essential support to millions of Australians. The Catholic Church, in particular, has established an extensive network of social services, with 63 member organisations helping over a million people annually.
The Christian festivals of Easter and Christmas are public holidays in Australia, and the country is dotted with historic churches and cathedrals, reflecting the religion's enduring influence. The Aboriginal peoples of Australia, on the other hand, traditionally followed a set of beliefs known as The Dreaming, which constitutes some of the earliest evidence of religious practices among humans.
Despite Australia's diverse religious landscape, with the growth of Orthodox churches and an increase in ecumenism, Christianity remains the dominant religion. The Christian voice continues to shape politics and conversations around community, justice, and family life.
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Christian influence on Australia's constitution
Australia is a Western liberal democracy with no official religion. The Australian Constitution of 1901 protects freedom of religion and separation of church and state. However, the nation's Christian influence is evident in its history, culture, and social welfare systems.
Christianity was introduced to Australia with British colonisation in 1788. During the Federation in 1901, 96% of Australians identified as Christians, and the nation's Christian identity was a significant topic of discussion. The phrase ""humbly relying on the blessing of Almighty God" was included in the Constitution, reflecting the founders' affirmation of Australia's Christian character.
The Christian influence on Australia's Constitution is further highlighted by the "Father of Federation," Henry Parkes, who stated that the country's "whole system of jurisprudence, our constitution… are based upon and interwoven with our Christian belief." Alfred Deakin, Australia's second Prime Minister, also recognised the role of Christianity in shaping the nation's values and morality. He prayed for the move towards Federation to foster "a Christ-like Citizenship."
Christian churches play a significant role in providing social welfare services and education in Australia. Organisations such as the Salvation Army, the St Vincent de Paul Society, and the Brotherhood of St Laurence contribute to the community's wellbeing. Additionally, Catholic Social Services Australia, through its member organisations, assists over a million Australians annually.
While Australia has become more religiously diverse, with a decline in religious belief since the 1960s, Christianity remains the largest religion. In the 2021 census, 43.9% of Australians identified with Christianity, while 38.9% declared no religious affiliation. The Christian festivals of Easter and Christmas are also public holidays, further emphasising the influence of Christianity on the nation's culture and society.
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Christian influence on Australia's welfare and education
Australia, despite being a secular nation with freedom of religion and separation of church and state, has been influenced by Christianity since its colonisation by the British in 1788. This influence is evident in the country's welfare and education systems, where Christian organisations play a significant role.
Christian Influence on Australia's Welfare System
Christian or faith-based organisations (FBOs) are major providers of welfare and social services in Australia. These organisations provide over half of all welfare services in the country, with 23 of the 25 largest charity organisations associated with Christian churches. The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission reported that faith-based organisations are the largest category of charities in Australia, employing over 133,000 staff and utilising the services of at least 467,000 volunteers as of 2013. Examples of such organisations include The Salvation Army, praised by former Prime Minister Julia Gillard for its work in reuniting families, assisting those with addictions, providing shelter for the homeless, and more. The Uniting Church in Australia is another example, offering community services in aged care, hospitals, nursing, family support, youth services, and homeless support.
Christian FBOs are motivated by their religious traditions, which emphasise social justice and service to those in need. For example, Anglicare Australia states that their faith in Jesus Christ compels them to act with compassion and help the vulnerable. The capacity for religion to attract and motivate volunteers is well-documented, with studies showing a positive correlation between religion and volunteering.
Christian Influence on Australia's Education System
Christianity has also influenced Australia's education system, particularly through the establishment of religious schools and the provision of religious education. Following the withdrawal of state aid for church schools around 1880, the Catholic Church invested significant resources into creating an alternative system of education. This system was staffed by religious orders such as the Sisters of Mercy, Marist Brothers, and the Sisters of St Joseph. Saint Mary MacKillop, the founder of the Sisters of St Joseph, established schools, convents, and charitable institutions across Australasia.
