"No Religion" Is Now Australia's Number One Religion
Source: Buzzfeed
Australia remains a fairly religious country, with 60% of people reporting a religious affiliation.
In 1966 only 0.8% of Australians ticked the box for "No religion", which includes atheists, secularists and agnostics.
The proportion of people reporting no religion increased to 30.1% in 2016 up from 22% five years ago, and nearly double the 16% reported in 2001.
Those aged from 18 to 34 were most likely to report not having a religion (39%) than other age groups. Those aged 65 years and over were more likely to report a religious affiliation.
Read more: https://www.buzzfeed.com/ginarushton/no-religion-is-now-australias-number-one-religion?bffbozpol&utm_term=.eedVdE65B#.kwzmL6l91
raccoon
(31,111 posts)I'm talking about the days when both countries were British colonies.
Kolesar
(31,182 posts)USA had religious freedom, and the highly motivated zealots just ran with it. They turned it into selfish capitalistic sociopathy. Ok, I cannot discuss this at length, I just sense it.
oberliner
(58,724 posts)The survey shows Christianity as the most popular religion in Australia, same as the USA.
The two countries also have about the same percentage of the population identifying as not religious.
NeoGreen
(4,031 posts)http://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/australian-census-religious-affiliation-falls-as-population-changes-rapidly/ar-BBDiWn7
It is about the direction and magnitude of the rate of decline and demographics:
Over that period since 1966, the proportion of the population who self-identify as Christian, combining all Christian denominations, has fallen from 88.2% to 52.1%.
Since 1966, when the proportion of the population who marked no religion on their census was just 0.8%, the number that now mark no religion has swelled to 29.6%, nearly double the 16% recorded in 2001. That category now accounts for a higher proportion of the population than any single religious denomination for the first time.
Those aged from 18 to 34 were most likely to report not having a religion (39%) than other age groups. Those aged 65 years and over were more likely to report a religious affiliation.
(I associate conservatives/religious as related ilk)
oberliner
(58,724 posts)Less than a third say no religion - thus, the headline is not true.
NeoGreen
(4,031 posts)...but if the total number of christians (total combined denominations) in the US was reported to be only 52%, then I'd be celebrating regardless of headlines.
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)Presbyterians, Methodists, etc..
So even if you just broke it down by Catholics and Protestants, each could still be under 33%.
oberliner
(58,724 posts)As do most counties in the West.
luvtheGWN
(1,336 posts)but I think the headline was referring to the sects within various religions, rather than to Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism etc.
Anyhow, atheism (or non-theism as I prefer to call it) is growing in numbers in all western countries. I think that's a good thing, personally.
oberliner
(58,724 posts)Last edited Tue Jun 27, 2017, 07:16 PM - Edit history (1)
Again, I think this Buzfeed is being presented in a deceptive way - as opposed to the actual census it links to which is more straightforward.
oberliner
(58,724 posts)The number one religion in Australia is Christianity at 52 percent.
It literally says so in the first sentence of the census linked to in this article:
"The results of the latest national Census today reveal were a religiously diverse nation, with Christianity remaining the most common religion (52 per cent of the population)."
yallerdawg
(16,104 posts)"For the first time ever, "no religion" has overtaken any single religious denomination, toppling Catholicism as the number one religious affiliation for Australians, the latest national census released on Tuesday revealed."
My only bone of contention with the headline is "No Religion" is NOT a religion! That has to be the stupidest thing I have ever heard!
oberliner
(58,724 posts)And the census contradicts the article in the first sentence (which I cited).
yallerdawg
(16,104 posts)The notion that "no religious affiliation" IS a religious affiliation REMAINS the most audaciously ridiculous claim in the article - and the census report!
oberliner
(58,724 posts)Ridiculous indeed.
uriel1972
(4,261 posts)Go figure...
OnlinePoker
(5,722 posts)How many are spiritual without professing an actual religion? They really should make the distinction between Spiritualist, Atheist and Agnostic.
Ligyron
(7,635 posts)Closest I can come is: "I believe in supernatural shit and am irrational at some level, but don't question me too closely about this".
GoneOffShore
(17,340 posts)atreides1
(16,079 posts)In modern times the emphasis is on subjective experience of a sacred dimension and the "deepest values and meanings by which people live," often in a context separate from organized religious institutions. Modern spirituality typically includes a belief in a supernatural (beyond the known and observable) realm, personal growth, a quest for an ultimate/sacred meaning, religious experience,[ or an encounter with one's own "inner dimension."
What you've defined is religion...
Scruffy1
(3,256 posts)BS is BS, whatever you call it. My first good laugh of the day.
Moostache
(9,895 posts)In the broadest sense though, the more people who say "no" to the sky daddy question, the better off we as a species will be.
PatrickforO
(14,578 posts)"Religion is a deal. Spirituality is a journey."
He also says that under the current capitalist system we as a species made the 'deal' to give up personal meaning in order to have power.
Good books.
jberryhill
(62,444 posts)Look at these Christian worshippers in the US:
You see them reaching upwards? That's so they can get closer in touch with God, who is above in Heaven.
Now, if you want to get in touch with God in Australia, you have to do this:
But it is still not as effective, because the entire planet earth gets in the way.
gilbert sullivan
(192 posts)every 12 hours?
uriel1972
(4,261 posts)believe that the Earth is round, orbits the Sun and is more than 6000 years old... doncha know?
chaplain_M
(48 posts)...where they say, "I fart in your general direction."
yallerdawg
(16,104 posts)Come on!
I was an altar boy in my misspent youth!