Religion and Spirituality in Australia: results from the 2018 Australian Community Survey - National Trust of Australia
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Religion and
Spirituality in
Australia:
results from the 2018 Australian
Community Survey
Dr Ruth Powell
Director, NCLS Research, Associate Professor, PaCT, Charles Sturt University
About NCLS Research For 25+ years, NCLS Research has used empirical research to inform resources for churches to nurture life and health in their congregations, leaders and local community. We work in partnership with 20+ denominations in Australia.
An overview 1. Attitudes to religion in society 2. A religious and spiritual profile of Australians 3. Connections with Christian churches.
1. Attitudes to religion
Is religion ‘good for society’?
A decline in those who agree
since 2016
Strongly agree/agree
40 39
38
36
Percentage
34 33
32
30
2016 2018
Year
Source: 2018 Australian Community Survey run by NCLS Research. (n = 1,200)
2. A Religious and Spiritual Profile of Australians
Public religious practice
A profile of a person’s
religiousness or Private religious practice
spirituality has multiple
dimensions. Mystical experiences
Belief in God
Religious
affiliation
Importance of faith or
spirituality in life
Religious affiliation Source: 2016 National Census of Population and Housing, ABS
Public religious practice
Figure: Self-reported frequency of religious service attendance
One in five (20%) At least once a week 12.8%
Australians are At least once a month 7.5%
frequent attenders Several times a year 8.7%
at religious services Once a year 5.8%
at least monthly. Less frequently than
once a year 17.7%
Never 47.5%
Source: 2018 ACS run by NCLS Research (n=1,200).
Public religious practice: attendance over time
Figure: Self-reported monthly religious service
attendance since 1950
50%
After a steep decline 40%
after the 50’s, in recent 30% 2018 ACS,
years the decline in 20.3%
attendance has slowed. 20%
10%
0%
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020
Year
Source: Various sample surveys of the Australian population, 1950-2018Private religious practice: pray and meditate
Figure: Self-reported frequency of prayer or meditation
Every day/most days or several
times a day 17.9%
Three in ten (30%) Once a week or a few times a
12.3%
Australians said they week
pray or meditate at Occasionally 14.3%
least once a week. Hardly ever 14.4%
Never 39.6%
Don't know 1.5%
Source: 2018 ACS run by NCLS Research (n=1,200).Australian indicators of religiosity (2016)
Mystical experiences
Figure: Mystical or supernatural experiences
Over a quarter (27%) of Yes, I have had an
Australians have had a 27.2%
experience like this
mystical or supernatural No, but I know someone
8.7%
experience. who has
No, but I believe it could
26.3%
happen
A further (35%) knew No, and I don't think such
someone who had, 29.3%
experiences occur
or believed that such Unsure 8.5%
experiences could happen.
Source: 2018 ACS run by NCLS Research (n=1,200).Australian indicators of religiosity (2016)
Religious/spiritual beliefs
‘Which of these statements comes closest to your belief about God?’
Figure 5: Belief in God
56% Believers I don't really think There is a
personal
there is any sort of 23.3% 26.4% God
spirit, God or life force
20% Agnostic
20.3%
I don't really 30.0% There is some
23% Atheist know what sort of spirit or
to think life force
Source: 2018 ACS run by NCLS Research (n=1,200).Australian indicators of religiosity (2016)
Importance of faith or spirituality in life
More than four in 10 (44%) say that faith or spirituality
was important or very important in shaping their
decisions. 23.3% 26.4%
Figure: Importance of faith or spirituality in shaping life’s decisions
20.3%
Very important, Of little Not important,
Important, 28.0%
15.8% importance, 22.8% 33.4%
Source: 2018 ACS run by NCLS Research (n=1,200).20% attend services
frequently
30% pray or meditate
27% had mystical experiences
56% belief in God/higher
power
44% say faith or spirituality is
important in life decisions
Source: 2018 ACS run by NCLS Research (n=1,200).Religious? Spiritual? Both? Neither?
On scales from 0 to 10, Australians were asked…
Source: 2018 ACS run by NCLS Research (n=1,200).Figure: Religious and spiritual self-perceptions
40%
36%
35%
30%
25% 24% Religious
20% Spiritual
15% 14%
12% 12%
11% 10%
10% 9% 8%
7% 7%
4%4% 5%5%
4%
6% 5%5% 5%6% 4%
5%
0%
0 Not at 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Very
all
Source: 2018 ACS run by NCLS Research (n=1,200).Figure: Religious and spiritual self-perceptions: four clusters An empirical analysis found four clusters which indicate four general approaches to religion and spirituality. • Practising (26%) • Non-practising (26%) • ‘SBNR’ (13%) • Neither (35%) Source: 2018 ACS run by NCLS Research (n=1,200).
3. Connections with Christian churches
Role churches should fulfil Group 3 : Up-front roles not well
Group 1: Majority agree (54% to 56%)
• Conduct weddings, funerals, baptisms etc supported
• Encourage good morals and • leadership at public events such as
• Support the poor. Anzac Day) (16%)
• convert people to the faith (12%), and
Group 2: Around four in 10 say: • public comment on political issues
• Provide opportunities for worship (10%).
• Give meaning and direction to life
• Provide chaplains Only two in 10 (21%) thought that
• Provide social services (e.g. aged care) churches should provide schools
• Allow community to use church buildings
• Challenge injustice in society and Some 18% claimed that churches should
• Run social activities. have no role in society.