In addition to religious schools, special religious education (SRE) or instruction is offered in Australian government schools. However, there is a growing debate around the place of SRE in schools, with some academics and parents arguing that it should be taught at home instead. Critics argue that the current religious education curriculum favours larger religious groups, particularly Christianity, and does not accurately reflect the religious diversity of Australia. Despite this, SRE contributes to values education, religious identity development, and health and wellbeing. It also provides support to students who experience religious bullying and multiculturalises the schools.
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Australia's Christian identity during Federation debates
Australia is a Western liberal democracy with no official religion. The Australian Constitution of 1901 protects freedom of religion and separation of church and state. However, the country's Christian identity was a significant topic of discussion during the Federation debates in 1901, when around 96% of Australians identified as Christians.
During the Federation debates, Australia's founders affirmed the nation's Christian character by including the phrase "humbly relying on the blessing of Almighty God" in the first sentence of the Constitution. This inclusion was met with some controversy, with thousands of Australians petitioning their Federation delegates to retain the phrase in the Constitution. The "Father of Federation", Henry Parkes, stated that "our whole system of jurisprudence, our constitution… are based upon and interwoven with our Christian belief." Similarly, Australia's second Prime Minister, Alfred Deakin, prayed that the move towards Federation "may be the means of creating and fostering throughout all Australia a Christ-like Citizenship."
Christianity has historically played a significant role in shaping Australia's society and culture, particularly in areas such as social welfare, education, and the marking of festivals such as Easter and Christmas, which are public holidays. Christian churches, such as the Salvation Army and the Uniting Church, are actively involved in providing social welfare services, including residential aged care, community support, and education.
While Australia has become more religiously diverse, with a decline in religious belief since the 1960s, Christianity remains the largest religion in the country. In the 2021 census, 43.9% of Australians identified with Christianity, while 38.9% declared no religious affiliation. Despite the decline in religious belief, Christian values and ideas continue to influence politics and conversations around community, justice, and family life in Australia.
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Decline in religious belief in Australia
Australia has no official religion. The Australian Constitution of 1901 protects freedom of religion and separation of church and state. However, the country was founded as a Christian nation when Christianity was introduced by the British in the late 18th century. The first presence of Christianity in Australia began with British colonisation in what came to be known as New South Wales in 1788.
Christianity is the largest religion in Australia, with a total of 43.9% of the population identifying with a Christian denomination in the 2021 census. However, there has been a steady decline in the proportion of Australians who report an affiliation with Christianity over the past 50 years. In 1971, Christians represented 86.2% of the Australian population. In 2011, 22.3% of Australians identified as having no religion, and in the 2021 census, this figure rose to 38.9%.
There are various sociological reasons for the decline in mainstream Christianity in Australia, including improvements in education and prosperity, as well as internal institutional issues such as the child abuse scandal, the role of women, and issues of sexual ethics. The media's focus on Christianity's more extreme elements, such as arguments against inclusivity, may also be a factor in the decline. Additionally, the rise of individualism and the 'turn to the self' in Western culture has led to a rejection of external moral authorities, with people believing they do not need religion to connect with God.
While the number of people identifying as having no religion is growing, this does not necessarily mean they do not believe in God. A significant portion of the Australian population still adheres to a religious belief system, with the number identifying with religions other than Christianity growing from 3.5% in 1996 to 10% in 2021. Furthermore, the diversification of Christian churches, such as the growth of Pentecostal churches and the increase in ecumenism among Christians, indicates that religion in Australia is becoming more complex rather than simply declining.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Christianity is the largest religion in Australia, with 43.9% of the population identifying with a Christian denomination in the 2021 census.
The prominence of churches in most Australian towns and cities is one of the most visible signs of the historical importance of Christianity in Australia. The Christian footprint in Australian society and culture remains broad, particularly in areas of social welfare, education provision, and the marking of festivals such as Easter and Christmas.
Australia is a Western liberal democracy with a diverse range of religions. In the 2021 census, 38.9% of Australians declared "no religion", up from 22.3% in 2011.
Christianity has played a significant role in shaping Australia's political landscape. During the Federation debates in 1901, Australia's Christian identity was a prominent topic of discussion, and the country's founders affirmed its Christian character by including religious references in the Constitution.
