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WHAT DO AUSTRALIANS THINK ABOUT RELIGION AND FAITH TODAY

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25 May 2021

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CENSUS DATA

How many Australians indicated that Christianity was their religion in the census?

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  • In 1911 96%
  • In 1966 88%
  • In 2011 61%
  • In 2016 52%

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Since 1966, the proportion of Australians identifying as Catholics has remained steady at around 26%.

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In 2016, it dropped to 23%.

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- Australian Bureau of Statistics

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The proportion of people reporting to have no religion in Australia has increased steadily and substantially over the past 50 years.

  • In 1966 0.8%
  • In 2011 22% (4.8 million people)
  • In 2016 30% (7 million people)

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FAITH AND BELIEF IN AUSTRALIA

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McCrindle Report 2017

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RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

  • National online survey of 1,024 Australians representative of the national population by gender, age, and state

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  • Focus groups with 26 non-Christians

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ACCORDING TO A BABY BOOMER

“Religions are too politically controlled, brainwashing.

Spirituality is about self awareness, bettering yourself.”

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Religion in Australia is not dead.

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  • Two thirds of Australians (68%) currently follow a religion or have spiritual beliefs.

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  • Almost one in three Australians (32%) now do not identify with a religion.

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WHY?

“In Australia, we are quite well off. We have got a good life. People turn to religions when times are tough and I don’t think that the times are as tough anymore. People know more about religion so they’re not sold on one story, they don’t think, ‘If I don’t pray and ask for forgiveness, I’m going to go to hell.’ People don’t buy the story anymore. They know too much.” (Gen X)

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Household upbringing influences religious identity.

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  • Almost half of Australians who identify with spirituality or religion in some way remain committed to the religion of their upbringing (47%).

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WHY NOT FOLLOW PARENTS?

“The younger generation have access to research, and they are thinking on their own. I wasn’t allowed to think on my own…

I was just forced into this religion I didn’t want. But my kids aren’t forced.” (Gen X)

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The greatest attraction to investigating spirituality and religion is:

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  • observing people who live out a genuine faith (61% )
  • experiencing a personal trauma or significant life change (59%)

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Australians are most prompted to think about spiritual, religious or metaphysical things through:

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  • conversations with other people (31%)
  • reading a book or article (21%)
  • thinking about global and national issues such as refugees, war, and poverty (21%)
  • a major life crisis (23% females and 14% males)

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BEING ON A SPIRITUAL JOURNEY

Half of Australians (50%) who are spiritual but not religious do not consider themselves to be on a ‘spiritual journey’.

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Some say Australians are not on a spiritual journey because they lack time.

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  • “I think with everything that’s going on in life, a lot of people don’t have the time to sit down and worry about what is going on, spiritually or personally.” – (A non-Christian Gen X)

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  • “The whole concept of being on a spiritual journey [doesn’t resonate with me]. I am just so busy in my day to day life.” (Gen Y)

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The top repellent to investigating religion and spirituality is:

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  • hearing from public figures and celebrities who are examples of that faith

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  • miraculous stories of people being healed or supernatural occurrences

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The biggest blocker to Australians engaging with Christianity is:

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  • the Church’s stance and teaching on homosexuality (31%)

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  • ‘How could a loving God allow people to go to hell?’ (28%)

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Perceptions of Christians and Christianity are negatively influenced by:

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  • church abuse (73%)
  • religious wars (65%)
  • hypocrisy (65%)

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Australians most value the Church and Christian organisations for:

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  • looking after people who are homeless (74%)
  • offering financial assistance/food relief programs (72%)
  • providing disaster relief (69%)

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What do Australians most value about the local church?

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  • the supportive community (38%)
  • social connections (24%)
  • ability to worship together (21%)

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Two in five (44%) Australians do not value anything about the local church.

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ECSI REPORTS

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