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| Dr Harry Ballis believes people are seeking
meaning in their own way. |
Choir practice and the Sunday morning service are no longer part of
the weekly ritual for many Australians. Derek Brown reports on the changing
face of religion in Australia.
As Australians search for spiritual meaning at the beginning of the
new century, they are increasingly rejecting traditional forms of religion
in favour of an eclectic mix of the new, the old, and the alternative.
According to Gary Bouma, professor of sociology in the School of Political
and Social Inquiry at Monash University, Australia has never before
seen such a variety of spiritual expression.
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| Professor Gary Bouma. |
"With new age practices attracting large followings, Islam and eastern
religions benefiting from new waves of immigration, and mainstream denominations
revamping old ceremonies, there has been a massive diversification of
religion in Australia over the last 10 years," Professor Bouma says.
"Attending church at 10 am every Sunday is no longer practical for
many Australians, who are now looking to express their spirituality
without the mediation of a religious hierarchy."
Declining attendances within mainstream denominations, and the growing
popularity of 'earth-based' religions like Paganism and new age practices
such as astrology, suggest that traditional religious organisations
are no longer satisfying people's religious needs, says Professor Bouma.
"Nature religions and new age spiritualities have appeal because they
are not tied to religious organisational structures that many Australians
see as oppressive and patriarchal," he says.
According to Dr Harry Ballis, head of the Monash School of Humanities,
Communications and Social Sciences, new age spiritualities are only
one example of the trend towards individualised forms of spirituality,
a trend that can be seen in a broader social setting.
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| Australians are increasingly embracing a variety
of spiritual practices. |
"If you look at the reactions of some Australians visiting Uluru or
speak to people attending the Anzac parade, you will definitely pick
up on the spiritual undertones," Dr Ballis says.
"It is all part of a greater social trend. People have become cynical
towards organisations of all kinds, including religious organisations,
and are working to find meaning in their own way."
Dr Ballis believes this social climate has forced some mainstream religions
to free up some of their ceremonies and traditions, in the hope of attracting
a younger congregation, while other churches have carved out a niche
by aligning themselves with migrant enclaves.
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 Name:
Ali Chawk
Religion: Islam
Occupation: Director, Islamic Coordinating Hallal Board
"When I arrived in Australia from Lebanon in 1978, the Muslim
community here was very small. Since then, the community has grown
substantially and now we have community centres, social workers
and religious organisations.
"In general, Australia has been a very open and welcoming environment
for us, but negative stereotypes of Muslims still appear often
in the media. Muslims are not bloodthirsty fundamentalists. Of
course, you can find good and bad people in every religion but
on the whole, Islam is about living harmoniously.
"Islam recognises only one God, has one version of a holy book
and has one way of living. Despite the different cultural backgrounds
of Muslims in Australia, it is this unity that holds us together."
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 Name:
Wendy Sulman
Religion: Anglican
Occupation: Administrative secretary
"Even though there have been times in my life when I haven't been
actively involved in the church, I have been a practising Christian
within the Anglican tradition for more than 45 years.
"For a period of about 10 years, as I started
a family and raised my children, the Anglican Church wasn't such
a large part of my life. It was always there in the background
but I just didn't put the effort in. But, as my children got older
and I had more time, I gradually drifted back.
"My religion is very important to me and
in the organisation of the Anglican Church I have found my niche.
I've read figures that claim numbers in the Anglican Church are
falling but I have to say that in my parish, numbers stay steady
and the Sunday School numbers have been quietly increasing, which
I believe forms a base for future growth."
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 Name:
Julie Snodgrass
Religion: Paganism
Occupation: Bookstore owner
"Spiritually, I identify myself as a Pagan as I believe this
term encompasses most of the pre-Christian spiritual paths. Pagans
see the natural world as sacred and many paths honour a god and
a goddess. Unlike many mainstream religions, which can be very
constrictive, Paganism gives me the freedom to be who I want to
be.
"I have always been fascinated with nature and I think that Paganism's
holistic view of humanity as being a part of nature rather than
separate from it was one of the aspects of the spirituality I
found most appealing.
"Also, in Paganism, women are deeply respected and have a primary
spiritual role. This can be attractive to women who feel left
out of the rituals and theology of mainstream religious organisations."
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For details on undergraduate and postgraduate options available
in the School of Political and Social Inquiry, contact +61 3 9905
2443. For more information on postgraduate positions within the
Centre for the Study of Religion and Theology, contact +61 3 9905
2125. |
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