Australia is best described as a post-Christian nation. Discuss.
Religion is defined as a person’s beliefs and opinions concerning the existence, nature, and worship of God, a god or gods, and divine involvement in the universe and human life. Christianity is the most commonly followed religion, with over 2 billion supporters. Christianity was the message carried by the conquerors from Europe when they began their quests of exploration and colonisation, and has reached the furthest corners of the globe, ranging from Chile (70% call themselves Christian) to Madagascar (45%) to French Polynesia (54%). However, in recent years, the numbers of Christians in the world has begun to decrease, as more people discover other religions or turn atheist. Australia is a suitable example of this process, and this regression brings to light some issues regarding Christianity, and the reasons for its widespread following in the earlier centuries.
Modern religion in Australia is diverse; there is no state religion. The establishment of such a religion is prohibited by the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Australia. Before the time of European settlement, the Indigenous Australians had their own sets of beliefs and traditions of the Dreamtime, wherein they worshiped the earth and the sky, encompassing an emphasis on life transitions such as puberty and death. Christianity was introduced with European colonisation of Australia in 1788 with the major denominations being Roman Catholic (found mainly in Irish convicts) and Anglican/Church of England (other convicts and the gaolers.)
During the following 1800s, European settlers brought their traditional churches to Australia. These included the subdivisions of Methodists, Catholic, Presbyterian, Congregational, Lutheran and Baptist churches. Further waves of migration and the gradual removal of the White Australia policy helped to reshape to profile of Australia’s religious affiliations over subsequent decades....