New spiritual movements have always had a place in the social landscape, however, due to the growing the pursuit of individualism- an offshoot of secularism, it has caused a major increase in the population of people who choose ‘no religion.’ New age religions were part of the rapid growing faiths in the 2001 census in Australia, increasing by 140 percent in the 5 years since 1996 (Woodhead, 2016). New age religion forms an overall spiritual movement with no single unifying doctrine. Regardless, they share similar beliefs and practices which are often attached to other more formalised religious beliefs. It is said that the actual number of Australian citizens who possess some kind of new age adherence is considerably higher than the percentage
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The catholic church made a dramatic gesture supporting reconciliation when Pope John Paul II visited Alice Springs in 1986. Since then, many more contributions have been made such as the Catholic church joining other churches to address the issue “towards reconciliation in Australian society- reconciliation and aboriginal Australians” which argued for the settlement of differences between indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. The Anglican church has shown support by funding and supporting the national Aboriginal and Torres strait islander ecumenical commission whose indigenous members represent a section of the church, providing a forum to give aboriginals a voice on their issues. (Bulmer & Doret, 2008) The “corroboree bridge walk” in 2000 involved religious leaders of all major traditions participating encouraged further awareness on a national scale on the issue of reconciliation (Reconciliation Australia, 2001). Statements of support by religious leaders for Prime minister Kevin Rudd’s apology in 2008 to the stolen generations also broadened an understanding of the importance of reconciliation within the wider community (Calma, 2008).
Secularisation affected traditional religions in various ways where they were in need of renewing their significance within society by partaking in issues of peace and justice such as Reconciliation with indigenous Australians post 1945. Non spiritual movements increased in numbers post 1945 due to growing numbers of people deterring from traditional religions and striving to create spirituality in absence of a higher power and traditional
The catholic church made a dramatic gesture supporting reconciliation when Pope John Paul II visited Alice Springs in 1986. Since then, many more contributions have been made such as the Catholic church joining other churches to address the issue “towards reconciliation in Australian society- reconciliation and aboriginal Australians” which argued for the settlement of differences between indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. The Anglican church has shown support by funding and supporting the national Aboriginal and Torres strait islander ecumenical commission whose indigenous members represent a section of the church, providing a forum to give aboriginals a voice on their issues. (Bulmer & Doret, 2008) The “corroboree bridge walk” in 2000 involved religious leaders of all major traditions participating encouraged further awareness on a national scale on the issue of reconciliation (Reconciliation Australia, 2001). Statements of support by religious leaders for Prime minister Kevin Rudd’s apology in 2008 to the stolen generations also broadened an understanding of the importance of reconciliation within the wider community (Calma, 2008).
Secularisation affected traditional religions in various ways where they were in need of renewing their significance within society by partaking in issues of peace and justice such as Reconciliation with indigenous Australians post 1945. Non spiritual movements increased in numbers post 1945 due to growing numbers of people deterring from traditional religions and striving to create spirituality in absence of a higher power and traditional