Second World War / Post War Era

Immigration after the Second World War affected the religious makeup of the Australian Population.The Australian religious landscape has been enriched by:

- European- Middle Eastern- Asian

immigration.

What Religions enriched Australia during this time?

What views of Church did the European Catholics bring to Australia that were so different to the Irish?Did this cause conflict? Explain.

Religious Community profiles Religion in Australia -40The Australian Church Story, page 113-121-26Believing in Australia, pages 140-171 -14

1945-1960Worksheet 9

© 2006 HSC Course: Religion in Australia post-1945

1950 was a boom time for Australian Catholics, numbers increased and the community had grown into a thriving Church based on the Irish model.

1960-1970’s brought an enormous social change due to huge post-war influx of non-English speaking immigrants including more than one million Catholics from Italy, Malta, The Netherlands, Germany, Croatia, Hungary and other places. These Catholics had a different view of Church which didn’t fit the Irish mould.

Catholic and Protestant communities were still separated socially.

Protestants still clung to their conservative political and moral values.

Changes in approach to Aborigines were still influenced by paternalism.

The Australian Churches took up Social Justice issues:e.g. Aboriginal social / political rights

land rights, unemployment, poverty,

while continuing with practical outreach services.

Vatican II brought about

changes so rapid

and extensive that many

Catholics were left confused

and disoriented. Many of the

woundssuffered have not yet fully

healed.

Post-Christian Society

Name some of the changes that Vatican II instigated.

What was Vatican II?

Give some examples of the types of things people turned to in their search for

a spiritual dimension to their life.

Religious Community profiles Religion in Australia -40The Australian Church Story, page 138-154 -26Believing in Australia, pages 172-195 -14

1961 -1990Worksheet 10

Sectarian divisions that separated Catholics,

Protestants and Orthodox believers

began to break down.

© 2006 HSC Course: Religion in Australia post-1945

Protestant Churches lost their previous political power.

Catholic Church completed its divorce with the Labor party because of state aid to schools.

Majority of Australians had ceased attending Church.

Many weddings were conducted outside of the Church.

Even funerals were deserting the Churches for Crematorium Chapels.

A significant percentage of Australians claimed ‘no religion’. At the same time there were many indications of dissatisfaction with material values and searching for a spiritual dimension.

The changing face of Religion today

Today we live in a time of rapid socio-cultural change.As societies change, we change in theological imagery. For example some images of God cease to make sense and to appeal, therefore, new images appear.

Some of the major socio-cultural changes that are reshaping our world today:

• migration• cultural diversity• globalisation• economic transformation / decay /

collapse / change• shifts in power allegiances /bases• rise of the post-family society• rise of post modernity

Religion in an age of change, pages 15-22 -3

• How do the changes listed affect Christian Australians’ belief or image of God?

• Discuss.

Worksheet 21

© 2006 HSC Course: Religion in Australia post-1945

Worksheet 23

Immigration after World War II

• Indicate on the map the countries from which people immigrated to Australia after World War II until the present.

• Present a key showing the different periods of time particular groups came to Australia.

• Indicate the events that were behind the immigration of the particular groups.

Note:Between 1945 and 1989 more than 4 million migrants from 120 countries settled in Australia.

© 2006 HSC Course: Religion in Australia post-1945