Christianity in Australia Today
A. Three Sources of Information.
1. Census – religious identification
2. Sample surveys eg Australian Community Survey (1998) and Wellbeing and Security
Survey (2002) – information about beliefs and practices of total population
3. National Church Life Survey – in 2001 covered 19 denominations and provides in depth
picture of about 90 per cent of all those who attend a church on a typical Sunday.
B. Trends among Christian Denominations
1. The Rise and Fall of Ethnic-based Denominations
Growth has been dependent on patterns of immigration. These denominations have experienced
decline as religion has changed from being ethnically based to a 'life-style' type of choice.
1
Philip Hughes, Christian Research Association.
September, 2006
Major 'Ethnic-based' Denominations
Identification in Census
Sources: Australian Bureau of Statistics - Australian Religious Communities CD
40
39
35
31
30
25
22
21
20
27
27
25
27
24
21
20
17
13
13
10
10
0
27
0
1947
2
3
3
3
0.1
3
0.2
1961
1971
1981
1991
2001
Catholics
Uniting / Presbyterian / Methodist
Oriental Orthodox
Anglicans
Eastern Orthodox
2. Variation Among 'Enthusiasts' Denominations
Other denominations built around personal 'enthusiasm' or commitment have grown or declined
according to the extent to which they have adapted to the changes in culture.
Major Denominations of 'Enthusiasts'
Identification in Census
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics - Australian Religious Communities
2
1.8
1.6
1.4
1.2
1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
1.7
1.5
1
0.5
0.2
0
1947
1.4
0.9
1.4
0.5
0.3
0.2
1961
1971
Baptist
Salvation Army
Pentecostals
2
1.3
0.9
0.8
0.5
0.3
0.2
1.7
1
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.4
0.3
1981
1991
2001
Churches of Christ
Seventh-day Adventist
Philip Hughes, Christian Research Association.
September, 2006
Changing Patterns of Attendance
Proportion of Australian Population Attending
Church Monthly or More Often
By Age Group 1983 and 2002
Source: National Social Science Survey 1983 and Wellbeing and Security Survey 2002
35
32
30
29
25
28
31
29
29
60 to 69
70 plus
24
21
20
18
16
15
14
11
10
5
0
18 to 29
30 to 39
40 to 49
1983
50 to 59
2002
Who Attends the Christian Churches in 2005?
1. People aged over 60 – their local community
2. Recent immigrants – connecting with heritage
3. People affirming family life – and some others who find support for their life-style
choices in the church.
Resources:
Bellamy, J., A. Black, K. Castle, P. Hughes and P. Kaldor (2002). Why People Don't Go to Church.
Adelaide, Openbook.
Hughes, P. and S. Bond (2004). Australia's Religious Communities: A Multimedia Exploration (2nd
Edition), Christian Research Association.
Hughes, P (editor), Pointers: Quarterly Bulletin of the Christian Research Association, Christian
Research Association.
Hughes, P., J. Bellamy, A. Black and P. Kaldor (2000). Dropping out of church: the Australian
experience. Joining and Leaving Religion. L. Francis, J. and Y. Katz, J. Herefordshire, England,
Gracewing.
Kaldor, P., R. Dixon and R. Powell (1999). Taking Stock: A Profile of Australian Church Attenders.
Adelaide, Openbook.
Kaldor, P., J. Bellamy, R. Powell, K. Castle and B. Hughes (1999). Build My Church. Sydney,
NCLS Research.
3
Philip Hughes, Christian Research Association.
September, 2006
Place and Role of Religion in Australia
1. Change in Nature of Religion
Since the 1960s, religion has moved from being a bearer of ethnic identity and provider of the
cultural framework for most Australians to being sets of resources that young people use within
their life-style choices, as demonstrated in:

Belief is in the form of 'whateverism' rather than associated with the framework of
knowledge.

Authority in religion / spirituality rooted in the individual rather than the community.

Involvement in religious practices evaluated in terms of its 'helpfulness'.
However, religion retains a role as bearer of ethnic identity for many immigrants and continues to
be one important source of the moral value of compassion and the regard for others.
Why Religion is Important
Percent of Australian Population
Source: Australian Community Survey (1998)
Ten Commandments 7
Worship 12
Sharing Faith 5
Principles of Care 48
Not Important 28
Column Title
Row Title
Attendance by Importance of Religion
among the Australian Population
Source: Australian Community Survey (1998)
Sharing Faith
51
76
Worship
69
Ten Commands
20
Principle of Care
Not Important
100
62
15
1
0
92
101
50
101
9
10
100
100
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Percent of Population
Monthly+
Occasionally
Never
2. Religious Organisations as Major Part of Not-for-Profit Sector
The churches administer approximately

45% of all welfare

30% of all education

15% of all hospitals

22% of all overseas aid.
Resource: Peter Bentley and Philip Hughes, A Brief Review of Church-Related Research in
Australia 1975 – 2005, Occasional Research Paper No.6, Christian Research Association, 2005.
Christian Research Association website: www.cra.org.au
4
Philip Hughes, Christian Research Association.
September, 2006