Religion and Belief Systems in Australia post-1945
The big picture
This topic tracks how Australian religious life changed after 1945 through immigration, secularisation, pluralism and Aboriginal spirituality. You must be able to name and explain the key concepts: denominational switching, secularism, religious plurality and ecumenism, interfaith dialogue, New Age religion, and the Dreaming as the foundation of Aboriginal spirituality.
Census trends
Know the direction of travel: since 1945, adherence to Christianity has declined as a proportion of the population, the 'no religion' category has grown sharply (especially among younger Australians), and non-Christian religions have grown through migration (Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism). Be precise: these are proportions, not absolute collapses, and 'no religion' does not equal atheism.
Aboriginal spirituality
Understand the Dreaming as metatemporal (not just 'long ago'), and the relationships it establishes between people, land and ancestral beings. Link this to the Land Rights movement (e.g. the Mabo decision, Native Title) and to the Stolen Generations. A common trap is treating Aboriginal spirituality as one uniform system - it is diverse across language groups. Another is confusing the 1967 referendum (constitutional inclusion in the census) with land rights (a separate legal struggle).
Migration and pluralism
Post-war migration and the end of the White Australia policy diversified Australia's religious landscape, producing religious plurality and pressures toward interfaith dialogue and ecumenism (unity between Christian denominations, distinct from interfaith dialogue between religions).
Worked example
If asked 'explain how migration has shaped Australia's religious landscape', don't just list religions. Structure it: (1) policy change enabled non-European migration; (2) migrants brought Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism; (3) this created plurality and prompted interfaith responses; (4) census data evidences the shift. Rule of thumb: every claim about change needs a mechanism plus evidence.