2-UNIT STUDIES OF RELIGION



STUDIES OF RELIGION PRELIMINARY COURSE

DEPTH STUDY 2: CHRISTIANITY

DISTRIBUTION AND PRACTICE OF CHRISTIANITY

IN AUSTRALIA TODAY

Study the Census Information below:

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1. What percentage of the Australian population in 1996 claim to -

|Be Christian? |Be Catholic? |

|Be Anglican? |Belong to no religion? |

2. Name the Christian groups that have grown in numbers between 1991 and 1996.

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3. Name the Christian groups that have declined in numbers between 1991 and 1996.

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4. Using the Census data, explain this decline.

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Examine the graphs:

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What percentage of Catholics attend church nearly every week?

1. What percentage of Anglicans attend church nearly every week?

2. What percentage of Uniting Church Christians attend church nearly every week?

Examine the graph on page 4:

The figure gives an indication of where the majority of various religious groups are to be found. Those groups whose coloured bars do not reach the black line which runs vertically in the middle of the figure have comparatively higher support outside the capital cities than within them. The more the bars surpass this line the greater is the support for that group within the cities.

1. Which religious groups are primarily represented by people from the cities?

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2. Which religious groups are represented more or less uniformly by people from both the country towns and the cities?

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3. Which religious groups have greater representation by people from the country towns than from the cities?

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Study the graph:

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1. Describe the relationship between affiliation with Christianity and age.

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2. Describe the relationship between affiliation to no religion and age.

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3. Explain these relationships.

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Examine the graph:

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If we define the middle class as those who earn more than $600 per week, then the middle class comprises 20% of the Australian population. If we define the poor as those who earn less than $200 per week, then the poor comprises 36% of the Australian population.

1. Name three religious groups that identify most closely with the poor.

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2. The Anglican, Catholic, Presbyterian and Uniting Churches have been accused of being middle class churches. Is this claim fair? Explain.

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References

Bentley, P., & Hughes, P., J. (1998). Australian life and the Christian faith: facts and figures. Kew, Victoria: Christian Research Association.

Board of Studies. (1999). Stage 6 syllabus: studies of religion. Sydney: Board of Studies New South Wales.

© Emmaus Publications (2003). Every effort has been made to trace and acknowledge all materials used. This material may be photocopied for educational use only.

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Students learn about the origins and history of Christianity –

• The distribution and practice of Christianity in Australia today.

Students learn to account for both diversity and homogeneity in Christianity in Australia today.

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