Following a prominent campaign by the Humanists Societies of Australia there was an increase in the number of Australians who identified as having “no religion” in the recent census.
This coincided with a drop of people identifying themselves as Christian which has dropped below 50% for the first time in our history of recording census data.
Just 44% of Australians now identifying themselves as Christian which is down from 52% in 2016 and 61% in 2011.
When the census was first recorded in 1911, a whopping 96% of respondents identified themselves as Christian.
39% of Australians now identify themselves as “non-religious” which is up from 30% in 2016 and 22% in 2011.
In the mid 1960’s less then 1% of Australians identified themselves with no-religion.
Based on current trends the number of people identifying themselves as non-religious could overtake those who are Christian by the next census in 2026.
This however is not a cause for concern
With fewer people now identifying themselves as Christian it means there is now no longer any social advantages to being called a “Christian”.
Perhaps back in the early 1900s there might have been a greater cause to wish to identify ones self as Christian. It meant that identifying yourself with the majority gave you a social advantage.
That is now no longer the case.
With the number of self-identifying Christians now dropping below 50% it means that now Christians can be a considered a minority.
This means those who ticked “Christian” because it was seen as the correct response or it’s a connection to their heritage are now not so ready to do it today.
It also shows that those who would have ticked Christian in the past were not really Christians.
In fact it does not show a decline in Christianity but merely a decline in Christianity being a popular social option.
Being a Christian means you count the cost?
Jesus said that a person cannot be my disciple without first ‘counting the cost’ (Luke 14:25-33).
Perhaps those who identify as Christians now are the ones who understand the cost, they are no longer nominal.
Perhaps now this is a time of separating the wheat from the tares.
Those who remain have been refined, they have gone on the Potter’s wheel.
It also highlights the importance of seeing as Australia as a mission field.
It also highlights the importance of our Queen as Head of State
Despite our country identifying itself more as secular, I feel the values that our Queen as the Head of State carries is vitally important for our country moving forward.
With Queen Elizabeth II now celebrating 70 years on the throne she has been a model of consistency in a confusing world.
Her Christianity has held her as a model of consistency and with many people identifying Christianity with their past, perhaps with their childhood and their family, the Queen is a link to Australia’s more Christian past.
Perhaps there is a reason why the devil would love to see us cut that link.
Her formal role is “Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England.”
Australia going more secular you might say is a sign of how we have moved away from our more christian past but like a mother to the nation she has kept us grounded and our constitution which she is the umpire of through the Governor-General keeps us grounded and keeps us secure.
Now more then ever do we need that assurity as we move towards a more secular nation.
Ben Kruzins is the Campus Pastor of The Hub Baptist Church in Ocean Shores on the North Coast of New South Wales. He is also a Journalism graduate who has written articles in The Canberra Times and The Sydney Morning Herald.
