Tag Archive for: faith

“Take Back Your Family” From the Western World’s Broken Model, Says Author Jefferson Bethke

By: Laura Bennett

In the last two years, many of us have asked, why did we do it that way? Why did I jam my schedule so full? Why didn’t I get off the wheel of the daily grind sooner? Read more

Yippee! A Safe Streaming Site For Kids Unlike Any Other

By: Michael Crooks

Screen-time for children in Australia has soared during the pandemic, and while there is no shortage of streaming services, not all of the content is appropriate for young minds. Read more

For King & Country Takes Out Top Award at Dove Awards

By: Amy Cheng

For King & Country has won the award for Artist of the Year at the 2021 GMA Dove Awards. Read more

Turn It Off

By: Lorrene McClymont

I have to admit I have been really struggling with feelings of heaviness, anxiety, and feeling overwhelmed. Sometimes I can feel the weight of the world at the moment. It’s a heavy place to be and it just seems like I can’t escape tough conversations and constant opinions even for a second. Read more

Pandemic Causing an Increase in Spiritual Openness Amongst Australians

By: Kim Wilkinson

Australians are experiencing a renewed spiritual awakening with three in ten praying more since the pandemic.

A recently released report has revealed that the experience of COVID-19 has caused many Australians to experience a renewed spiritual search. A third of Australians have thought more about God (33%), while three in ten (28%) have prayed more. During the pandemic almost half of Australians have thought more about the meaning of life (47%) or their own mortality (47%).

The collective experience of the pandemic has ushered in a return to local and a focus on community, with half of Australians (53%) valuing a strong local community more than they did three years ago. The local church is a key element of the local community with three in four Australians (76%) agreeing the churches in their local area are making a positive difference to their community.

The research, which was conducted by McCrindle Research and surveyed 1,000 Australians also found that two thirds of Australians are likely to attend a church service either online (64%) or in-person (67%) if personally invited by a friend or family member. Far from religion and spirituality being only for older Australians, Gen Z (45%) are twice as likely as Baby Boomers (21%) to be extremely or very likely to attend an online church service if personally invited by a friend or family member.

Mark McCrindle, Founder and Principal of McCrindle Research says, “This data is worth reflecting on a little longer: in this seemingly secular era, where the church is perceived by many commentators to be on the decline and culturally outdated, almost half of all young adults invited to a church service by a friend or family member would very likely attend.”

The report also found that Australians are accepting of others’ religious views.

Nine in ten (90%) agree that in Australia people should have the freedom to share their religious beliefs, if done in a peaceful way, even if those beliefs are different to mainstream community views. There is, however, wavering support for religious symbolism in public life. Almost two in five Australians (39%) agree that Christian practices in public life such as parliament opening in prayer, oaths in court being taken on the Bible, or Christian chaplains in hospitals or jails should be stopped. Three in five (61%), however, disagree and are therefore open to Christian practices in public life continuing.

some questions that were on the survey and the percentage of how many agreed or disagreed

Interestingly, Religious discrimination is a genuine issue in Australia with almost three in ten Australians (29%) having experienced religious discrimination, this equates to about half of those who identify with a religion which is six in ten Australians.

Australians who identify with a non-Christian religion are more likely to have experienced discrimination (54%) than Protestants (27%) or Catholics (32%). Religious discrimination is also more likely to be experienced by younger Australians who are four times as likely as their older counterparts to say they have experienced religious discrimination (51% Gen Z cf. 13% Baby Boomers).

You can download the City Insight report here

For more information or to arrange an interview please contact Kimberley Linco: kim@mccrindle.com.au

About this Research:

These insights are from the Australia’s spiritual climate report which is based on quantitative research, as well as scoping research and data analytics. A nationally representative online survey of Australians aged 18+ was conducted to gain insights that form much of this release. The survey was in field from the 10th to the 13th of September 2021 and collected 1,000 responses.

About McCrindle

McCrindle is an Australian based social research, demographics and data analytics firm. Their research methodologies include national surveys, population modelling and qualitative research.

Article supplied with thanks to Christian Media & Arts Australia.

About the author: Kim is a media and communications professional who specialises in building community and valuable relationships.

Feature image: Photo by Ben Mack from Pexels

How Not To Fight Cancel Culture

By: Akos Balogh

Peter Boghossian was a professor of philosophy at Portland State University, where he taught for ten years. Read more

NSW’s New Premier: Who is Dominic Perrottet?

By: Michael Crooks

Dominic Perrottet, aged 39, is the 46th NSW Premier.
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Feeling Overwhelmed? 5 Ways to Beat the Transition Blues

By: Jenny Baxter

Sometimes, it helps to remember that no one, young or old, likes change. You are not alone if you feel overwhelmed. The thing is, you CAN beat the transition blues, and its demoralising effect on you. Read more

The Nurse Who Found Hope By Living on a Surgery Ship

By: Georgia Free

I’m sure most of us have been subjected to some form of surgical procedure at least once in our lives. Wisdom teeth removal, a broken bone, getting an appendix out. Although these surgeries can be a little daunting, they are generally straightforward, safe and accessible. Read more

The Story of Australia’s First Saint, Mary MacKillop, Children and The Poor

By: Annie Hamilton

The tiny face of the boy in the rowing boat was screwed up in timidity and fear. Read more