Source: 2018 ACS run by NCLS Research (n=1,200).Roles for churches: Attenders vs all Australians
Figure: Roles for churches: Attenders vs Australians
Significantly higher proportions Convert people to the faith 21
41
of church attenders affirmed all
roles listed. Provide schools 21
44
Challenge injustice in
The five roles for churches 35
57
society
where there was the greatest
Provide opportunities for
difference between church 43
67
worship
attenders and all Australians
Give meaning and direction 42
are shown in the chart. 69
to life
0 20 40 60 80
Australians Church attenders
Percentage
Source: 2018 ACS run by NCLS Research (n=1,200).Contact via church activities
Figure: Attendance at Christian events in preceding 12 months
A regular church service 19%
A third of Australians have
been at a church event in the Christmas service 19%
past 12 months. Easter service 16%
Social event or a dinner run by a
10%
Attendance at regular church
services, at Christmas and Adult Bible study group 6%
Charitable, social justice or social
Easter were most common, action event run by a church
6%
and important points of Seminar or workshop on a topical
5%
issue (e.g. raising teenagers)
contact for infrequent
Introductory course on Christianity 1%
attenders.
Source: 2018 ACS run by NCLS Research (n=1,200).Social relationships and church
Figure: Close others who attend a Christian church
regularly
Social relationships have a vital
role in determining whether a Your closest friend 11%
person will attend church.
Your spouse or partner 11%
Two thirds of Australians do not Your mother 11%
have any close friends or family Any of your children 9%
who attend church. Your father 6%
None of the above 67%
Source: 2018 ACS run by NCLS Research (n=1,200).Who is in
Figure: Any close others attend a Christian church
regularly by segment
relationship? Overall 33%
It varies…
Cluster: Practising
63%
E.g. 40% of the non-practising religious/spiritual
group had one of the people Cluster: Non-practising
40%
listed regularly attending church religious/spiritual
(most commonly their mother). Cluster: SBNR 15%
Cluster: Neither 11%
Source: 2018 ACS run by NCLS Research (n=1,200).Openness to accepting an invitation to church
Would Australians go to a Figure: Would accept an invitation to church by segment
regular church service if invited
by close family and friends? Overall 28%
Practising
65%
28% say ‘yes’ religious/spiritual
Non-practising
24% are unsure religious/spiritual
30%
48% say ‘no’ SBNR 8%
Neither 6%
Source: 2018 ACS run by NCLS Research (n=1,200).Accepting invitations to church 14% of non-attenders would accept an invitation to church from close friends or family. A further 22% were unsure. People who used to attend are more likely be open. Source: 2018 ACS run by NCLS Research (n=1,200).
Why accept or decline an invitation to church?
944 of 1,200 people (79%) gave additional written information about their choice.
A qualitative content analysis was conducted on the open text responses, where
they were coded into themes which covered:
• their attitudes towards churches and Christianity,
• their own religious identity and/or practices,
• social relationships,
• issues of practical barriers to attendance, and
• curiosity or openness to new experiences.
Source: 2018 ACS run by NCLS Research (n=1,200). NB. Those who identified as Christians who already attended religious
services at least monthly were excluded from results.Why accept? Relationships, curiosity and connection The most commonly given reasons were: 1. To support or affirm their friend or family member, for example: “I would attend because it is important to the person who invited you, otherwise they wouldn’t have invited you.” 2. Curious about attending, or open to trying something new or different: “I would accept as I like to be open minded.” 3. Appreciated the idea of connecting with other people at church: “It’s a nice social experience if you go to church and mingle with and get to know other people.” Source: 2018 ACS run by NCLS Research (n=1,200).
Why decline? Negative, no interest, non-religious The most salient reasons were: 1. Negative attitudes or feelings towards churches and/or Christianity: “Out-dated and the reputation of the church has been tarnished for a long time due to paedophilia by the clergy.” 2. Attending a service did not interest them or was a waste of time: “I have no real interest in attending religious services”; “…Could use my time better elsewhere.” 3. Not religious or spiritual identity or practices “I do not believe in any religious figure, and nor do I participate in anything that has to do with religion.” Source: 2018 ACS run by NCLS Research (n=1,200).
In summary…
• Overall, Australians are moderately religious.
• While religiousness and spirituality have eroded over time, religious practices,
beliefs and experiences continue to be present.
• While religion and religious institutions, such as Christian churches, face higher
levels of distrust and disinterest than previously, they are still understood to have
roles in society
• Most people preferred Christian churches to have an embedded role, investing in
fostering cohesive communities and a good society.
• A person’s religious identity and disposition, along with significant relationships,
provide the most effective points of connection for churches, with Christmas,
Easter and special occasions presenting strong opportunities.
Source: 2018 ACS run by NCLS Research (n=1,200).Ruth Powell
E: info@ncls.org.au
W: www.ncls.org.au
@NCLSResearch
NCLS Research
For Citation: Powell, R. (2019). Religion and Spirituality in Australia: results
from the 2018 Australian Community Survey. Regenerating Places of Faith
Conference. 16th August 2019. Sydney: NCLS Research.
Based on Pepper, M and Powell, R, (2018). Religion, spirituality and
connections with churches: results from the 2018 Australian Community
Survey. NCLS Occasional Paper 36. Sydney: NCLS Research.You can also read
