Australia

Prior to European colonization, Australia was inhabited entirely by indigenous peoples, known as Australian Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander peoples, who practiced a variety of local religious traditions. Although particular beliefs varied, they were linked by an emphasis on the real and enduring ties between the material world and Dreaming beings, which are ultimately responsible for creating and sustaining both nature and humanity, and endowing particular groups and individuals with links to other elements in the natural world, including animals, plants and landscapes. Europeans explored the coasts of Australia during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, but colonization did not begin until the 1780s. In 1788, a British penal colony was established in what is now Sydney. Over the next 50 years, 161,000 prisoners were transferred to the territory. Free settlers began to arrive in the late eighteenth century, but it was the gold rush of the 1850s that led to radically increased immigration. The new settlers brought with them their religious traditions, such as Irish Catholicism, Scottish Presbyterianism, and English Anglicanism, among others. Australian Aborigines suffered a tragic decline during this period, as they were dispossessed of their lands and diseases spread among their population. Christian churches organized missions during this period, formally intended to “civilize” Aboriginal communities and spread Christianity. The overall consequences of this activity are still disputed, but it certainly contributed to the tragic decline of indigenous languages and beliefs. In addition, the controversial government practice of removing children from Aboriginal families originated during this period.

In 1901, the six colonies on the continent formed the Commonwealth of Australia as a Dominion of the British Empire. That same year, the government passed an act limiting immigration to those of European descent in what came to be known as the White Australia policy. By effectively limiting the immigration of practitioners of different faiths, this policy ensured that Christianity remained the religion of the overwhelming majority of Australians. Australian Aborigines continued to face significant discrimination and were not included in the national censuses nor granted the right to vote. Policies aimed at forcibly integrating indigenous peoples expanded during the early twentieth century, and were often associated with missionary activity. Australia fought alongside the United Kingdom and the United States during both World Wars, and enjoyed a time of great economic prosperity in the post-war period. After the Second World War, restrictions on the rights of Aborigines and many aspects of the immigration policy were gradually dismantled. This led to the transformation of Australia into an increasingly multicultural society, both through greater appreciation for Aboriginal traditions and diversification of the immigrant population. However, Aboriginal religions virtually disappeared, and by the 1990s less than 1 percent of Aborigines practiced traditional religions.

Among the most significant features of the religious landscape of Australia during the last century has been the decline of religion in general and Christianity in particular. In 1901, 97 percent of the population adhered to some Christian denomination; by 2006, only 64 percent identified themselves as Christian, 6 percent declared membership in some other religion, and over 18 percent stated they had no religious affiliation. Diversified immigration has played an important part in this shift, and has also sparked tensions between various communities. The September 11 attacks, and the 2002 Bali bombings, which killed 88 Australians, produced increased concerns for the wellbeing of the local Muslim community, with sporadic instances of violence targeting those perceived as Muslim being reported. The 2005 Cronulla riots were a series of racially charged protests against Muslims and others of Middle Eastern appearance, followed by incidents of violent retaliation on the part of Muslim youths across Sydney and its suburbs. In 2009, Indians staged large protests in Melbourne and Sydney against a string of attacks on Indian international students that were perceived as receiving an inadequate police response, sparking concerns from the government of India as well. The late 20th century also witnessed increased attention to the responsibility of the government for the historical mistreatment of Aboriginal communities, the decline of their culture, and particularly for the removal of thousands of children from Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander families during the previous century.